cannabisnews.com: Reefer Madness





Reefer Madness
Posted by FoM on October 01, 1999 at 18:17:15 PT
Editorial
Source: Richmond Times Dispatch
Sometimes you have to wonder what congressional Republicans have been smoking. When residents of the District of Columbia voted last year regarding a measure to legalize the medical use of marijuana, Congress forbade officials even to count the ballots. A federal judge has intervened, and the results show the initiative passed by a whopping 69 percent. 
Now some Congressmen -- including Virginia's own Tom Davis -- are voicing their intention to block implementation of the measure. That's wrong, for two reasons. First, growing evidence indicates that marijuana can alleviate some of the suffering endured by persons with certain illnesses. And while the National Academy of Sciences discourages the use of smoked marijuana for medicinal purposes, it does so chiefly because of probable lung damage -- a consideration of little weight to individuals suffering the ravages of late-stage AIDS or terminal cancer. Second, it is nothing but imperial arrogance for Congress to overturn a referendum that passed by so broad a margin -- especially when that same Congress is controlled by Republicans who speak frequently and at high volume about the virtues of "devolution" and keeping the federal government from meddling in local matters. (Four states already have passed medical-marijuana laws.) "It would send a terrible message to America's young people to allow [laws against drug use] to be openly flouted," fumes Congressman Bob Barr. Please. The medicinal use of marijuana, at the direction of a physician, no more sends a "message" to America's young than the use of morphine in hospitals sends a pro-heroin message. For his next comedy routine, will Barr complain that sterilizing thermometers with alcohol amounts to an endorsement of under-age drinking? Liberals forever are trying to cast Republicans as heartless, unthinking, ham-fisted Neanderthals. Knee-jerk reaction -- on the weakest of grounds -- against a measure that could alleviate pain suggests at least some in the GOP are eager to play the role.Friday, October 1, 1999© 1999, Richmond Newspapers Inc.Virginians Against Drug Violence http://www.drugsense.org/dpfva/Controversial Congressman Faces GWU Students - 10/01/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3106.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: