Oh for where art thou....HR 2306

February 27, 2012

HR 2306. A real game changer. This house bill is an important one for the cannabis community. The reason? HR 2306 aims to repeal prohibition of marijuana at the Federal level. The bill, were it passed, would remove all mentions of Marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) allowing states to decide how they want to manage the use of the plant. Couple that with the many states who have medical cannabis laws, and the states with repeal movements, and we see an environment where cannabis prohibition no longer or is greatly reduced. Such an environment would allow the growth and cultivation of hemp as well, helping to reduce our need for foreign products.

HR 2306 was introduced by Rep. Barny Frank and is cosponsored by 20 additional representatives (a complete list will be made available at the bottom of this page). The bill was introduced in June of 2011, and was referred to committee in August.

And still it sits...

You see, the process of a getting a bill signed is a long and tedious one. The bill is submitted, referred to committee, possibly more than one, gets approved in committee then is returned to the house for vote, then goes to senate committee, then returned to senate vote, and finally it'll make its way up to the president who can then sign it, or veto it should he so choose.

So we are in February of 2012 and the bill still sits with no movement at all. This writer personally believes this is a possible tactic to keep the bill under wraps and to try and have it die in committee. To fall to the wayside, like so many other bills.

We, as a nation must stand up for this bill. But, what can we do? After all the bill sits in committee awaiting those in charge to see it fit for discussion.

Committees are made up of representatives. Think of a committee like a mini congress. We can contact these individuals (especially those people they represent) and voice interest in HR2306 and request (demand?) the bill be discussed. Phone calls tend to work very well because typically the call is logged as far as what the caller was on the line about. Letters are also good, especially if you can get a receipt showing delivery.

The following list shows who is part of the committees in charge of this bill. The bill was referred to 2 separate committees.

House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health
Members:

Philadelphia
Joe Pitts (PA)ChairContact
Tim Murphy (PA)Contact

New Jersey
Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ)Contact
Leonard Lance (NJ)Contact

Texas
Michael Burgess (TX)Vice ChairContact
Charles A. Gonzalez (TX)Contact
Joe Barton (TX)Contact

Michigan
John D. Dingell (MI)Contact
Fred Upton (MI)Contact
Mike Rogers (MI)Contact

Kentucky
Ed Whitfield (KY)Contact
Brett Guthrie (KY)Contact

New York
Edolphus Towns (NY)Contact
Eliot L. Engel (NY)Contact

Illinois
John Shimkus (IL)Contact
Jan Schakowsky (IL)Contact

California
Lois Capps (CA)Contact
Henry A. Waxman (CA)Contact

North Carolina
Sue Myrick (NC)Contact

Texas
Marsha Blackburn (TN)Contact

Wisconsin
Tammy Baldwin (WI)Contact

Georgia
Phil Gingrey (GA)Contact

Arkansas
Mike Ross (AR)Contact

Ohio
Bob Latta (OH)Contact

Utah
Jim Matheson (UT)Contact

Washington
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA)Contact

Louisiana
Bill Cassidy (LA)Contact


House Committee on the Judiciary: Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
Members:

Wisconsin
Mr. James Sensenbrenner, Chairman (WI)
Contact

Texas
Mr. Louis Gohmert, Vice-Chairman (TX)Contact
Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee(TX)Contact
Mr. Ted Poe (TX)Contact

Virginia
Mr. Robert Goodlatte (VA)Contact
Mr. Randy Forbes (VA)Contact
Mr. Robert Scott (VA)Contact

Tennessee
Mr. Steve Cohen (TN)Contact

Georgia
Mr. Henry Johnson(GA)Contact

Puerto Rico
Mr. Pedro Pierluisi(Puerto Rico)Contact

Utah
Mr. Jason Chaffetz(UT)Contact

California
Ms. Judy Chu (CA)Contact
Mr. Daniel Lungren(CA)Contact

Arkansas
Mr. Tim Griffin(AR)Contact

Florida
Mr. Ted Deutch (FL)Contact
Ms. Sandy Adams (FL)Contact
Ms. Debbie Wasserman Schultz(FL)Contact

Philadelphia
Mr. Thomas Marino(PA)Contact

South Carolina
Mr. Trey Gowdy (SC)Contact

Illinois
Mr. Mike Quigley (IL)Contact

Arizonia
Mr. Ben Quayle (AZ)Contact

Next to each persons name is the link to their website. On each website is a contact link with information on how to get in contact with the representative. We especially need citizens who live in the representatives district to make contact.

With your help, we can make HR2306 a reality and finally help end a foolish, senseless, racist, hate driven war against the people of this country. Help restore our economy and reduce our need for foreign supplies. Help patients be treated as first class citizens instead of 2nd rate drug junkies. Help reduce our prison population and bring justice to the non violent criminals being help against their will. Prohibition did not work with alcohol and it is not working with cannabis. We are creating black markets with cannabis prohibition, just like alcohol prohibition created Al Capone. Only this time most of the gangsters are located in Mexico. We are sending all of our money out of our country and into the hands of Mexican cartels with the prohibition policies in place.

It is time for real change and this bill is the first step in that direction. Please get involved and contact your representatives. I plan to contact mine and many others as well to really get the point across that we do not want this bill falling off the table never to be seen or heard from again.


cosponsors of HR 2306