Madison NORML

I sent this letter in response, although, with all due respect, I do not expect the Cap Times to publish anything so unfavorable about a "progressive" like Mr. Obey, exemplified by a column today by editor Dave Zweifel, referring to the Dionne piece and lavishing more praise on Obey. In an earlier letter, published after the Supreme Court ruling, I did manage to again raise the point that Obey was in office when Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, and likely voted for it, creating this problem in the first place, by voting that marijuana has no medical use. You can read that letter, "Ask Congress To Push For States' Rights On Laws" click here

Dear Editor,

I found E.J. Dionne's recent love song to Congressman David Obey quite ironic, "Courage Of Dave Obey Is An Example To All Of Us" (June 27).

Dionne quotes Obey as saying, "You can't win fights unless you wage them," and comments, "maybe when he leaves Congress, no time soon, I hope, Obey can run seminars on courage - and faithfulness.

In September 2003, I was in the Rayburn building in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. lobbying Congress with other medical marijuana patients. click here We came across Rep. Obey in a hallway and thanked him for his vote on a budget amendment that would have prohibited the use of federal funds to go after medical marijuana patients in states where it is legal. We then asked him to cosponsor bipartisan legislation that would reschedule marijuana so doctors can prescribe it and allow states to set their own policies.

Obey's response was an angry, "If there is one thing I've learned in my 34 years in Congress, it's not to cosponsor bills that don't have a chance, because it makes me look like a fool to my colleagues".

I doubt the sponsors of the bill, people like Reps. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Gerry Nadler, Henry Waxman, Dana Rohrabacher, Ron Paul, Pete Stark, Dennis Kucinich or any of the other 44 cosponsors of HR 2233 click here that session or the 36 cosponsor of HR 2087 this session including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi click here would appreciate being characterized as fools by Congressman Obey.

The reason the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act died in committee every time it was introduced is because representatives like Obey lack courage. If he won't wage the fight, how does he expect to win? Obey's obstinacy on this issue points up the need for term limits at both the federal and state level. A lot more would be accomplished if representatives served only a few terms and returned to private life rather than selling out their principles so they can remain in office for decades.

Gary Storck
(contact info)

To his credit, Obey has voted for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Hinchey amendments. But if he wants to be known as a fighter, why won't he stick up for patients by cosponsoring the States Rights Act (HR 2087 this session)? If he is a leader, he should lead by example and become a cosponsor. That alone will bring more cosponsors to the bill. And then maybe some day it will actually get a hearing and the up or down vote the people who need this medicine are looking for.

Here are links to some letters to the editor regarding Obey's refusal to cosponsor I have had published over the last few years:

Sat, 11 Aug 2001: Capital Times: Obey Should Discuss Medicinal Marijuana
click here

Thu, 12 Jun 2003: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: Obey Fails To Support Pot Bill
click here

Sat, 19 Jul 2003: Wausau Daily Herald: Support Medical Marijuana Bill click here

Sat, 01 Nov 2003: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram: Obey Can Help Right A Wrong
click here