Missouri/ Republican Representative Robert Schaaf / Approves

[MedicalNeed]

Missouri/ Republican Representative Robert Schaaf / Approves

House Speaker Ron Richard failed to assign the bill to a committee!/ You decide


Representative Kate Meiners District 046 Democrat / Approves she submitted the bill to the House of Reps.
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Jan-20-2010
Missouri Medical Marijuana Bill Filed With Bi-Partisan Sponsorship


14 states stand up for medicinal use of cannabis and the other U.S. states are getting in line. Who's next?

(MISSOURI) - A bill to permit Missouri citizens whose doctors believe they benefit from the use of marijuana as medicine to do so without fear of criminal prosecution and imprisonment has been filed by Representative Kate Meiners of Kansas City.

The bill has more sponsors than ever before, with 16 House members signing onto the bill, including Republican Representative Robert Schaaf, a physician from St. Joseph. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia now have laws which permit patients to use marijuana as medicine with the approval of their doctors.

Just last week, New Jersey’s legislature passed such a bill and outgoing Governor Corzine signed it into law on Monday. A few weeks ago, Congress voted to allow the D.C. Medical Marijuana Initiative to take effect there.

In past years, when the Missouri bill had only Democratic sponsorship, House Speaker Ron Richard failed to assign the bill to a committee. With the bipartisan sponsorship the bill now has, it is hoped that the Speaker will assign it to a committee promptly and allow it an opportunity to be heard.

Similar legislation is pending in many other state legislatures across the country. The Illinois Senate passed a medical marijuana bill last year and it is now pending before the House in that state.

A few months ago, the American Medical Association (AMA) reversed its longstanding opposition to the use of marijuana as medicine. The AMA now supports allowing marijuana to be prescribed and acknowledges that it has proven medical use. Medical marijuana legislation is also supported by the American College of Physicians, American Nurses Association and dozens of other major professional and health-related organizations.

House Bill 1670 would place the issue before Missouri voters in November of 2011. In 1994, the Missouri Senate passed SCR 14 which called on Congress to make marijuana available for medical use.

Under current Missouri law, doctors are allowed to prescribe *******, opium, *************** and hundreds of other potentially dangerous, addictive drugs. Supporters of the bill say it is absurd to not trust those same doctors with the ability to authorize their patients to also use a relatively safe, non-toxic and non-addictive substance like cannabis. Polls have strong majority support for the measure among Missouri voters.

Source: The Missouri Affiliate of The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Source: Missouri Medical Marijuana Bill Filed With Bi-Partisan Sponsorship - Salem-News.Com

 

[MedicalNeed]

Busted! Parker Lies About Support for Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana


Source
Busted! Parker Lies About Support for Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana | SEMO TIMES

by Staff Reports

Poplar Bluff, MO — In what was perhaps the biggest blunder of the Bob Parker for Congress campaign to date, Parker has taken to his Facebook page to deny his comments at a June 12th meeting in Poplar Bluff, and reported in a June 13th story by the SEMO TIMES supporting federal legalization of marijuana.

On his Facebook page Parker stated, "Amazing the lies that continue to come from Camp Emerson. I do not support the legalization of drugs. Where is the quote Jo Ann? Where is the video of me ever saying anything like that? There is none because I have NEVER said it. Stop the lies Jo Ann.

Today the SEMO TIMES released raw video footage from the meeting taken from an iPhone showing he did lead the crowd to feel he does support federal legalization of marijuana, and shows his statement on Facebook to be a lie.

While speaking to the Poplar Bluff for Liberty meeting, Parker referenced his support for the agenda of Congressman and former Presidential candidate Ron Paul several times during his nearly 75 minute speech. The Poplar Bluff for Liberty group is led by the group who led the Ron Paul delegation at the county caucuses earlier this year. After being asked by a member of the group if he agreed with Congressman Paul's position on the federal legalization of marijuana Parker gave an approximately 5 minute response without stating his position.

Then after a follow up question by a SEMO TIMES reporter and groans from the audience, Parker was urged to fully state his position by campaign supporter Eldon Wright. As the video shows, after Wright attacked the "war on drugs", brought into national prominence by the Reagan administration, and he stated that: "I know this is where you're coming from, but this needs to be left at the state level folks. The federal government's got their hands in too darn much already (Parker: yeah, yeah), and I think that's where you're coming from (Parker: yeah, yeah) on this". (video at the bottom of the page)

Later, after approving comments from the crowd and a further follow up question by the SEMO TIMES reporter Parker finally answered, "I believe in leaving it to the states". The video confirms the June 13th report's accuracy, and Parker's lie leaves many asking if the candidate is really ready for prime time.

Poplar Bluff for Liberty member Joe Dicken who was in attendance at the meeting expressed disappointment in Parker's facebook post, "Mr. Parker's original position on decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level and leaving that decision to each state is entirely consistent with his message of smaller federal government and a stronger tenth amendment. I'm personally disturbed that Mr. Parker abandoned his position in a different venue. Not because I agree or disagree with his position, but simply because it looks like empty, weak politics. I don't want a weak congressman."

SEMO TIMES Publisher Scott R. Faughn reacted to Parker's lie this afternoon, "For three years now Bob Parker has been asking media outlets in the 8th district to cover his campaign like he is a top tier candidate. Well, top tier candidates who repeatedly endorse the platform of Congressman Paul should and did get asked whether he agrees with all of Congressman Paul's views including those on marijuana and Israel.

The SEMO TIMES has covered Mr. Parker's campaign as much or more than any other media outlet in the 8th district, and while doing so has been the most vocal and outspoken critic of Congresswoman Emerson in southeast Missouri media. Further it was a reasonable and consistent position by Mr. Parker to eliminate the federal government's role in narcotics enforcement. However, it is unacceptable for a candidate first tier or otherwise to take to social media and lie about their statements. Without this video being available he might have gotten away with it. It appears Mr. Parker may not be ready for the press scrutiny he so vocally asks for".

Parker did not return calls or messages left asking for comment on this story, but Tiffany Hines of his campaign did send an email on Saturday July 7th requesting the SEMO TIMES run a story on a speech Parker is giving in Kennett on Monday.

Source: Busted! Parker Lies About Support for Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana | SEMO TIMES