Medical pot law gains acceptance

S.F. Chronicle ^ | January 30, 2004 | Bob Egelko

[Imal]

The drug warriors have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal.

The fight against pot alone brings in billions of dollars to law enforcement agencies, lawyers, prison guards, support and treatment services, and the economy built around them.

Legalizing marijuana would also potentially open the door for liberalization of drug laws in general, threatenting the entire multi-trillion-dollar War on Drugs franchise.

They will not give up this incredible cash cow without a very nasty fight.

[steve50]

Is it really that difficult to grow your own if you truly use it for only your own consumption?

From what I hear it's no more difficult than growing tomatoes. People with the related medical expenses don't have many resources left to fight to keep their homes if the feds charge them tho.

A single user should be able to supply themselves with 3 or 4 plants and maybe twice as many clones. That would be my choice on cannabis law period, medical or recreational.

[Wolfie]

You two aren't paying attention. Patients and caregivers are being busted all the time by the Feds. As for me, I don't live in a medical marijuana State.

[Cultural Jihad]

I happen to be a consumer of cannabis products, but voted against this initiative when it was offered to the voters. I didn't see any need to legalize something which was already de facto legal for all responsible adult users already. Since then I have come to approve of this law, but have issues with the centralized way it is being administered by city governments.

[Stone Mountain]

Sounds like you don't know anyone who has suffered from these ridiculous laws. My best friend's wife is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, and the "anti-nausea" drugs they prescribed for her had such severe side effects, she had to quit taking them. Fortunately, I knew someone who was able to get her some marijuana (for free) and she is able to eat on a semi-regular basis now. I have yet to meet someone who has had a close friend or family member experience chemotherapy-induced nausea and is still against medical marijuana. It's all just a big political argument until it hits home with someone close to you...

[Conspiracy Guy]

When my Grandfather was going through chemo in the late 70's my brothers and I figured out ways to get it for him at tremendous risk to all of us.

I'd do it again if I had to. Leagalizing it for medical purposes is the minimum thing to do.

CG

[ClintonBeGone]

They will not give up this incredible cash cow without a very nasty fight.

They want the money, you want your dope. I suspect most will side with the government on this.

[Stone Mountain]

Seriously, where are the Henry David Thoreau's of the medical marijuana issue willing to accept any consequences for what they deeply believe in?

Ed Rosenthal was convicted in Federal court. Tommy Chong is serving time in prison right now. And there are thousands of others whose cases haven't been publicized who are accepting consequences of the War on Drugs....

[Wolfie]

Two reasons I can think to bring the law into line with the reality:

1) You don't have large numbers of people openly breaking the law, engendering disrespect for all laws;

2) And you get rid of the possibiblity of selective prosecution.

[coloradan]

Interesting how the libertines seems to oppose government and taxes in all aspects of our life except when it comes to providing them their dope.

CJ might be a libertine, but he's no libertarian, and no libertarian supports free, government-provided dope. Then again, it's "free" if you grow your own, and libertarians agree that should be allowed. But that doesn't cost the taxpayers a cent.

[Wolfie]

The most troubling development in the whole mess has been the nationalization of local police forces.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Ahhhh... Let the PotBot Freeper hysterical shrieking begin...

[Wolfie]

The "government provided" part is a nasty byproduct of the Feds ignoring States' rights, as patients and providers alike run to local gov'ts for protection from the Feds.

[CurlyDave]

...the pharmaceuticals have a product out that has all the canabiniods

A poster here has a script for marinol he claims runs him about $1,200 a month

The first claim is just absolutely false. Marinol contains only one of the many canabinoids in the real product. While it has a beneficial efffect in some instances, it does not have the multicomponent effect of marijuana.

I have no doubt about the $1200/month. This is your government in action, a less-effective drug at a vastly higher price.

[steve50]

The most troubling development in the whole mess has been the nationalization of local police forces.

And the methods used to "fund" these little multi county drug fighting units.

Saw an episode of the JBT worship series "COPS" the other nite where a guy was stopped in a "high risk" area of the city just for being there. He had no drugs in the vehicle but $300 in cash on his person. The cops claimed legal grounds to keep the cash.

[aodell]

This camel's nose won't be poking into the tent for very long. His whole damn body will be sitting in there, blowing his smoke in all our faces.

[steve50]

The first claim is just absolutely false.

The first claim is absolutely true, I didn't say it was marinol. It's a product out of Britain by GW Pharmaceuticals, it has all the properties of cannabis that cause the "high". It's basically giving GW a patent on orange juice so they can forbid the medical user from growing oranges.

[missyme]

HI Cultural Jihad...You already know what I think..:-)

[cinFLA]

So far, the law is just a Full Employment Act For Crony Marijuana Growers.

"Imler said Peron grossed about $500,000 a week selling marijuana to people suffering from the effects of AIDS, cancer and glaucoma."

[missyme]

It is very easy to grow Marijuana especially in California due to the weather and soil, Farmers could have there own Marijuana groves if they so desired.

Medical Marijuana is not the hippie smoking herb it was known as, many medical professionals realize there are ailments that it can help people with.

PAIN KILLERS: Such as Codeine, Vicodin Darvocet which are on the rise are highly addictive and can cause many problems with here long term use.