Colorado, Oak Creek

[palmspringsbum]

Rep. Salazar asked to support medical marijuana

By Deborah Frazier
Rocky Mountain News
June 14, 2006

The rural northwestern Colorado town of Oak Creek has asked Rep. John Salazar to support a federal bill to bar the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from arresting, raiding or prosecuting patients who have a doctor's prescription to use marijuana for medical purposes.
Last week the town council passed a resolution proposed by Mayor Kathy Rodeman in support of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment which would stop the U.S. Justice Department from going after patients in the 11 states where medical marijuana is legal. The amendment failed last year, but is scheduled for a vote in the House this summer.

"There are a lot more serious problems plaguing this country than going after terminal patients," said Rodeman.

On Monday, the Oak Creek Town Board voted to ask Salazar to support the bill. He voted against the measure last year. Reps. Diana DeGette and Mark Udall, both D-Colo., voted in favor of the amendment along with Reps. Bob Beauprez and Tom Tancredo, both R-Colo.

A spokeswoman for Salazar said the congressman hadn't received the request and could not comment.