From California, where lawmakers may legalize marijuana, to New Jersey, which implemented a medical use law Jan. 19, states are taking unprecedented steps to loosen marijuana restrictions, says USA Today. Advocates of legalizing marijuana say generational, political, and cultural shifts have taken the nation to a moment that could topple 40 years of tough restrictions on both medicinal and recreational marijuana use. A Gallup Poll last October found 44 percent favor making marijuana legal, an eight-point jump since in 2005.
Attorney General Eric Holder says raiding medical marijuana facilities is the lowest priority for U.S. law enforcement agents — a major shift that is spurring many states to re-examine their policies. At least 14 states this year — some deeply conservative and Republican-leaning, such as Kansas — will consider legalizing pot for medical purposes or lessening the penalties for possessing small amounts for personal use. Fourteen other states and the District of Columbia already have liberalized their marijuana laws. "The Obama administration opposes smoking marijuana for its medicinal benefit, says Tom McLellan, deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He says more research is needed to deliver the medically useful ingredients in a non-smokable form. "We have the safest medications in the world and it's not a coincidence. We have an enviable process by which we approve medications, and that's through the (Food and Drug Administration)," he says. "It's a bad idea to approve medication by popular vote."
Posted by TeacherWifeMomOf3
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 02:47
I have 3 children and a husband. I am prescribed valuum for anxiety and hydrocodone for pain. However with no insurance the meds can get pricy. I am a substitute teacher who is losing her job at the end of this school year because the school can’t afford them. We don’t have the greatest income to support a family of 5 and a $900 rent. I can smoke a joint and it completely eliminates the need for valuum. I have insomnia so marijuana is a life saver for a busy mom. I coach little league, go to church, volunteer for United Way. I am the most normal person you would never guess I smoke. My daughter told me that when she grows up and becomes president, she wants to make it legal because it makes me a better mom. I have anxiety and it calms me down so I can do homework with the kids and play outside without having an attack or vomiting from the pain killers. The president who (shredded) the real test results on pot should have had criminal charges filed. There needs to be a real government test and the real results sent straight to the white house
Posted by mike
Sunday, March 14, 2010 03:59
Enough talk and bs already. We all know what the answer is here: reschedule and FREE THE WEED
Posted by Marianne Bays
Sunday, March 14, 2010 10:05
The statement about Obama’s position is misleading. As I understand it, no one in his administration is willing to stand up and say that marijuana does or does not have medicinal benefit because the US has not sanctioned any research for years.
However, the emphasis of the statement about smoking medicinal marijuana should be on “smoking” (and they are not quoting Obama, they are quoting his stupid Drug Czar). Smoking as the method of ingestion for medical marijuana is a major hang up for many, despite promising research showing no connection to cancer.
Smoking cannabis will continue to be popular, as it is the most controllable quickest way to get the dosage needed. However, there are many alternatives available that don’t involve smoking, too. So, this argument is easily overcome.
Posted by malcolm kyle
Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:09
Let me be clear; drug prohibition is killing our society!
Prohibition is a sickening horror and the ocean of human wreckage it has left in its wake is almost endless.
Based on the unalterable proviso that drug use is essentially an unstoppable and ongoing human behavior which has been with us since the dawn of time, any serious reading on the subject of past attempts at any form of drug prohibition would point most normal thinking people in the direction of sensible regulation. By its very nature prohibition cannot fail but create a vast increase in criminal activity, and rather than preventing society from descending into anarchy, it actually fosters an anarchic business model – the international Drug Trade. Any decisions concerning quality, quantity, distribution and availability are then left in the hands of unregulated, anonymous, ruthless drug dealers, who are interested only in the huge profits involved.
Prohibition ideology is based on lies and the ‘War on Drugs’ is a de facto ‘war on people’ (some might even successfully argue that it’s a de facto race war). Prohibition has decimated generations and criminalized millions for a behavior which is entwined in human existence, and for what other purpose than to uphold the defunct and corrupt thinking of a minority of misguided, self-righteous Neo-Puritans and degenerate demagogues who wish nothing but unadulterated destruction on the rest of us!
Posted by Drifter33333
Thursday, March 11, 2010 05:59
The USFDA inspectors take samples for testing and keep a couple for their own…Ask any American importer in the United States…FDA personal keep many of the samples they collect to use for themselves! Obama you are barking up the wrong tree this time mister.
Posted by Cole
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 04:49
the murders from the cartel is from a power strugle going on do to the release of a major drug lord in mexico so get the fact strait, its not relaited to the legalization of medical marijuana and i support the legalization of marijuana 100%. I have done tons of reasearch on the subject, you should do the same before you make any more assumtions because everyone knows what happens when you ass-u-me something.
Posted by RP2012
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 04:16
“If people let government decide which foods they eat and medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
Thomas Jefferson
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty
Thomas Jefferson.
“A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another; shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement” – Thomas Jefferson
“We have allowed our nation to be over taxed and over regulated and overrun by bureaucrats, the founders would be ashamed of us for what we’re putting up with” Ron Paul
Posted by Vocal Citizen
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 01:24
If Obama believes people who smoke cannabis are criminals who should be prosecuted under our current laws, he should go turn himself in to the cops and resign as president.
Posted by Bill
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:59
JOBS!!!!! Is the reason this is taking so long. If we legalized marijuana, we would have to cut tens of thousands of jobs in the law enforcement industry from local police, DEA agents, and prison staff. That’s a lot of people that would be out of work. What makes it even harder are the lobbyists from the medical, paper, industrial, and clothing industries that would take a huge profit hit if marijuana/hemp were legalized. It will happen but the people are going to have to rally to see this change, because to many politicians are scared to back legislation that will cut jobs and stand up to the corporations.
But just think of all the people that could have jobs in this field that are already in the underground industry. There are a lot of people that would probably find work if this industry were ever legit Growers, transporters, sales reps, and people to work the stores where marijuana would be sold. What America could see is a lot of people that were not paying taxes before would start paying them, because the industry would no longer be underground
But that wouldn’t help all of those law enforcement officials that lost their job. Sure you could reassign them to fight other drugs, but the fact of the matter is that marijuana is accounts for way over half of drug crimes, and accounts for a large percentage of prisoners.
I hope everyone understands now why such a harmless plant is considered America’s number one threat. If you really want to see change join NORML and help them fight to end this pointless war on pot. Even if you don’t care if marijuana becomes legal at least join the cause to tell your representatives your tired of corporate interests having more power than the voters.
Posted by Bill
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:58
JOBS!!!!! Is the reason this is taking so long. If we legalized marijuana, we would have to cut tens of thousands of jobs in the law enforcement industry from local police, DEA agents, and prison staff. That’s a lot of people that would be out of work. What makes it even harder are the lobbyists from the medical, paper, industrial, and clothing industries that would take a huge profit hit if marijuana/hemp were legalized. It will happen but the people are going to have to rally to see this change, because to many politicians are scared to back legislation that will cut jobs and stand up to the corporations.
But just think of all the people that could have legal jobs in this field that are already in the underground industry. There are a lot of people that would probably find work if this industry were ever legit Growers, transporters, sales reps, and people to work the stores where marijuana would be sold. What America could see, is a lot of people that were not paying taxes before would start paying them, because the industry would no longer be underground
But that wouldn’t help all of those law enforcement officials that lost their jobs. Sure you could reassign them to fight other drugs, but the fact of the matter is that marijuana accounts for way over half of drug crimes, and accounts for a large percentage of prisoners.
I hope everyone understands now why such a harmless plant is considered America’s number one threat. If you really want to see change join NORML and help them fight to end this pointless war on pot. Even if you don’t care if marijuana becomes legal at least join the cause to tell your representatives your tired of corporate interests having more power than the voters.
Posted by lynnzy
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:03
What is Obama saying that we can’t legalise marijuana due to popular vote? Screw that, we have a right to govern ourselves. Obama does not know best…. he’s just playing a ‘popular’ game is what he is doing, or he thinks he is, or he’s playing to his daughters. If that’s the case, he needs to get back on the stick and realise that we people elected him, not the republicans and not his daughters. If everyone wants it legalised and taxed then it should be or we should vote out obama and get someone in there who will legalise it, or reschedule it, or even make it a law that the FEDS can not raid dispensaries in any state ever..
Posted by TheWeedBlog
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 09:44
Marijuana use itself is not that bad, it’s the marijuana laws that are the problem. If someone chooses to consume marijuana, they should do it responsibly. The first step toward re-education on marijuana is getting people to realize what the current laws are. Depending on which state you are in, you can get jail time and hefty fines for just testing positive for marijuana or possessing a used pipe. Want to know what the marijuana laws are in your state? Go to www.theweedblog.com to find out. There is lots of interesting stuff on that site.
Posted by TheWeedBlog
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 09:43
Marijuana use itself is not that bad, it’s the marijuana laws that are the problem. If someone chooses to consume marijuana, they should do it responsibly. The first step toward re-education on marijuana is getting people to realize what the current laws are. Depending on which state you are in, you can get jail time and hefty fines for just testing positive for marijuana or possessing a used pipe. Want to know what the marijuana laws are in your state? Go to http://www.theweedblog.com to find out. There is lots of interesting stuff on that site.
Posted by TYC
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 07:19
It’s well past time to quit playing Al Capone and Elliott Ness.
Legalize (again)
Posted by FredaMae
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 07:12
The FDA? Safe?
C’mon, that’s simply Not true. The FDA as it is currently functioning is Not the “safety mechanism” I would rely upon. More than 250,000 people succumb to the adverse reactions Annually from “FDA Approved Safe” drugs.
No one has died from Smoked or any other form of Cannabis. The LD-50 Rating is 1:20,000-1:40,000. Why does Pres. Obama Feel the Need to have the FDA involved when there are NO Indications it is Harmful??
There Are medication delivery devices called Vaporizers that are Smokeless. But…Again, there are NO indications that “Smoked Cannabis” Harms a person.
Lets just talk the Truth about Why the Prohibition is being supported by the Gov’t, shall we? Health Concerns are NOT the truth!
I really thought I heard Obama state he would use “Science” and Not Propaganda and Not cow-tow to the “special interests”
Posted by Jillian
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 04:41
7,000 people were murdered by the cartels last year because we in the US kept marijuana illegal. This year they’re on track to kill at least 9,000. Who supports keeping it illegal?