Inside sources at the office of Congressmember Nancy Pelosi from San Francisco have privately indicated that the newly elected House Speaker and local Congressional Representatives are waiting to hear from supporters of cannabis reform.

The staff member said on condition of anonymity that while recent polls show some 80 percent public support for ending the war on medical marijuana patients, there have been only about 100 phone calls made to her office on the topic over the past year, compared to multiple-thousands of contacts on other hot button issues, like senior benefits and health care.

The staffer indicated that Pelosi needs to hear from a lot more voters in order to get the new Congress to make the issue a priority. They also indicated that having a companion bill introduced into the Senate would add impetus by showing that there is a chance of putting a bill before the president. Matching legislation has to be adopted by both houses of Congress before it can be signed into law.    

“The clear solution is for Oaksterdam News readers to contact Rep. Pelosi’s office (415-556-4862, sf.nancy@mail. house.gov) and tell her to get the States Rights to Medical Marijuana act passed this spring,” said Chris Conrad of the Family Council on Drug Awareness.    

“The real key might well lie in getting Senator Barbara Boxer (415-403-0100, or online emailboxer.senate.gov/contact/ email/index .cfm) to introduce a similar bill in the US Senate and then pressure Feinstein to agree to back it.    

“It’s time for supporters of medical rights to make some noise and be heard.”