Legislation Introduced to Overturn DC Initiative
Posted by FoM on October 17, 1999 at 22:37:27 ET:
Legislation Introduced to Overturn DC Initiative
October 17, 1999
Please help us kill it!
Source: Libertarian Party
www.cannabisnews.com/news...3319.shtml
In last November's election, voters in 6 states and the District of
Columbia passed pro-medical marijuana initiatives by overwhelming margins.
But in Congress, hard-line drug warriors -- principally Rep. Bob Barr of
Georgia -- prevented the vote in Washington DC from even being counted for
more than 10 months.
A federal court recently found Barr's vote-suppression law
unconstitutional, and the vote of 69% in favor has now been released --
but Barr and his allies have vowed to overturn DC's voter-approved medical
marijuana initiative through an act of Congress.
On Thursday, October 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed with a
211-205 vote a D.C. spending bill (H.R. 3064) that includes an amendment
that will overturn Initiative 59, the medical marijuana initiative that
D.C. residents passed in November 1998 by a 69-31 % margin. The Senate
passed the legislation with a voice vote on Friday the 15th. However, the
battle is not over yet.
The bill will go through conference committee, and then will be voted on
again by both houses of Congress - probably this coming week. With such a
close vote in the House, we need to swing only 3 or 4 votes to kill the
bill. To send a free fax to your members of Congress, telling them to vote
"no" on this terrible legislation, please visit:
www.LP.org
and click on the "Medical Marijuana/WRITE TO CONGRESS" link on the home
page.
If the law takes effect, then seriously ill people in the nation's capital
who use medical marijuana to relieve their suffering will continue to face
six months in jail. Even worse will be the precedent of Congress
overturning a free election. It is no different than Congress declaring,
"Libertarians are no longer allowed to win elections, since they advocate
drug legalization."
The Libertarian Party is collaborating with other organizations to stop
this legislation, so we are linking to the web site of our friends at the
Marijuana Policy Project. Please go to www.LP.org and click on the
"Medical Marijuana/WRITE TO CONGRESS" link to send an e-mail or fax
telling your Congressman and two U.S. Senators that they should vote "no."
But please do not delay. The vote could come at any time. Congressmen
receive very few letters on drug-related legislation. If you and every
subscriber to the Libertarian Party Announcements list visits the petition
site just once, then each Congressional office will hear from more
constituents on this legislation than on almost any other bill currently
pending.
Changing just two or three votes through our lobbying effort could easily
make the difference in a close vote. Will you please visit:
www.LP.org
and send a free fax to your Congressman and two U.S. Senators, telling
them to vote "no" on H.R. 3064? The letter is already written for you; the
whole process will take less than five minutes.
Please add your voice to those crying that medical patients should not be
jailed for the "crime" of relieving their suffering.
Thank you,
Yours for Freedom,
Ron Crickenberger Political Director
Related Articles & Web Sites:
Marijuana Policy Project
www.mpp.org/
215 NOW
www.215now.com/
Draft Gary Johnson For President
www.garyjohnson2000.org/
US Marijuana Busts Remained High In 1998 - Group - 10/17/99
www.cannabisnews.com/news...3318.shtml
The Anti-Democracy In D.C. - 10/16/99
www.cannabisnews.com/news...3311.shtml
Posted by FoM on October 17, 1999 at 22:37:27 ET:
Legislation Introduced to Overturn DC Initiative
October 17, 1999
Please help us kill it!
Source: Libertarian Party
www.cannabisnews.com/news...3319.shtml
In last November's election, voters in 6 states and the District of
Columbia passed pro-medical marijuana initiatives by overwhelming margins.
But in Congress, hard-line drug warriors -- principally Rep. Bob Barr of
Georgia -- prevented the vote in Washington DC from even being counted for
more than 10 months.
A federal court recently found Barr's vote-suppression law
unconstitutional, and the vote of 69% in favor has now been released --
but Barr and his allies have vowed to overturn DC's voter-approved medical
marijuana initiative through an act of Congress.
On Thursday, October 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed with a
211-205 vote a D.C. spending bill (H.R. 3064) that includes an amendment
that will overturn Initiative 59, the medical marijuana initiative that
D.C. residents passed in November 1998 by a 69-31 % margin. The Senate
passed the legislation with a voice vote on Friday the 15th. However, the
battle is not over yet.
The bill will go through conference committee, and then will be voted on
again by both houses of Congress - probably this coming week. With such a
close vote in the House, we need to swing only 3 or 4 votes to kill the
bill. To send a free fax to your members of Congress, telling them to vote
"no" on this terrible legislation, please visit:
www.LP.org
and click on the "Medical Marijuana/WRITE TO CONGRESS" link on the home
page.
If the law takes effect, then seriously ill people in the nation's capital
who use medical marijuana to relieve their suffering will continue to face
six months in jail. Even worse will be the precedent of Congress
overturning a free election. It is no different than Congress declaring,
"Libertarians are no longer allowed to win elections, since they advocate
drug legalization."
The Libertarian Party is collaborating with other organizations to stop
this legislation, so we are linking to the web site of our friends at the
Marijuana Policy Project. Please go to www.LP.org and click on the
"Medical Marijuana/WRITE TO CONGRESS" link to send an e-mail or fax
telling your Congressman and two U.S. Senators that they should vote "no."
But please do not delay. The vote could come at any time. Congressmen
receive very few letters on drug-related legislation. If you and every
subscriber to the Libertarian Party Announcements list visits the petition
site just once, then each Congressional office will hear from more
constituents on this legislation than on almost any other bill currently
pending.
Changing just two or three votes through our lobbying effort could easily
make the difference in a close vote. Will you please visit:
www.LP.org
and send a free fax to your Congressman and two U.S. Senators, telling
them to vote "no" on H.R. 3064? The letter is already written for you; the
whole process will take less than five minutes.
Please add your voice to those crying that medical patients should not be
jailed for the "crime" of relieving their suffering.
Thank you,
Yours for Freedom,
Ron Crickenberger Political Director
Related Articles & Web Sites:
Marijuana Policy Project
www.mpp.org/
215 NOW
www.215now.com/
Draft Gary Johnson For President
www.garyjohnson2000.org/
US Marijuana Busts Remained High In 1998 - Group - 10/17/99
www.cannabisnews.com/news...3318.shtml
The Anti-Democracy In D.C. - 10/16/99
www.cannabisnews.com/news...3311.shtml
