Medical Marijuana Updates

bullet image According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday, 81% of Americans support legalization of medical marijuana.

I’ve got a question for the Democrats who keep saying that the party doesn’t dare waste its political capital on an issue like medical marijuana…. just how popular does something have to be before you’re willing to be seen on the dance floor with it?

bullet image I agree with Mark Kleiman:

And the demand that cannabis be shown to be better than something else, rather than merely safe and effective, before it’s approved strikes me as wrong-headed. People vary in their reactions to drugs, so giving doctors and patients more options is generally better.

This issue tests the commitment of the Obama Administration to science-based policy.

bullet image In case you missed it. NJ medical marijuana bill is signed into law

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has signed legislation granting chronically ill patients legal access to marijuana.

Corzine’s office said the governor signed the bill late Monday, his last full day in office. Gov.-elect Chris Christie will be sworn in Tuesday.

New Jersey is the 14th state to allow patients with diseases such as cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis to use marijuana to alleviate their pain and other symptoms.

The legislation allows for dispensaries to be set up around the state where patients with prescriptions can access the drug.

bullet image New York Times: Researchers Find Study of Medical Marijuana Discouraged

Despite the Obama administration’s tacit support of more liberal state medical marijuana laws, the federal government still discourages research into the medicinal uses of smoked marijuana. […] “The more it becomes clear to people that the federal government is blocking these studies, the more people are willing to defect by using politics instead of science to legalize medicinal uses at the state level,” said Rick Doblin, executive director of a nonprofit group dedicated to researching psychedelics for medical uses.

bullet image Wall Street Journal: Is Marijuana a Medicine?

Researchers say it’s difficult to get funding and federal approval for marijuana research. In November, the AMA urged the federal government to review marijuana’s position in the most-restricted category of drugs, so it could be studied more easily.

It’s a fairly detailed article about different aspects of medical marijuana use. One nice thing to see at the end of the piece…

… but a large 2006 study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, found no tie to lung cancer.

bullet image Scott Morgan: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Don’t Attract Crime, They Prevent it

Banks are robbed constantly by angry gun-wielding assholes, but you’ve never heard anyone lobbying to keep them 1,000 feet away from schools and parks. Meanwhile, the biggest security threat at the dispensaries has typically been the DEA (and yes, they were routinely grabbing money from dispensaries at gunpoint until the DOJ told them to find something better to do)

The very notion of dispensaries attracting crime is largely illogical on its face, given that the whole purpose of their existence is to remove sick people from the black-market marijuana economy. Legal medical marijuana providers reduce crime on a massive scale simply by opening their doors each day.

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7 Responses to Medical Marijuana Updates

  1. InsanityRules says:

    The fact that 81% of Americans agree on ANYTHING other than fireworks on the Fourth of July and no baseball games in November is truly amazing. 81% of Americans supporting something that is ILLEGAL in most of the country is simply astounding.

    When are the pols going to catch up? Only when the reform lobby starts getting the knuckle-draggers thrown out of office.

  2. Lee says:

    You would think that one of the two parties would try and get out in front of this.

    But I guess I am giving them way too much credit for having even a iota of common sense.

  3. BluOx says:

    “one of the two parties” (republicrats)…they need a revenue delivery scheme first.As taxes are diminishing, new schemes must be developed. Then comes legalization/taxes.

  4. ezrydn says:

    The next two elections (2010 & 2012) will be the People’s chance to both be heard and make some needed changes. If they’re smart, they’ll look beyond the two major parties. Congress, and the White House, just need to be reminded, from time to time, who’s really in charge. They forget that “We, the People, in order to form a more perfect union…….” We are employERS. They are employEES.

  5. DdC says:

    California Supreme Court strikes down limits on medical marijuana possession January 21, 2010 | 11:50 am
    The California Supreme Court today struck down the state’s limits on how much medical marijuana a patient can possess, concluding that the restrictions imposed by the Legislature were an unconstitutional amendment of a 1996 voter-approved initiative.
    — John Hoeffel

    Politicians and Cops are not necessary!

    na na na na na na! When will these local yokal peckerheads realize a Citizens Initiative rules over any politikopsucker tweaking? Just more wasted taxes trying to stop people from Ganja. The fact some are sick people is testimony of how far gone these egotrippers are. The Drug Worrier is entering the phase of the KKK, McCarthyists and Nazi’s as we the people start to sober up. Shunned as outcast the same as their predicessor slavers, block auctioneers and slave owners. Benadict Aunuld’s and Uncle Tom Cliarence. No more Boss Tweeds or Drug Czars!

    Note. Compassionate Use Act not the MMJ Act

    or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.

    Any individual who provides assistance

    A designated primary caregiver who transports, processes, administers, delivers, or gives away marijuana for medical purposes.

  6. dirty dirty says:

    i can’t believe that 81% agree with it but only a few keep the 81% from having it.common sense and logic at it’s finest. politic-ing at it’s greatest. keeping people divided among themselves, is just typical. i think 81% is enough to say that the leaders aren’t listening to the people. impeachment!!!

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