Friday, October 23, 2009

Medical Marijuana

Reason.com ran an article today which traced the background of the medical marijuana situation.

In 1973, Robert Randall was going blind from glaucoma when he discovered that smoking marijuana seemed to help his condition. That didn't matter to police when they found the Washington, D.C., resident growing cannabis and arrested him. Preferring to keep his sight, Randall sued the federal government, arguing that he was entitled to smoke pot as a "medical necessity."

It was a far-fetched argument—but it worked. In 1976, a court ruled in Randall's favor. Before long, the federal government found itself in the strange position of supplying marijuana to him and a handful of other patients under a "compassionate use" program.

This week, the Justice Department kept a promise made by candidate Barack Obama when it announced that henceforth, "it will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana."

The liberals are all cheering, the conservatives are either lambasting or mocking the President. Only Phuck Politics had this to say.

"...he didn’t change jack shit. He didn’t sign any legislation barring the Justice Department from arresting medical marijuana patients. He didn’t tell Congress to draft legislation barring the Justice Department from arresting medical marijuana patients. And he hasn’t condemned the Justice Department from raiding dispensaries the last time he promised this shit .

So this is just Obama’s go to move when his base is pissed off.

And his base bought it hook, line, and sinker, because they’re praising his name...

Except me. Because I don’t trust this corporate whore.

What's your opinion? Is Phuck Politics on to something here? Is this really a nothing move while the big deals are all up in the air, Health reform and Afghanistan, to name two?

I must admit, after starting out as an unabashed Obama fan one year ago, I am beginning to have my doubts. Several promises have been completely ignored and a number of Bush policies continued. I don't know what to think. What about you?

Please leave a comment.

6 comments:

  1. I appreciate what Obama did, but I really think it's time to just legalize pot. Not only would it add money to government's coffers, it would push gangs and criminals out of the drug business, or at least the marijuana business.

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  2. "which traced the background of the medical marijuana situation.

    In 1973,"

    Uhm...you might want to ask some native Americans about the "background of medical marijuana."

    Goes back a bit further than 1973.

    "Several promises have been completely ignored and a number of Bush policies continued."

    Which is why the NRA has been kicking politicians, both repugs and demoncrats alike, to the curb since 1871.

    We ain't going away anytime soon.

    Best people like you work with us instead of the futile effort of trying to defeat us.

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  3. @Anonymous - The government would never do that because it makes too much sense.

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  4. @Mike - Here's another article from Reason that quotes the DEA as saying nothing will change.

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  5. Right you are, kaveman. The history of medical marijuana goes way back.

    Thanks for the link, PP.

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  6. phuckpolitics,

    I have a feeling California might.

    1. We need the money
    2. Not much opposition to it. It's politically viable in this state.

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