WASHINGTON DC, May 9th. California’s congressional delegation voted 34-18 in favor of House Resolution 4326, to cut off federal funding for DOJ raids on medical marijuana. Special thanks to CA Republicans Dana Rohrabacher (Huntington Beach) and Tom McClintock
(Granite Bay) plus Democrat Sam Farr (Monterey) for co-sponsoring the measure.
Although the measure failed the full house by a vote of 163-262, it picked up substantially more Republican support than the last time around in 2007, when a similar measure was defeated 165-262 in a much more Democratic Congress. Since Democrats have generally
been far more inclined to support medical marijuana than Republicans, the trend indicates growing bi-partisan support for changing federal policy.
CA Democrats voted overwhelmingly in favor of medical marijuana, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who did not vote last time because she was Speaker, and Rep. Jerry McNerney, who changed his vote from last time. Democrats voting “NO” included conservative “blue-dogs” Rep. Jim Costa (Fresno), Dennis Cardoza (Merced), and Joe Baca (San Bernardino). A puzzling “NO” came from liberal Democrat Maxine Waters (LA), who has previously been a reliable and vocal supporter of drug and prison reform measures.
CA Republicans opposed the funding cutoff, with the notable libertarian-leaning exceptions of Rep. Rohrabacher, McClintock, Ed Royce (Orange) and John Campbell (Newport Beach).
Absent for the vote was Rep. Bob Filner (D), regularly a solid vote for medical marijuana but now running for mayor of San Diego.