Sign up for 5280's weekly e-newsletters. Want the latest restaurant scoop? The latest happenings around town? Access to exclusive events and deals just for 5280 readers? Tom Tancredo and I may not see eye to eye on immigration politics, but when it comes to the politics of medical marijuana, I have to give him credit. He broke with Republicans yesterday to vote for the Hinchey- Rohrabacher Amendment which would bar the U.S. Department of Justice (including the D.E.A.) from using taxpayer funds to conduct medical marijuana raids or arrest and prosecute users in the 11 states, including Colorado, where voters have approved medical marijuana. He’s done the same since 2004, as has Rep. Bob Beauprez. True, their votes are based on their support for states’ rights rather than medical marijuana, but in my view they deserve some credit for supporting the amendment.
Yesterday’s final vote tally is here. Colorado Republican Congresspersons Marilyn Musgrave and Joel Hefley voted against the bill, as did Democrat John Salazar. Reps. Diana DeGette and Mark Udall voted for it. The Amendment failed by a vote of 163 to 259. But, more Republicans voted for it this year than last year, which is viewed by backers as progress.
Posted 6/29/2006 at 5:36 am by Jeralyn Merritt
Politics :: Permalink :: Comments (1)
I was sitting next to Tancredo’s opponent in CD-6, Bill Winter, while he was questioning marijunana reform advocate, Mason Tvert of SAFER.
Bill asked some great questions, and raised concerns about the racial implications of our current drug enforcement policies and the cross-border implications of laws that favor the American tobacco lobby.
It would be interesting to see how Tancredo sees this issue in conjunction with border issues.
Personally, I would be just as happy asking him the question on his way out the door. I am more of the Deport Tancredo/Support Winter camp.
In fact, Bill is competing in a contest at http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers
If Bill finishes today in the top 5 (he keeps moving between 5 and 6) He will get some money and a chance to bring Mark Warner out to Colorado for a fundraiser.
If national money starts coming in on the Dem side, Tancredo’s marijuana vote might be the last time we will have to be grateful for a reasonable vote. There may come a day when we expect them from our new Representative as a matter of course.