Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana Defense in Drug Cases

Yahoo - Reuters -- U.S. lawmakers have launched an effort that would allow defendants from states with legalized medical marijuana to use "medical necessity" as a defense against federal drug charges.

"This is about due process. It's not about pot," said Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., who co-authored the measure with Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, R-Calif.

The bill was motivated by the conviction of Ed Rosenthal, an Oakland-based marijuana activist who was found guilty in January of violating federal drug laws.

Rosenthal was licensed by Oakland to grow and distribute cannabis under a California medical marijuana statute, but the judge in his case prevented Rosenthal's attorney from informing the jury that the action was legal in that state.