The following is excerpted from an Internet message from the Drug Policy Alliance:
“Early this morning, the U.S. House made an historic move by voting to prohibit the Drug Enforcement Administration from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. The bipartisan amendment passed with 219 ‘yes’ votes.
The House also approved amendments prohibiting the DEA from interfering with state hemp production laws and hemp research programs.
These historic votes are major victories. It’s the first time that Congress has ever approved any major marijuana law reform.
There is now bipartisan consensus in favor of letting states set their own marijuana policies. And the votes are an embarrassment for the DEA, a federal agency that represents everything that’s wrong with the war on drugs.
An end to our country’s failed 40-year drug war is truly within sight. There’s a long road ahead, including getting these reforms through the Senate, but it is clear that the consensus in favor of punitive drug policies has collapsed and a new era of compassion, science, health and human rights is emerging.”
