cannabisnews.com: States Should Rule on Medical Marijuana 





States Should Rule on Medical Marijuana 
Posted by CN Staff on February 11, 2003 at 08:13:12 PT
Editorial
Source: Seattle Times
The bulldozer that has become the Bush administration when it comes to states' voter initiatives has rolled over a California man who was growing marijuana for Oakland's medical-marijuana program. Voters in California, Washington, Oregon and four other states, as well as the Hawaii Legislature, have been persuaded that marijuana use can help people suffering from AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease and many other diseases. In 1999, a White House-commissioned study by the Institute of Medicine concluded marijuana did have medical benefits. 
Yet marijuana possession, manufacture and distribution remain against federal laws, no matter the intended use. Drug Enforcement Administration Director Asa Hutchinson is using California and Ed Rosenthal to make the point. On Jan. 31, a federal jury convicted Rosenthal on federal charges of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. The judge refused to permit any evidence about Rosenthal's purpose, which is perfectly legal under California's Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996. Instead, Rosenthal was depicted as a drug dealer with far from noble purposes. Dismayed once they learned the whole story, several jurors staged a press event, expressing outrage and saying they would have voted differently. Friday, Rosenthal accepted a plea agreement that could land him in jail for six months, far from the five-year minimum prison term he might have faced. Under the unusual agreement, Rosenthal keeps his right to appeal medical-marijuana prosecutions in federal court. U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has proposed a surer remedy with his States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act, which would require federal law enforcement to defer to state laws. So far, the measure has 42 sponsors but has not moved out of committee. Republican Reps. Ron Paul of Texas and Dana Rohrabacher of California joined Frank at his July press conference to support the bill. In Washington, only Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, has signed on even though 59 percent of Washington voters approved this state's 1998 initiative. Regrettably, the cause of medical marijuana suffers from the association of groups that want to decriminalize all marijuana use. But none of the state laws do that. In fact, Oregon recently tightened its law when it was learned one doctor was writing the bulk of the prescriptions. The jurors who convicted Rosenthal are right to feel betrayed by the judge. The Bush administration's approach is wrong on this issue. And Frank's legislation should be embraced by all lawmakers who take the time to do their homework. Source: Seattle Times (WA)Published: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 Copyright: 2003 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Congressman Barney Frankhttp://www.house.gov/frank/Ed Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmWill Rosenthal Case Destroy MMJ Enforcement?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15442.shtml'Guru of Ganja' Stirring The Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15433.shtmlOdd Bedfellows Join Fight for Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13531.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 12, 2003 at 11:25:19 PT
Correction from Seattle Times
Wednesday, February 12, 2003 Correction 
Medical marijuana activist Steve McWilliams of San Diego pleaded guilty Friday to a felony charge of growing 25 plants in his yard. Ed Rosenthal, convicted on federal charges of growing medical marijuana, was mistakenly identified in a Tuesday editorial as the person who accepted the plea agreement. Copyright: 2003 The Seattle Times Company 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by afterburner on February 11, 2003 at 13:05:12 PT:
Just a Simple Question...
Where are Medical Marijuana (Cannabis) patients getting support: -- from posters at websites like Cannabis News, where people debate the foolishness of cannabis prohibition, -- or from the DEA and most mainstream media, where the chants "There is no such thing as medical marijuana," and "No medicine is smoked," are repeated ad nauseum?ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question.Note to all cannabis crusaders: don't divide the movement. Decriminalize cannabis for adult medical users and adult spiritual users. No one should be caged for using cannabis to benefit their body, mind, and/or spirit. It was recently reported that many "medical cannabis" users discovered the effectiveness for their conditions by trying illegal "recreational cannabis." Don't kill the messenger.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by p4me on February 11, 2003 at 10:36:33 PT
P.S. to P.S.
Regrettably, the cause of medical marijuana suffers from the association of groups that want to decriminalize all marijuana use.I offer this version- Regrettably, the cause of medical marijuana suffers from corrupt politicians defending a slippery slope against people that call for the end of the harms of cannabis prohibitionThe politicians and their brainwashed supporters and fascist press have been pushed back to a stonewall approach and now are encircled in their Fortress of Insanity.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by p4me on February 11, 2003 at 10:26:02 PT
P.S.
Regrettably, the cause of medical marijuana suffers from the association of groups that want to decriminalize all marijuana use.This nonsense reminds me of the Christian Science Monitor article that tried to blame the water shortage in Afganistan on cannabis instead of a five year drought- an article that did not even mention the Asian Brown Cloud that might really be the cause.People that are for legalization are not helping the MMJ cause? How stupid. People that are against legalized cannabis are the enemies of MMJ even though it makes them look like fools to informed people. They start a Slippery Slope chant and the yellow parrots are only to happy to print it. The sentence is doublespeak and does not contain the word prohibition.Prohibition is the problem. Is it that hard to say? Well, it is if you don't ever use the word prohibition. And when is a major print media going to use cannabis prohibition? Just one mind you. How about just one cannabis prohibition from a major player, goddammit.And by the way, there is a pink cloud over Hong Kong. Does anyone have any references to that. The damn thing might cause lung damage and need to be prohibited.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by p4me on February 11, 2003 at 10:13:17 PT
What?
Regrettably, the cause of medical marijuana suffers from the association of groups that want to decriminalize all marijuana use.How about Regrettably corporate power made cannabis illegal on the federal level in 1937, and this proven herbal remedy was denied to the peasants of the world. It is regrettable that no print media ever adopted the position that the laws were a farce to start with and held that stance. Not one. Not one goddammit. In 1937 they said you could use cannabis if you had the tax stamp. Then they said we don't have any stamps. Now the process is beingapplied to VA hospitals where they say you must make an appointment. The first appointment we can make is in early 2005.The cause is not hurt by people demanding their freedoms. The cause is hurt by people not demanding them and a Congress to uphold them and a press to defend against the tyranny of government we now see.I am for the cause of legal cannabis and I do not feel in any way that I hurt the medical cannabis cause. If more people felt like I do hemp rope sales would be climbing and effigies of Congress critters would be hanging from people's trees.Jeezus is hurting the cause of medical cannabis seems a lot more appropriate to me. And a journalist that does not present the cannabis cause any better than what this article does is definitely part of the Bad Journalism that lets the lies and prohibition live one day longer.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 11, 2003 at 08:52:04 PT
medicinal toker 
My husband and are asking the same question. I know Steve McWilliams did but I sure didn't think Ed Rosenthal did.McWilliams Pleads Guilty To Felony Pot Charge:
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15419.shtml
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by medicinal toker on February 11, 2003 at 08:47:38 PT
Huh?
"Friday, Rosenthal accepted a plea agreement that could land him in jail for six months, far from the five-year minimum prison term he might have faced. Under the unusual agreement, Rosenthal keeps his right to appeal medical-marijuana prosecutions in federal court."Don't they mean Steve McWilliams? Or did I miss something?
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment