Govs. Chafee, Gregoire lobby for reclassification of marijuana

By: Lucy Madison
Topics: Domestic Issues

(Credit: Carlos Osorio)

Two governors on Wednesday filed a petition with the federal government to have marijuana reclassified to allow for medical use, expressing in a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration their concerns that "patients with serious medical conditions who could benefit from medical use of cannabis do not have a safe and consistent source of the drug" as a result of its current classification.

In their joint letter, governors Lincoln Chafee, the independent governor of Rhode Island (and a former Republican senator), and Christine Gregoire, the Democratic governor of Washington, urge the DEA to change marijuana's classification from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug, which would enable pharmacies to dispense it to patients with a prescription.

Among those drugs classified as Schedule I include heroin, opiates, morphine, and L.S.D.

In a June 21 letter, DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart argued that marijuana has "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; "has a high potential for abuse," and "lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision," according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gregoire and Chafee dispute that characterization of marijuana, citing support from the American Medical Association and The American College of Physicians of the investigation and clinical research of marijuana for medicinal use. The governors also note that the Rhode Island Medical Society, the Washington State Medical Association the Washington State Pharmacy and other institutions also support the reclassification of marijuana.

"Americans' attitudes toward medically prescribed marijuana are changing, and medical organizations throughout the country - including the Rhode Island Medical Society and the American Medical Association - have come to recognize the potential benefits of marijuana for medical use," Chafee said in a Wednesday statement. "Patients across Rhode Island and across the United States, many of whom are in tremendous pain, stand to experience some relief."

"Governor Gregoire and I are taking this step to urge the Federal Government to consider allowing the safe, reliable, regulated use of marijuana for patients who are suffering," Chafee added.

In a statement, Gregoire cited "poll after poll" showing "an overwhelming majority" of Americans who "now see medical marijuana as legitimate."

Poll: Public supports medical marijuana, but not full pot legalization

"Sixty percent of voters in our state said yes on a 1998 ballot measure," she said. "An ever-growing number of doctors now tell thousands of suffering patients they may find relief from the unique medicinal qualities of cannabis. There is simply no question that pharmacists could safely and reliably dispense cannabis to patients -- just as they do for other controlled and more problematic drugs."

Washington and Rhode Island are two of 16 U.S. states in which the use of marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes. But according to Gregoire and Chafee, "the divergence in state and federal law creates a situation where there is no regulated and safe system to supply legitimate patients who may need medical cannabis."

"What we have out here on the ground is chaos," Gregoire told the New York Times in an interview. "And in the midst of all the chaos we have patients who really either feel like they're criminals or may be engaged in some criminal activity, and really are legitimate patients who want medicinal marijuana."

Lucy Madison
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Adam_Majkowski January 14, 2012 5:54 AM EST: We do not need a DEA or a government to schedule drugs for us. We can see for ourselves which are deadly and which are not. Since the government is going to purposefully stick with misinformation then we can not use it anymore. In every part of life, once something is proven beyond any doubt, the government refuses to update. This government is corrupted and not useable. We need to go ahead with a new system based on facts.; Reply to this comment


by omahater December 2, 2011 2:14 PM EST: 99% of the US public could sign a petition in favor of the truth, and the 1% who hide behind the curtain will FAIL to make things right. The DEA is its own little micro-dictatorship, who answers to no one.; Reply to this comment


by AdvocateReason December 1, 2011 9:52 PM EST: H.R. 2306 will return powers to the states by limiting federal jurisdiction to cross-border trafficking. This bill is what EVERYONE should be talking about. The debate is over! The time to take action is Now! Put H.R. 2306 in the forefront!

Tell your representatives -> http://pvox.co/CdiFqY; Reply to this comment


by MurdochSucks December 1, 2011 4:30 PM EST: Once again the failed Reagan policies proof a burden to this country. How is it that so many idolize Ronald Reagan when he did so much damage?; Reply to this comment


by OrangPuteh December 1, 2011 12:21 PM EST: DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart is living proof that marijuana incapacitates the brain of people WHO DO NOT SMOKE IT.

America and especially Michele Leonhart failed to learn the lessons of alcohol prohibition.

Lesson #1: Human appetites cannot be legislated.
Lesson #2: Prohibition promotes graft, corruption and violence.
Lesson #3: Prohibition benefits drug cartels, the prison industry and corrupt bureaucrats.
Lesson #4: Prohibition ruins more lives than the drugs from which the bureaucrats claim to protect us.
Lesson #5: Prohibition does not work.

END THE FAILED, FOOLISH WAR ON DRUGS! LEGALIZE.; Reply to this comment


by Widower1955 December 1, 2011 11:50 AM EST: In a June 21 letter, DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart argued that marijuana has "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; "has a high potential for abuse," and "lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision," according to the Los Angeles Times.

============================

This is the wording of the law against the use of Cannabis; how thought provoking an answer from Michele Leonhart. Do we as taxpayers deserve this type of answer from a well payed public employee? Seems that the DEA has no original thinkers on the Federal pay roll. The Cannabis family of plants should be legalized so society may fully enjoy the benefits.; Reply to this comment


by Hendog54901 December 1, 2011 11:18 AM EST: Smittyc you make me laugh..if there was ever an abuse on a dangerous drug it would not be from Hemp! Its the liver TOXIC deadly poisons that your Doctors prescribe for everything and anything they can find wrong with you!! So yet another liver toxic LEGAL poison can be prescribed for you to ingest... and suffer the deadly side effects to your health and still get behind that wheel and drive. Theres the MAJOR problem..Not from the NON TOXIC CANNABIS HEMP PLANT! Do some research on this stuff..hell Google THC for Cancer one time..this plant is thee most wonderful plant that God has given us Food/Clean Burning FUEL/FIBER/and most important MEDICINE. Do some research on the "Anointing Oils" that were used in the time of Jesus Christ (1000's of years ago) The oils with miraculus healing powers..care to guess what the MAIN ingrediant was?? Cannabis Hemp Oil. swear to God this is true..I used to think along the same lines you do until I decided to educate myself on this..My eyes and mind are wide open to whats a LIE and whats the TRUTH..and for better then 85 years WE HAVE BEEN LIED TO..all in the name of GREED. There will be TRILLIONS lost when we utilize Cannabis for FUEL/FOOD/FIBER/MEDICINE. And where does this leave the Big Pharma/Oil boys&girls?? Out a PAY CHECK thats where. This is what this BS is all about..its not an evil plant..its a Gift from God himself..Educate yourself and you will sound just like I do now..Unless you cant handle the truth.; Reply to this comment


by Hendog54901 December 1, 2011 11:06 AM EST: Smittyc you make me laugh..if there was ever an abuse on a dangerous drug it would not be from Hemp! Its the liver TOXIC deadly poisons that your Doctors prescribe for everything and anything they can find wrong with you!! So yet another liver toxic LEGAL poison can be prescribed for you to ingest... and suffer the deadly side effects to your health and still get behind that wheel and drive. Theres the MAJOR problem..Not from the NON TOXIC CANNABIS HEMP PLANT! Do some research on this stuff..hell Google THC for Cancer one time..this plant is thee most wonderful plant that God has given us Food/Clean Burning FUEL/FIBER/and most important MEDICINE. Do some research on the "Anointing Oils" that were used in the time of Jesus Christ (1000's of years ago) The oils with miraculus healing powers..care to guess what the MAIN ingrediant was?? Cannabis Hemp Oil. swear to God this is true..I used to think along the same lines you do until I decided to educate myself on this..My eyes and mind are wide open to whats a LIE and whats the TRUTH..and for better then 85 years WE HAVE BEEN LIED TO..all in the name of GREED. There will be TRILLIONS lost when we utilize Cannabis for FUEL/FOOD/FIBER/MEDICINE. And where does this leave the Big Pharma/Oil boys&girls?? Out a PAY CHECK thats where. This is what this BS is all about..its not an evil plant..its a Gift from God himself..Educate yourself and you will sound just like I do now..Unless you cant handle the truth.; Reply to this comment

by web6242a December 1, 2011 10:31 AM EST

Doctors can Prescribe Morphene,Daludet,Demerol, and a whole host of addictive substances -- Some eye doctors even prescribe Cocaine -- But the dummy's in DC want to keep filling up jails with Pot users. If a Cancer patient, or a chronic vision problem sufferer, wants to smoke some weed --- let them do it !!! The War on Drugs is an abysmal failure --- illegal drugs are available in every town in the country. Filling up prisons with Pot offenses is inane and utter stupidity. Drunks do more damage to Society then Pot heads.

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by parisdakar December 1, 2011 11:05 AM EST: "Dummy's", with an apostrophe. That's priceless.

by smittyc December 1, 2011 10:12 AM EST

The carnage on the roads is bad enough from alcohol. We should count our blessings the government has held its position on not legalizing Cannabis. The pot heads put up great arguments including medical uses for pot but our welfare roles make it clear pot heads ability to function in the world is nonexistent. For this group getting out of a bed or off the couch to go to the bathroom is the extent of their daily effort.

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by Atlanticum December 1, 2011 10:55 AM EST: Count our blessings the government held its position on cannabis? Carnage on the roads from pot? How many instances of road rage resulted in death? Do you think the raging person was smoking pot? Your bias is evident and silly.


by hindsightis2020 December 1, 2011 7:09 PM EST: Interesting research by University of Colorado Denver economics professor debunking your statement.

Mj available = less alcohol consumed = less alcoholics on the road = less traffic death's.
http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/personnel/photos/index_html?key=4915

Facts are a wonderful thing, no matter how inconvenient they may be to some. No wonder America's alcohol industry, pharmaceutical industry, private prison industry, lobby BILLIONS of dollars to corporate owned federal government to maintain prohibition.

Must be a lot of money to buy the corrupted filth and audacity necessary to then tell Americans that marijuana is worse than alcohol via laws, and worse than cocaine via drug scheduling.