cannabisnews.com: Reefer ID a Ludicrous Solution to Med. Marijuana Reefer ID a Ludicrous Solution to Med. Marijuana Posted by FoM on February 03, 2000 at 21:15:53 PT Column By Steve Luber, Washington Square News Source: U-WIRE You've got to love those San Franciscans. They never cease to amaze the rest of the world with their kooky, beyond-the-left policies and laws. This time, however, I do believe those City-By-the-Bay legislators have been smokin' a little too much of the "Wacky Tobaccy," if you know what I mean. The land of Haight-Ashbury, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Rice-a-Roni has authorized a new "San Francisco treat" -- pot identification cards. If only Jerry were alive to see this. If approved, ID cards would be distributed to those who are allowed by law to possess and use high-grade marijuana. The card will have no photograph of the carrier -- it won't even contain his or her name. It will merely display a serial number, to protect the anonymity of the user. My question is this -- what are these people afraid of? Do they think that their lives are in danger because they go to one of the designated "health centers" throughout the city and receive free pot? What is there to fear about that? I know that if I were a medicinal marijuana user, I'd be proud to have my mug on that little card that says "this guy gets pot." This is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard of. The very idea of marijuana identification cards is laughable. Please bear in mind that this is not an article about various legalization issues. This piece would be very different if marijuana were legalized for recreational purposes. That debate has raged on for years and to write an opinion about that would be next to impossible for me, seeing as the controversy surrounding that will not end anytime soon. If pot were free for everyone to smoke (as "all men are created equal"), there would be no need for ID cards in the first place. However, the fact of the matter is that this program is intended for people who suffer on a day-to-day basis and need the marijuana to alleviate their pain. But, with identification cards in the public domain, bad things are bound to result. It is already bad enough that kids all around the country are clamoring for fake IDs that display the age of 21 or over so that they can have an enjoyable Saturday night -- a driver's license, a student ID -- anything to get them those Coronas in the Village watering holes. So I can guarantee, being a rebellious youth myself, that the very day these cards hit the undulating San Franciscan streets, the fake pot IDs will be everywhere. No photos? No names? No problem. Local pot distributor: "You use medicinal marijuana? What do you need this stuff for?" 13-year-old boy: "I've got gall stones, sir, and my tummy hurts me really bad." The truth of the matter is that this program, no matter what the government does, will be made a mockery of. Now, I know that many people disagree with me on the issue altogether, but I have always been somewhat puzzled by all of the young people advocating the legalization of marijuana in New York and around the country. Truthfully, I find nothing sadder than a bunch of pot-heads taking advantage of those stricken with serious diseases. Do they think that legalizing marijuana for medical purposes makes it okay for them? They don't need it. On the other hand, though, have you ever met a hippie with arthritis? Exactly. One of the patients in this new medical revolution spoke out in praise of the cards, supporting her point with the pain that she has to live with bereft of marijuana. "Imagine having your legs stabbed and also heat applied. And having that between your fingers, your shoulders, your jaws, your eye sockets, your back, your knees." I'm sorry, this woman doesn't need pot, she needs Prozac. A lot of Prozac. I cannot honestly speak out in favor of nor against marijuana as medicine because I have never heard its positive and negative effects. I can however think logistically, seeing as how I don't have an ID. This new program will not quell the problems with legal marijuana in the system. It will merely add to the market for illegal acquisition, and the problems and debates will rage on. However, the centers for pot distribution in San Francisco disagree with me and are confident that the cards will be a success. Director of the San Francisco Patients Resource Center, Gary Farnsworth, for example, spoke to the press about the decision and said: "For people who are suffering, this is a giant step because here's a medicine that I think really, really works. Reefer madness is dead." No matter how you look at it, we are approaching a new era, a new precedent set for liberalism and freedom in America, and surely the bold pioneers of this pot identification card revolution will have many fascinating stories to tell their grandchildren -- that is if they can remember them after smoking all that reefer. (U-WIRE) New YorkPublished: February 3, 2000(C) 2000 Washington Square News via U-WIRE Copyright © 1995-2000 Excite Inc. Related Articles:Supes Pass Plan To Issue ID Card To Med. Pot Users-1/31/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4541.shtmlCannabis News Medical Marijuana Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by diana d on February 22, 2000 at 11:50:10 PT: prozac?? obviously the person who wrote that , has no idea what the pain from neuropathy.. is like... it is a stabbing burning pain in the feet legs hands..... i live with that pain daily. god bless the voters who helped pass 215 in Ca.i have aids and smoke MM to ease the pain from this side effects from the drugs i take to stay alive....... not to mention the nausea... headaches.. and depression that have become a part of my life........ i recieved a blood product in 1985... drug companys knew this was a blood born virus..... yet continued to use these products... Not one has been arrested .. you people who fight the use of MM... get a life...better yet........ stay out of ours... the people who need MM..... to have some quality of life....... d [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Doc-Hawk on February 04, 2000 at 19:30:46 PT: My question is this -- My question is this -- what are these people afraid of? Let's See -- Could it be the little Nazis running around California lookin for another notch in their guns, and another good marijuana user -- you know...dead or in prison.What a Jerk! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Alexandre Oeming on February 04, 2000 at 06:58:12 PT: Self-contradiction >"Imagine having your legs stabbed and also heat applied. And having that between your fingers, your shoulders, your jaws, your eye sockets, your back, yourknees." I'm sorry, this woman doesn't need pot, she needs Prozac. >A lot of Prozac. I cannot honestly speak out in favor of nor against marijuana as medicine because I have never heard its positive and negative effects.Sorry, buddy, but you just DID speak out against MMJ. Try again when you feel like not contradicting yourself between sentences, mmmmKay? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: