Obama's Shift on Medical Marijuana Policy 'Disastrous'
WASHINGTON (BP) --- The Obama administration's "surrender to bad state
policies on so-called medicinal marijuana will have disastrous
effects," a Southern Baptist ethics leader said in response to a shift
in marijuana policy indicated by Attorney General Eric Holder.
"Medicinal
marijuana is the Trojan horse of the marijuana decriminalization
movement," said Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy of the
Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
The
federal government no longer will raid medical marijuana distributors
if they are in violation only of federal law and not of state law,
Holder told reporters March 18 during a question-and-answer session at
the Department of Justice, according to the Associated Press.
The
new policy under President Obama marks a switch from that of the
previous administration. During the Bush administration, federal agents
raided medical marijuana distributors in California, even though that
state's law allowed its distribution and use for such a purpose.
"The
policy is to go after those people who violate both federal and state
law," Holder said. Federal law prohibits the sale of marijuana for
medical purposes, but California and 12 other states have legalized the
use of medical marijuana. The other dozen states are Alaska, Colorado,
Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode
Island, Vermont and Washington, according to the Drug Policy Alliance
Network.
"Given the limited resources that we have, our focus
will be on people, organizations that are growing, cultivating
substantial amounts of marijuana and doing so in a way that's
inconsistent with federal and state law," Holder said, AP reported.
Duke,
of the ERLC, said the Obama administration's decision "is not the kind
of change America needs." Medicinal marijuana, he said, is "a threat to
our nation's well-being and health, not a prescription for a better
life."
The failure to enforce federal, anti-drug laws will not
help the sick or society, Duke said. Marijuana has not been shown to be
especially helpful in relieving pain, he said. Its greater medicinal
use likely will lead to increased usage by young people, potential
legalization for recreational purposes and widespread drug-related
problems, Duke said.
Advocates for medical marijuana use had a
different response to the policy change. "It signals a new direction
and a more reasonable and sensible direction on medical marijuana
policy," said Kris Hermes, a spokesman for Americans for Safe Access.
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OV Social
Push out the black market cartels from national forests, industrial hemp products, inject money and tax captures into the economy , allow biofuel research to proceed with hemp, quit cutting trees for paper, more hemp clothes.
If we don't we are just going to spend money that does nothing fighting a plant that is quite frankly one of the best for usefulness.
You can Go to This website and tell our President how you feel about the great Injustice of Marijuana Prohibition, http://www.whitehouse.gov/openforquestions /
Doom and gloom... the predictable argument against the legalization of marijuana . But that argument doesn't factor in the fact that millions of adults use marijuana responsibly everyday, as do the vast majority of those who consume alcohol .
By implying that people not inclined to smoke marijuana would automatically become marijuana addicts by virtue of it's legalization, seriously insults the intelligence of those who choose not to consume it. My parents would have strong words against that argument.
I say why not give legalization a try? If it doesn't work, just make it illegal again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Ethics? OMG that's funny.
I cannot believe that the Reefer Madness mentality still exists.
Is it ethical to deny a cancer patient the mj that can allow them to hold down food ? It's a PLANT. Get over it. Your God is the one who gave it to us.
After using Marijuana for 55 years on a semi-regular basis I am thrilled that we are coming very close to seeing our beautiful Sacred Herb on the cusp of gaining the societal support that it has always deserved. I am old enough to realize that on this forum I am preaching to the choir so to those that are on the fence, I simply ask if any of you have ever seen a bar fight stimulated by marijuana ? We have seen plenty of destruction caused by alcohol , and God knows how much damage cigarettes have done to many of our friends and family, but Pot has been a totally benign addition to our Pleasure Chests.
I have recently discovered due to the blessing of having an actual prescription (what a joy) that eating it is even more enjoyable than smoking as my aging lungs were having trouble with the smoke.
Stop the tyranny restore our right of free choice. Anyone advocating putting people in jail for free choice is sick. Cannabis is a herb is helps many people users should not be criminals.
Why do followers of Christ advocate putting fellow humans in jail?
If you follow the bible and the teachings of Christ I do not feel a herb would be against any of his teachings. I think leaders of some organized religions use scare tactics and hate to solicit funds and keep their people in fear. To me it is a sin to advocate pain suffering and enslavement. That is what any supporter of the war on drugs is doing. I am Cherokee and worship the trees and wind which does not conflict with any religion . Yet these baptist bible thumpers would advocate putting me in jail as a criminal because I do not give them 10% of what I have. I do not understand how any human could follow this teaching . They teach hate and want blind followers to do as they say or be ostracized.
I believe in Live and Let Live if you wish to handle snakes worship idols or follow those who do not even respect the book of their savor. I say that is your right as a free American but some of us do not choose to follow your hate and racism . A hate for anyone not like you or that does not act like you.
Have some small amount of respect for the ones that harm no one are non violent passive tree huggers. Quit advocating putting one million free Americans in jail every year for exercising free choice. Destroying their lives this is not what God would do.
Cherokee Fred Hussein Jesus
Could I see some sources? You don't seem credible enough for me to take your word for what you say. As a scientist, I need to see proof for my mind to be changed, not a bunch of hot air.
GO OBAMA.
Medical marijuana should have been legalized decades ago. How many lab created drugs are there on the market? It is okay to go from doctor to doctor and then to the streets to distribute drugs illegally or consume them at rates that are not directed by physicians. But you can't grow a plant and use it for medicinal purposes in your own home? The government should grow the best plants they can and then sell them just like they do with all of the other drugs on the market. Helping people. Isn't that what Phizer and Merk do? Take this for this and that for that. Non stop drug commercials. Go non lab created natural substances. "That brings a whole new meaning to "go green"
Wow.. Disastrous...lol
It hasnt been shown to be especially helpful in relieving pain!? its Been shown to be Exceptionaly usefull in relieving pain ... Plus with weed there arnt any side effects that require a big long list of prescriptions to take care of all with there own set of side effects... and as for legalization " Increased usage by young people" Legalization means Regulation... regulation means Age Restriction... like liquor stores Minors cant enter... part of the reason pots so popular amongst teens is you dont have to get someone whos OF age to get it for you... and while teens do find ways to get alcohol ... its alot easier to get it if its illegal and their isnt any bribing or stealing to get it... so In reality Legalization is the best option
Let me ask you something..
What is the difference between going to work... coming home and having a few beers
Vs. going to work... coming home and smokeing a joint or 2 while watching tv...
Hmm I wonder