by Robert D. Kampia, Sep 27, 1998

On Monday, September 21, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), along with U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) and U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), introduced Senate Joint Resolution 56 (S.J.Res. 56). This non-binding resolution is identical to the anti-medicinal marijuana resolution that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 15 (H.J.Res. 117) by a vote of 310 to 93.

S.J.Res. 56 -- which would declare the Senate's opposition to changing the medicinal marijuana laws until the FDA approves marijuana as a prescription medicine -- is now pending on the floor of the Senate. (The resolution went straight to the Senate floor after it was introduced; there was no debate or vote in committee.)

Please fax, call, or write your two U.S. senators to ask them "to oppose Senate Joint Resolution 56, the anti-medicinal marijuana resolution." It is likely that the Senate will vote on this measure in the next two weeks, so please do not delay!

If you are writing a letter, please consider using one of these three arguments:

• Marijuana-using patients should not be arrested for using their medicine. By blindly adhering to the FDA drug approval process, the Senate would in effect be saying that patients should continue to be arrested until the FDA approves marijuana as a prescription medicine.

• If Congress continues to support the status quo of hoping for more research while patients continue to be arrested, it will continue to be necessary to pass state initiatives and bills to remove criminal penalties for patients who have a medical need for marijuana.

• Additional research into marijuana's medical uses should not be used as an excuse for further delay on changing the medicinal marijuana laws. While dozens of studies were conducted in the late 1970s and early 1980s which showed that marijuana has medical value for some people, there have been no new research studies in the last 15 years. With this track record, the FDA will not be approving marijuana anytime soon.

TO CALL: To call your U.S. senators' offices, please call the congressional switchboard operator at 202-225-3121. The operator will be able to give you the names and phone numbers of your two U.S. senators.

TO FAX:To fax your U.S. senators, please call their offices for their fax numbers.

TO WRITE: To write your two U.S. senators, please send brief letters to U.S. Sen. _______, U.S. Senate, Washington DC 20510.

TO E-MAIL: Please DO NOT e-mail your U.S. senators unless you have already called, faxed, or written.

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