House Resolution 372
On February 26, U.S. Representative Bill McCollum (R-Florida) and eight co-sponsors introduced House Resolution 372, which states that the House is "unequivocally opposed to legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, and urges the defeat of State initiatives which would seek to legalize marijuana for medicinal use."
The bill was scheduled for a vote on May 5, but the Republican leadership decided to postpone the vote on May 4 for reasons unknown.
Resolutions are non-binding and don't create any laws. They simply state congress's stance on an issue.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), a D.C. lobbying group, has been leading the fight against H.Res. 372. On March 30, in a protest organized by the MPP, multiple sclerosis patient Cheryl Miller used medical marijuana in the D.C. office of U.S. Representative Jim Rogan (R-California). Rogan was targeted because he voted for favorable medical marijuana legislation while in the California legislature, but voted for H.Res 372 in the House Judiciary Committee, the MPP said.
Cheryl and her husband Jim were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. On April 20, a D.C. Superior Court dropped the charges against the Millers.
It is uncertain whether H.Res. 372 will come up for a vote. In the meantime, activists can contact their Representatives and urge them to vote "no" by sending a letter to:
- U.S. Rep. [name]
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Washington, D.C. 20515