Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Charles Thomas, Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative executive director, 301-938-1577

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several major religious denominations have joined the national movement for compassionate medical marijuana legislation. Their supportive positions are being distributed to Congress this week. The Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative (IDPI) is targeting U.S. House members who belong to these denominations, including the United Methodist Church – the nation’s third-largest denomination – which recently passed a medical marijuana resolution.

“The politicians who oppose medical marijuana often make ‘morality’ arguments,” said Charles Thomas, executive director of the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative. “Yet six major denominations advocate legal medical marijuana, and no denominations have taken a position against it. Where did these politicians get their concepts of morality?”

IDPI is urging Congress to pass an amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations bill to prohibit the use of federal funds to arrest and punish medical marijuana patients and providers in those states that allow it. [This amendment was first proposed by Rep. Hinchey (D-NY) and Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA) last session, but it did not receive a sufficient number of votes for passage.]

A statement proclaiming that “seriously ill people should not be subject to criminal sanctions for using marijuana if the patient’s physician has told the patient that such use is likely to be beneficial,” has been signed by the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church and Society, Progressive National Baptist Convention, and Unitarian Universalist Association. Similar positions have been adopted by the Union for Reform Judaism, Episcopal Church, and United Church of Christ. More than 120 U.S. Representatives belong to these denominations.

Since 1996, ten states have enacted laws allowing the medical use of marijuana. The Bush Administration has responded by imprisoning medical marijuana patients and providers in these states. A timely example of this injustice is Bryan Epis, who on Wednesday will be in federal court to appeal his 10-year prison sentence for growing medical marijuana for himself and other patients in compliance with California state law.

“Medical marijuana is an issue of mercy,” said Thomas. “Being seriously ill is stressful enough already. Patients who follow their doctors’ advice to use marijuana shouldn’t have to live in constant fear of arrest and jail. It is the duty of religious denominations to stand up for vulnerable people who are being wronged. We pray that Congress will have the compassion to stop the Bush Administration’s War on Patients.”

The denominations’ full positions, a list of states that allow medical marijuana, and other details are available from IDPI.

Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative, P.O. Box 6299, Washington, D.C. 20015
Phone: 301-933-7681 Fax:301-933-7682