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Drug Policy : Marijuana Law Reform : Press Releases

ACLU Applauds Oregon Attorney General's Statement that Medical Marijuana Program Remains 100 Percent Legal (06/17/2005)
PORTLAND, OR - The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon expressed satisfaction that the state attorney general's office acknowledged today that Oregon's medical marijuana program remains in full force and effect despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week in Gonzales v. Raich. The attorney general's opinion means that the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) must immediately resume issuance of medical marijuana registry identification cards to qualified applicants - a process that DHS had temporarily suspended pending the attorney general's review.

ACLU of Alaska Calls on Attorney General to Clarify State's Commitment to Uphold Medical Marijuana Statute (06/16/2005)
JUNEAU, AK - The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska announced today that it has submitted a letter to the state attorney general's office requesting public acknowledgment of the continued validity of the state's medical marijuana law. The letter comes after newly appointed Alaska Attorney General David W. Márquez last week announced that the state's medical marijuana law was under review and could be declared inoperative following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gonzales v. Raich.

U.S. Attorney Retracts Threat of Prosecution After Receiving Demand from ACLU of Hawaii (06/13/2005)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii today said it appreciated the ""clarification"" of comments by U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo regarding doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

ACLU of Oregon Urges State Officials to Immediately Resume Medical Marijuana Card Program (06/09/2005)
PORTLAND, OR -- The American Civil Liberties of Oregon issued a letter today to the State Attorney General's office and the Department of Human Services urging the immediate resumption of the state's medical marijuana card program in compliance with state law.

ACLU of Hawaii Demands Immediate Retraction from U.S. Attorney (06/08/2005)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii (ACLU) demanded in a letter today that U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo immediately retract comments threatening to arrest doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

State Medical Marijuana Laws Remain Valid Despite U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Gonzales v. Raich, ACLU Says (06/06/2005)
WASHINGTON -- In response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling today in Gonzales v. Raich, that the federal government can enforce federal laws prohibiting the cultivation, possession, and use of medical marijuana even in states where medical marijuana is legal under state law, the American Civil Liberties Union urged state and local governments to protect individual patients and their caregivers.

Supreme Court Lets Stand Ruling Protecting Doctors and Patients From Government Censorship (10/14/2003)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to let stand a federal court of appeals ruling that allows doctors to discuss and recommend medical marijuana to patients. Today's announcement effectively upholds the medical marijuana provisions of seven states within the Ninth Circuit, where the original ruling was made.

ACLU Urges Supreme Court to Let Stand Ruling Allowing Doctors to Discuss Medical Marijuana (09/05/2003)
NEW HAVEN - The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a legal brief asking the United States Supreme Court to let stand a federal appeals court ruling that allows doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-threatening diseases.

Unanimous Federal Appeals Court Rejects Government's Attempt to Punish Doctors for Recommending Medical Marijuana (10/29/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO-- In a resounding rejection of the government's attempt to undermine the growing number of state medical marijuana laws, a federal appeals court today unanimously ruled that the government cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments Today in Medical Marijuana Case with National Impact (04/08/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a case that will likely decide the fate of most of the nation's medical marijuana laws, today the American Civil Liberties Union is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that the government cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients. 

ACLU Joins Diverse, Right-Left Coalition To Highlight Privacy Violations in Drug War (09/10/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The ongoing and misguided "War on Drugs" in this country has claimed a number of unintended casualties, not least of which is the right to privacy of many law-abiding American citizens. The American Civil Liberties Union is encouraged that so many advocacy groups from across the ideological spectrum have joined together to urge the Senate to address this issue. We ask Senators to question John Walters, the Administration's drug czar nominee, about how the "War on Drugs" has diminished our privacy. 

As Medical Marijuana Battle Moves to Appeals Court, ACLU Urges Protection of Doctors and their Patients (08/31/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a legal brief filed with a federal appeals court here today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the court to uphold a ruling that the federal authorities cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients. 

Buyers of Medicine to Be Fingerprinted (07/11/2001)
PULASKI, VA -- Patients in the small, southwest Virginia town of Pulaski will have to provide fingerprints at the area's six pharmacies to get OxyContin, as part of a novel law enforcement effort to curb widespread abuse of the prescription painkiller, The Washington Post reported. 

Government Cannot Punish Doctors Who Recommend Medical Marijuana, CA Court Says (09/08/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The American Civil Liberties Union today hailed a federal court ruling saying that federal authorities cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients.

ACLU Urges Federal Court to End Government Persecution Of Doctors Over Medical Marijuana (08/03/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged a federal court to permanently block the federal government from censoring or criminally prosecuting California doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

In a National First, Governor of Hawaii Signs First Legislative Medical Marijuana Bill (06/14/2000)
HONOLULU--The American Civil Liberties Union was one of the groups applauding today as Governor Ben Cayetano signed into law a measure that removes state-level criminal penalties for seriously ill people who grow, possess, and use marijuana with their doctors' approval.

High Court Agrees to Review Indiana Law Allowing Random Roadside Drug Searches (02/22/2000)
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court today agreed to review whether police can routinely set up traffic checkpoints with drug-sniffing dogs to stop motorists in a completely random effort to catch people who sell or use illegal drugs.

ACLU Urges Support for Maine Ballot Initiative on Medical Use of Marijuana (10/12/1999)
PORTLAND, ME -- The Maine Civil Liberties Union today urged voters to support "Question 2," a ballot measure that would allow the use of small amounts of marijuana for the medical treatment of people suffering from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, neurological seizures, and severe muscle spasticity.

Congress Begins Effort to Harm Patients, Undermine Democratic Process in DC (09/29/1999)
WASHINGTON -- A House committee today began the process of trying to undo the results of a free and fair election on a lawful initiative in which an overwhelming majority of District of Columbia voters approved the medical use of marijuana.

Federal Court Allows DC Government to Tally Medical Marijuana Initiative Vote (09/17/1999)
"Today's ruling is a tremendous victory for the First Amendment rights of DC voters and home rule," said Arthur Spitzer, Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area, which had filed the lawsuit last year. "We're delighted that the Federal court has so completely vindicated the rights of District residents." 

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