FreeMaryJane
07-18-2007, 06:33 PM
U.S.'s Second Largest Cancer Charity Calls for Legal Access as Vote Looms in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? With a vote on medical marijuana looming in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has adopted a formal policy position calling for removal of criminal and civil penalties for seriously ill patients using marijuana with their doctor's recommendation. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the second largest cancer charity in the U.S., and the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.
As the House prepares to vote this month on an amendment to bar Justice Department interference with state medical marijuana laws, the society's resolution cites federal interference with medical marijuana research, the harm that can be done to seriously ill patients by poor quality prison health care, and the wide support for legal access to medical marijuana within the medical community. It states, "[T]he Leukemia & Lymphoma Society supports legislation to remove criminal and civil sanctions for the doctor-advised, medical use of marijuana by patients with serious physical medical conditions." The statement also calls for an end to federal prosecutions of patients in states that permit medical use of marijuana.
"This should put to rest forever the lie that the medical and scientific communities don't support medical marijuana," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "As the House of Representatives prepares to consider medical marijuana, members need to ask themselves a simple question: What is better for seriously ill patients, medical marijuana or jail? There is no medical organization anywhere that believes jailing the sick is good for them, and yet that is precisely what federal policy does."
Digg this!! <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vZGlnZy5jb20vaGVhbHRoL0xldWtlbWlhX2FuZF 9MeW1waG9tYV 9Tb2NpZXR5X0VuZG9yc2VzX01lZGljYWxfTWFyaWp1YW5h>
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!
Tell them about the new resolution just passed by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and be sure to remind them to vote in favor of the medical marijuana amendment (Rep. Maurice Hinchey's [HIN-chee's] medical marijuana amendment to the Justice Department's spending bill) that the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on next week. Even if you already contacted them when we sent our last alert, this is a new development and a great excuse to remind them that 78% of Americans support the safe access to medical marijuana for terminally ill patients.
It's easy: Just call the Capitol switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121. Give the operator your zip code and ask to be connected to your U.S. House member; you don't even need to know your congressperson?s name to do this.
Calling and e-mailing take only one minute each.
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? With a vote on medical marijuana looming in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has adopted a formal policy position calling for removal of criminal and civil penalties for seriously ill patients using marijuana with their doctor's recommendation. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the second largest cancer charity in the U.S., and the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.
As the House prepares to vote this month on an amendment to bar Justice Department interference with state medical marijuana laws, the society's resolution cites federal interference with medical marijuana research, the harm that can be done to seriously ill patients by poor quality prison health care, and the wide support for legal access to medical marijuana within the medical community. It states, "[T]he Leukemia & Lymphoma Society supports legislation to remove criminal and civil sanctions for the doctor-advised, medical use of marijuana by patients with serious physical medical conditions." The statement also calls for an end to federal prosecutions of patients in states that permit medical use of marijuana.
"This should put to rest forever the lie that the medical and scientific communities don't support medical marijuana," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "As the House of Representatives prepares to consider medical marijuana, members need to ask themselves a simple question: What is better for seriously ill patients, medical marijuana or jail? There is no medical organization anywhere that believes jailing the sick is good for them, and yet that is precisely what federal policy does."
Digg this!! <http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vZGlnZy5jb20vaGVhbHRoL0xldWtlbWlhX2FuZF 9MeW1waG9tYV 9Tb2NpZXR5X0VuZG9yc2VzX01lZGljYWxfTWFyaWp1YW5h>
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!
Tell them about the new resolution just passed by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and be sure to remind them to vote in favor of the medical marijuana amendment (Rep. Maurice Hinchey's [HIN-chee's] medical marijuana amendment to the Justice Department's spending bill) that the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on next week. Even if you already contacted them when we sent our last alert, this is a new development and a great excuse to remind them that 78% of Americans support the safe access to medical marijuana for terminally ill patients.
It's easy: Just call the Capitol switchboard operator at (202) 224-3121. Give the operator your zip code and ask to be connected to your U.S. House member; you don't even need to know your congressperson?s name to do this.
Calling and e-mailing take only one minute each.