ANTI-LEGALIZATION: “MEDICAL MARIJUANA”- THE MYTH

On Wednesday, June 15th, in a 264-161 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated the “Hinchey Amendment.” Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-22 nd /NY) proposed an amendment to the House Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill to prohibit the use of federal funds for the prosecution or arrest of “medical” marijuana users in the ten states that have passed laws allowing “medical” marijuana programs (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington). General Arthur T. Dean, President and CEO of CADCA, contacted Congressman Mark Souder (R-3 rd /IN), offering CADCA's support for his efforts to defeat the Hinchey Amendment.  Click here to read the full text of General Dean's letter.

Section I: Background

1. The Facts & The Myths
2. National Overview of Marijuana Use (Power Point Slides)
3. A Report From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health – Marijuana Use and Delinquent Behaviors Among Youths
4. "What Americans Need to Know About Marijuana" from the Office of National Drug Control Policy
5. Non-Medical Marijuana II: Rite of Passage or Russian Roulette, by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

Section II: The Case Against Legalization

1. Talking Points Against Legalization
2. Rebuttal Against Legalization
3. "A Haze of Misinformation Clouds Issue of Medical Marijuana"by Andrea Barthwell (ONDCP); Los Angeles Times , July 23, 2003.
4. A Peek Into Pandora's Box: The Medical Excuse Marijuana Controversy, by Eric Voth, M.D., FACP
5. "Medicinal Applications of Delta-9-Tetraydrocannabinol and Marijuana"by Eric Voth, M.D. and Richard H. Schwartz, M.D., Annals of Internal Medicine, May 15, 1997.

Section III: Legislation We Oppose and Why

1. Current Legislation
2. Amicus Brief, Submitted in Support of John Ashcroft in the United States Supreme Court Case of John D. Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General vs. Angel McClary Raich, et al.
3. Statement by Nora Volkow, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – "Marijuana and Medicine: The Need for a Science-Based Approach," April 1, 2004.
4. Statement by Robert J. Meyer, Director, Office of Drug Evaluation II, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration – "Marijuana and Medicine: The Need for a Science-Based Approach," April 1, 2004
5. Statement by Robert L. DuPont, M.D., President, Institute for Behavior and Health (FDA) – "Marijuana and Medicine: The Need for a Science-Based Approach," April 1, 2004.

Section IV: Engaging the Media

1. Tips on Writing An Op-ed
2. Sample Op-eds For States Currently Facing Ballot Initiatives.

Section V: Recent Issues

1. General Dean's Letter to Chairman Sounder (R-IN) on the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources asking him to oppose Representative Hinchey's (D-22nd/NY) amendment to prohibit enforcement of federal law regarding marijuana.

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