San Francisco –  Patients, doctors and activists are gathering at noon today at the offices of their Representatives to the U.S. House to either praise or protest them, as part of the 2nd annual National Medical Marijuana Action Week. Each of the targeted members of Congress will receive a certificate either thanking or condemning their votes on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, recent federal legislation which would have de-funded DEA raids on medical marijuana patients.  

Patients, doctors and advocates are all calling on Congress to take action to change the federal law that prohibits the medicinal use of marijuana. With increasing public support that cuts across all political lines (80%, according to a 2002 Time/CNN poll), politicians are being asked to pass legislation currently before them.

Activists hope to encourage individual members of Congress to support The Truth in Trials Act (HR1717), recently introduced legislation that would at least give medical marijuana patients and caregivers an opportunity to present a defense in federal court. A Senate version is expected to be introduced this week by Richard Durbin of Illinois. The activists are also asking their representatives to back the States’ Right to Medical Marijuana Act (HR2233), which would “provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.”

WHAT: Protest and certificate presentations at Congressional offices across the country.

WHEN: Noon, Wednesday, February 18, 2004.

WHERE: Selected local offices of members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

WHO: Affected patients, concerned doctors and other advocates for safe and legal access to medicinal marijuana.

For interviews or more information, contact William Dolphin at (510) 919-1498 or asa@williamdolphin.com. A national coalition of 5,500 patients, doctors and advocates, Americans for Safe Access is the largest organization working solely on medical marijuana. 

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