Several months ago PAN alerted that the very important Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment was being considered by Congress. This Amendment has effectively kept the U.S. Department of Justice from interfering in states with medical cannabis laws.
Congress Creates Concern Over Expiring Provision Protecting Medical Cannabis States From Federal Interference
After several deadlines and extensions the amendment finally passed through the House Appropriations Committee. Getting bi-partisan support for the Amendment seems almost impossible last fall. However, as more states enact marijuana laws more Congressional members have constituents for whom this issue is important.
Likewise, U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher’s name being attached to the amendment became contentious and its introduction to the committee by Republican Rep. David Joyce of Ohio became the win for medical cannabis patients.
Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill
Other small steps are taking place in Washington D.C. President Trump signed legislation this week giving terminally ill patients the ‘right to try’ experimental drugs that do not have approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Supporters of the bill say the measure is a lifeline for patients that don’t have other treatment options. Opponents argue they don’t see how qualified patients will get access to these drugs.
Congressional members beholden to Big Pharma adon’t like side stepping the FDA. Big Pharma funds many Congressional campaigns and the relationship between them and the FDA is incestuous and a conflict of interest. President Trump’s unprecedented move puts pressure on the FDA to look seriously at the experimental treatments and stated he wanted a proposal that was most beneficial for the people and not insurers and drug manufacturers.
"For countless patients, time is not what they have," the President said at the State of the Union Address in January. "With the right to try, patients with life-threatening illnesses will finally have access to experimental treatments that could improve or even cure their conditions."
President Trump Signs Bill to Allow Terminally-Ill Patients to Try Unproven Drugs
The use of the word ‘cure’ is interesting. Does President Trump know that cannabis kills cancer?
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Support Patient Advocacy Network’s PATH – Patient Advocates on The Hill. We are actively working to get cannabis De-scheduled!
