Yesterday's House vote on HR 4660 amendment to defund the DEA re: medical marijuana was historic.
Republicans pushed the vote. More Republicans than ever regarding any bill related to marijuana supported defunding the DEA through the allocation of funds in the Justice Dept.
This is a big defeat for the DEA.
Of course, the bill was largely passed by Democrats, with 170 Democratic members of the House voting yes, while only 49 Republicans voted in favor.
So, I don't want to give Republicans more credit than they're due - but the amendment passed by one vote, and all 49 of those Republicans were necessary to make the amendment happen. So, a thank you to the Republicans who put the will of the American people and the well being of its citizens over the will of the DEA, the religious right, and the cranks who vote overwhelmingly for the Republican Party.
This writer asks if this was a tipping point. Who knows. Hope so.
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2014/05/house_vote_dea_funding_marijuana_raids.php
This person notes, as I have here, that Sanjay Gupta has provided a voice for the voiceless whose use of marijuana remains silent, for the most part, because they live in states that treat them like terrorists for using the herbal product that produces better results than pharmaceutical products for various illnesses or disabilities.
These illnesses include Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Epilespy, post traumatic stress disorder, Crohn's Disease, IBS, pain management from breast cancer chemotherapy, nausea and wasting management for people undergoing various cancer treatments, and more. These people, in states without medical marijuana laws, are treated as criminals for using the medication that provides the most effective treatment for their problems.
The U.S. Congress is not qualified to provide medical advice to anyone. They are not qualified to determine what medicines doctors can or cannot recommend.
It's time for Congress to get out of the medical quackery biz and let doctors and patients decide the best course of treatment for them. No more "war on marijuana" snake oil, please.
Address the legislature left sitting by Republicans in 2013 to regulate marijuana like alcohol and let medical marijuana research go forward.
And, most importantly, the DEA needs to hear this truth: The DEA has no right to determine health care for American citizens.
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I think that was the biggest hurdle. I'm hoping for fast action from all other parties.
This would do so much to help the folks with chronic pain lead a more normal life.
Thank you for posting this, RainDog!
keeping threads about this issue easily available here. 
