Two years ago, we said the Obama
administration had done something right when it decided that people using medical
marijuana would not be prosecuted if they were in states where med pot was
allowed. Too bad the administration has changed its mind.
It announced that there would
now be a crackdown on for-profit medical marijuana dispensaries, as if making a
profit is somehow the culprit. No, it’s just phase one in another assault on
individual rights.
Worse, it’s an assault on
medical decisions that are best left to doctors and patients.
As things stand now, there are
to be more raids as well as threats to landlords and newspapers and TV stations
that run ads for the dispensaries.
Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney
for the Northern District of California, sent a letter in February to Oakland
City District Attorney John Russo saying, "We will enforce the [Controlled
Substances Act] vigorously against individuals and organizations that
participate in unlawful manufacturing and distribution activity involving
marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law."
This means cancer patients will
also be prosecuted.
Perhaps this has as much to do
with next year’s presidential election as with simply enforcing an unjust law.
In 2010, a proposition on the
California ballot to completely legalize marijuana failed, but supporters vowed
to bring it back in 2012. They were confident that a ballot question next year
would pass because of demographic and attitude changes. Coincidently, it’s the
same year Mr. Obama runs for re-election.
Recent surveys show more than
50 percent of the American public favors outright legalization of marijuana.
Other surveys indicate 60 or 70 percent want medical use legalized.
There can be no doubt that the
2012 election is what’s motivating this crackdown. Jacob Sullum, writing for
Reason.com quoted Kevin Sabet, a former policy adviser to drug czar Gil
Kerlikowske as saying, “The legalization advocates misread the tea leaves. They
were very excited about their prospects, and they are disappointed."
Even if one sets aside the unconstitutional nature of the
current era of prohibition, there can be no justification for the federal
government interfering with a person’s right to seek out the medical care —
including drugs — that he or she needs for physical health and well-being. The
renewed assault on medical marijuana is nothing more than an assault on a
person’s right to use the drugs they need to stay alive. Obamacare indeed.
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Remember when playing the ‘numbers’ was illegal…oh wait…that’s called the Lotto now.