May 22, 2003
Representative Moran
Representative Moran
PO Box 8208
Alexandria, VA 22306-8208
May 22, 2003
The Honorable James P. Moran
U.S House of Representatives
2239 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4608
Dear Representative Moran:
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose any provision in the “Office of National Drug Control Policy Re-authorization Act of 2003” that would allow the nation’s drug czar to oppose candidates and ballot initiatives that would legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. I furthermore urge you to oppose provisions that allow the drug czar to divert federal funds to campaigns against medical marijuana patients and their caregivers.
I believe that to ensure that their patients receive the best medical care possible and do not suffer needlessly, doctors must have the discretion to prescribe the medication and treatment appropriate to the illness.
I have read that, according to a 1999 Gallup poll, 73 percent of Americans are in favor of “making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering.” Also, since 1996, voters in eight states plus the District of Columbia have passed favorable medical marijuana ballot initiatives.
I have also read that marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. No one has ever died from an overdose, and it has a wide variety of therapeutic applications including relief from nausea and increase of appetite, reduction of intraocular (“within the eye”) pressure, reduction of muscle spasms and relief from chronic pain.
Once again, I urge you to oppose any provision in the “Office of National Drug Control Policy Re-authorization Act of 2003” that would allow the nation’s drug czar to oppose candidates and ballot initiatives that would legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. I furthermore urge you to oppose provisions that allow the drug czar to divert federal funds to campaigns against medical marijuana patients and their caregivers.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely,
James Landrith
May 27, 2003
Mr. James Landrith
PO Box 8208
Alexandria, Virginia 22306
Dear Mr. Landrith:
Thank you for contacting my office and sharing your thoughts regarding the medicinal use of marijuana. I certainly understand your concerns regarding the need for individuals diagnosed with serious life-threatening illnesses to have access to marijuana.
Congressman Sam Farr, Lynn Woolsey and Dana Rohrabacher recently introduced the Truth in Trials Act (H.R. 1717), which would recognize state laws that allow marijuana’s medical uses and provide an affirmative defense to federal charges if a defendant was acting in compliance with state law. I agree that H.R. 1717 provides a common sense approach to the issue of medicinal use of marijuana and plan to support H.R. 1717 if it is considered by the House of Representatives.
Please feel free to visit my website at http://www.house.gov/moran which contains information on topics that may be of interest to you. Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue.
Yours truly,
James P. Moran
JPM/int1