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Congress shows its divide on medical marijuana amendment to spending bill

  If there's any doubt that Michigan is divided over medical marijuana, just take a look at a vote in Congress Friday.
  The U.S. House passed an amendment to a spending bill that restricts the Drug Enforcement Administration from using money to target medical marijuana businesses that comply with their states' laws.
  Michigan's 14 members were evenly split on the amendment, with two not voting. The House was also split, passing the amendment 219-189. Here's how the Michigan voting shook out:


  Voting in favor of the amendment were Republicans Justin Amash from Cascade Township, Kerry Bentivolio from Milford, Fred Upton from Saint Joseph, and Democrats Gary Peters from Bloomfield Township, Dan Kildee from Flint Township, and John Conyers from Detroit.
  Voting against were Republicans Dave Camp from Midland, Candice Miller from Harrison Township, Tim Walberg from Tipton, Mike Rogers from Howell, Bill Huizenga from Zeeland and Democrat Sander Levin from Royal Oak.
  Not voting were Dan Benishek from Iron County and John Dingell from Dearborn.
  Summing up the divide were Peters and Rogers.
  "Representative Peters believes that voters in Michigan should be able to make these choices for themselves," his spokeswoman Tatiana Winograd said Friday. "Having the federal government intervene is not only a waste of taxpayer dollars, it undermines the state's ability to implement programs supported and voted in Michigan."
  Countered Rogers: "I opposed this measure because I believe the benefits of medical marijuana do not outweigh the risks of legalizing access to this dangerous drug."

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