Subject: Medicinal Marijuana Bill Introduced in Congress
From: [M P Project] at [aol.com]
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 03:12:23 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rep. Barney Frank Re-Introduces Medicinal Marijuana Bill
Previously Co-Sponsored by Rep. Newt Gingrich

CONTACT: Robert Kampia, director of government relations, 
         Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) (202)462-5747


       Washington, D.C. -- On November 10, U.S. Representative Barney Frank
introduced H.R. 2618, which would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to
patients in need, by placing marijuana into a less restrictive schedule of
the Controlled Substances Act and establishing a mechanism for production and
distribution of marijuana. This bill is nearly identical to a 1981 bill --
H.R. 4498 -- which was co-sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 84 members
of the House, including U.S. Representative Newt Gingrich. (The 1981 bill
never left committee.)

       The need for Rep. Frank's legislation arises from the fact that
marijuana is presently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, which
forbids doctors from prescribing it under any circumstances. Even cocaine and
morphine are presently in Schedule II -- which allows tightly controlled
prescriptive access -- into which H.R. 2618 would place marijuana.

       "Thousands of patients have found marijuana beneficial as part of the
treatment for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and other
ailments," said MPP Director of Government Relations Robert Kampia. "Polls
indicate that 80% of U.S. voters support the use of marijuana for medicine,
and 36 states have already passed legislation recognizing marijuana's
medicinal value. However, legal access remains stymied by the federal
government's overriding prohibition."

       "Presently, only eight patients in the entire country now have
permission to use marijuana, through a program closed to all new applicants
since 1992. All other patients presently using marijuana are considered
criminals, subject to arrest and imprisonment," explained Kampia. "Efforts to
resolve the matter through the FDA drug-approval process have consistently
been stymied by the National Institute on Drug Abuse's reluctance to provide
the marijuana needed for the required clinical research. We must now try the
legislative route."

       "This legislation would finally allow doctors to decide what is best
for their patients," said Kampia. "Presently, the federal government ties
doctors' hands and condemns patients to unnecessary suffering."

       It remains to be seen whether Rep. Newt Gingrich will co-sponsor Rep.
Frank's bill.

CONTACT: Robert Raben, Office of U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (202)225-5931
         Tony Blankley, Office of U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich (202)225-0600

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

Marijuana Policy Project
P.O. Box 77492
Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. 20013

[M P Project] at [AOL.COM]
http://www.mpp.org/~mpp/

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