On January 14, 2014 Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives regarding the issue of marijuana.
Needless to say the congressman received a lot of raised eyebrows and stunned looked by other members of House of Representatives – who acted shell shocked by what he said. Many were heard gasping at his comments and suggestions as he made his speech on Marijuana which was recorded on CSPAN television.
“Mr. Speaker, no sooner had the United States recognized the failure of alcohol prohibition by repealing the 18th Amendment than the United States embarked upon another failed experiment in prohibition: marijuana. For three-quarters of a century, the United States has waged a futile attempt to prohibit marijuana based upon emotion and flawed science. Since 1971, the Federal Government has classified marijuana as a schedule 1 prohibited substance, like heroin, more dangerous, according to the law, than cocaine or meth. It declared in statute, contrary to proven research, that marijuana has no therapeutic value.”
“Every day a million authorized users of medical marijuana reject that notion by using it by doctor’s prescription to relieve symptoms like intense nausea due to chemotherapy, relief for veterans with PTSD, from chronic back pain, and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. New York has now joined 21 other States and the District of Columbia authorizing medical marijuana. Colorado is now allowing adult use; and Washington State is soon to follow, after strong approval by both States’ voters”, he said.
“The revolution in medical marijuana policy has been led at the State level, usually as a result of popular vote. The facts are that marijuana does have therapeutic use”, said Rep. Blumenauer (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov/ ).
On his webpage Blumenauer had a pot leaf – http://blumenauer.house.gov/ as well issued an official statement on this issue called “The Path Forward” (source: http://blumenauer.house.gov/marijuana-and-drug-reform).