The LA Times pushes the Obama Administration toward a sensible, long-term medical marijuana policy
March 10th, 2009Posted by Kris Hermes
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is currently working with the Obama Administration to change federal policy with regard to medical cannabis (marijuana). So, it was with unbridled enthusiasm that I explained to the editorial department of the Los Angeles Times last week what it meant for the recently seated Attorney General Eric Holder to embrace a “new American policy.” As I extolled the virtues of suspending the federal government’s enforcement policy of raiding medical cannabis dispensaries in California, I also explained that we were not stopping there with what we expected from a new federal policy.
In advance of President Obama taking office, ASA put together a set of policy recommendations so that we had a vehicle to advance sensible changes to what has been an incredibly harmful strategy of attacking medical cannabis patients and undermining the laws of California and other states. With President Obama’s campaign promise that he “would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users,” advocates had something with which to hold the new president’s feet to the fire. It was further gratifying for the White House to make a statement to the Washington Times after President Obama took office clarifying that, “federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws.” And, most recently, in a press conference on February 25th, Holder affirmed earlier statements in regard to suspending the use of Justice Department funds to enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have adopted protections for medical cannabis patients.
Therefore, it was with great excitement that I read in Monday’s Los Angeles Times an editorial that agreed with the direction of the Justice Department in this regard, but also stated the need to advance beyond simply suspending enforcement. If the new Administration wanted to curtail enforcement, why would it want to continue prosecuting the more than twenty pending federal cases involving medical cannabis? And, why would it want to let state law-abiding citizens languish in federal prison for sentences ranging from 5 to 20 years? And, why was the Justice Department still threatening landlords of medical cannabis providers with criminal prosecution and seizure of their property? The Times rightly concluded that, “Stopping the raids is certainly worthwhile…but as a long-term policy, it is unworkable,” and that, “The country needs a comprehensive policy, not just a wink and a nod.”
And, it was with even greater excitement that I read in today’s Los Angeles Times a follow-up editorial that the federal government should end its monopoly on the cultivation of medical cannabis used for research, which has created “a dearth of academic research into its therapeutic properties.” Again, the Times rightly concluded that instead of obstructing it, “the DEA should encourage cannabis research.”
It is opinions like that of the Los Angeles Times editorial board that will help push the Obama Administration into an era of common sense and compassion for our most vulnerable citizens. Medical marijuana is not a band-aid for otherwise effective treatment protocols; it is a treatment protocol itself. Likewise, Holder and the rest of the Obama Administration should not look to a band-aid-like quick fix for medical marijuana. It should develop the long-term comprehensive policies being called for by advocates and the Los Angeles Times alike.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Although cannabis was a medicinal plant for thousands of years, its medical use was suppressed and banned throughout most of the 20th century in the US. During this time, major scientific breakthroughs were made in Israel, Spain, Italy and Brazil. These breakthroughs are propelling the natural plant compounds called cannabinoids into the “wonder drugs of the 21st century”.
13 states have already legalized medicinal cannabis.
More on this topic…
http://jeffreydach.com/2009/03/09/cannabinoids-miracle-drug-of-the-21st-century-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
Jeffrey Dach MD
March 12th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Dear Safe Access Now,
I want to share with you an email I’ve written today to California Senator Barbara Boxer, which I also sent to Senator Feinstein, who yesterday informed me by reply that although she favors decriminalizing medical marijuana, she is against full legalization. Wherefore, I’ve written the both the following, to legalize medical marijuana at the federal level. I trust it doesn’t interfere with your own legalization efforts:
“Dear Senator Boxer,
I am emailing you to express my frustration with the non-compliance of San Bernardino County law enforcement to obey State Law regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. Law enforcement must follow State Law according to the State Constitution, and leave federal law enforcement to federal agencies.
In view of the huge public support for legalizing marijuana and for improving, if anything, it’s medicinal potency as George Washington did with his indica strain for years on his estate in Mr. Vernon, the prejudiced, unfair inclusion of marijuana in federal narcotics criminalization should be rescinded. Many past presidents smoked hemp for enjoyment and relief, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor and Franklin Pierce. Many people across all walks of life have used marijuana throughout human history.
There is nothing different about today vs yesterday with respect to marijuana, except that U.S. and world governments had moved to restrict personal freedoms with respect to all drug use in the 20th Century. This followed the Victorian era and all of the arch conservative repressive thinking that Queen engendered on “the colonies”, one hundred years after our own American Revolution freed us from the direct oppressive rule of such a monarchy.
Marijuana is necessary medicine, and federal law unfairly restricts it, in conflict with overwhelmingly approved state law.
Please give your support to catching up federal law with state law. How can we make progress when the federal government is blocking the road?
To say that marijuana, one of the most remarkable plants God made, is no different than heroin or cocaine is ridiculous. The only thing that makes marijuana attractive to criminals is the fact that it is illegal. This is what gives them an opportunity to take advantage of others. Just like with Prohibition of alcohol, marijuana prohibition has brought a huge bootleg crime industry. Legalizing marijuana, simply put, would take it away from crime and give it to patients and all who desire it.
George Washington wrote in 1765 of separating males from female hemp plants before they went to seed, which increases the medicinal value of the flowers of the female plants. He often swapped his smoking hemp with Thomas Jefferson as personal gifts, and wrote in 1794, “Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp and sow it everywhere.” James Madison once said that hemp gave him insight to create a new and democratic nation, according to Dr. Burke, president of the American Historical Reference Society.
Senator Boxer, won’t you help remove the federal marijuana restrictions for medical marijuana use? To fail to do so would be to label our founding fathers criminals, which is the very height of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is a Republican trait, not a Democratic virtue.”
Yours very truly,
David Bowman
Rancho Cucamonga, CA