State Rep. Stephen Barrar and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on things. How could we have? He’s conservative Republican and I’m a solid Libertarian.
One of the major areas of disagreement concerns drug policy, especially when it comes to the continued ridiculous prohibition of marijuana. Several years ago the nine-term representative of the 160th Legislative District told me he’d never vote for anyone who would legalize pot.
My response was that such a position is hypocritical, especially since he had just proudly shown me two cases of wine, “Pennsylvania wine,” he crowed, that were in the trunk of his car. Such a position says people are allowed to get drunk, but not high, that a man-made intoxicant is OK, but something natural is not, that Joe Six Pack can get drunk, but Sammy Stoner can’t get high. That’s just not right.
Adult men and women must be free to make their own decisions when it comes to what they put in their bodies. Of course, they must also take responsibility for those decisions.
I’ve been publicly critical of Steve in the past, but now I have to say he’s taken a step in the right direction. As reported last week, he’s changed his mind on pot, at least when it comes to the medicinal use of marijuana. He’s cosponsored a bill in the state House of Representatives that would allow for med pot if prescribed by a doctor. The details of the bill aren’t available yet. It hasn’t even been officially introduced, he said. While he’s not the prime mover — that’s Republican Rep. Jim Cox — it represents a big change for Barrar.
Maybe he’s reading some political tea leaves on the issue somewhere, but this is a major policy change for him. At one point he wouldn’t even consider it. So what brought about the change? Family.
He met with the parents of children who were suffering with debilitating and life-threatening problems who told him how the natural drug — currently illegal in Pennsylvania — was far superior to legal pharmaceuticals.
Perhaps it was an epiphany, a sudden flash of insight, but he tied those stories to one from his own family, when a brother was suffering with AIDS and the drug AZT was only available on the black market. He and his family considered buying it illegally to help his brother.
The situation he and his family faced with his brother over AZT is the same that families face today when considering medical marijuana. As he said, “People shouldn’t have to break the law to treat their children if they think that’s what’s best for them.”
He extends that to adults as well as children. That’s a good thing. While I’m no conservative, I think his change of mind and heart is representative of what “compassionate conservatism” is all about, or should be anyway.
I do want the state to go further. I want to see industrial hemp legalized and, yes, I want recreational marijuana legalized. Other drugs, too.
But I will not harangue Steve Barrar for not going that far. Progress is made with small steps when people realize there’s no boogey man under the bed waiting to strike if people are permitted to choose what they think is best for them. This is one of those steps.
No, I won’t harangue him for what he hasn’t done. I will thank him for this change in position. That doesn’t mean I’ll vote for him in November (nor does it mean I’ll vote for his opponent) but I have to acknowledge that he’s doing the right thing here.
We can argue about other things later, Steve, but right now, thank you. Get this medical marijuana bill introduced and passed. Keep partisan politics out of it. No amendments for any special interest groups and no provisions for anything else. Keep it simple. Let the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania stop being an obstruction to viable medical care and treatment.
For the full story, click here.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments