Medical marijuana future is up in the air

Although the fight to federally legalize medicinal marijuana is far from new, supporters hope President Barack Obama’s administration will be more favorable to their cause than previous leaders, they said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration continues to crack down on cannabis dispensaries in California, one of thirteen states that has legalized medicinal marijuana, according to a Feb. 7 Boston Globe article. However, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said the new administration is reviewing the federal policy toward medical marijuana.

“Obama has said it succinctly during his campaign and has expressed almost an embarrassment that these field agents did the arrests,” he said.

The federal government historically carries “bizarre reefer madness when current research shows otherwise,” St. Pierre said.

“Currently 70 million people live in a state that lets them use cannabis as a pain reliever,” he said. “Massachusetts will vote for it in two years, and they will say yes, but it’s hard to say when the tipping point has been reached.”

Randy Barnett, a lawyer who has represented Californian medical marijuana advocates, said this policy change is long overdue but he is unsure if the administration will follow through.

“I am not optimistic that the Democratic majority will be any better on this issue than the Republicans,” Barnett, a former Boston University law professor who currently teaches at Georgetown University, said. 

Obama recently chose Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, an act which St. Pierre said is a favorable step for NORML’s cause. John Walters, the current “drug czar,” is a social conservative notorious for his stringent marijuana policy, St. Pierre said.

“Mr. Walters didn’t even want to acknowledge the existence of medicinal marijuana,” St. Pierre said. “Mr. Kerlikowske has had to regulate the Seattle Hemp Festival and implement the ‘law enforcement priority’ placing marijuana as a low concern behind other drugs.”

Groups advocating for strict drug policy view Obama’s stance as hypocrisy, they said.

“The President took an oath and promised to protect the ‘laws of the land,’” President and Co-Founder of Dads and Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers Steven Steiner said. “Federal law prohibits the use of marijuana.

“Obama is sending the wrong message by showing a more lenient stance on marijuana,” Steiner said.

Those in favor of more lax marijuana laws are exploiting other people to reach their goal, Steiner said.

“Advocates are using sick and dying people for their cause,” Steiner said in reference to medicinal marijuana advocates. “In reality, there are reports linking the drug to disease, including testicular cancer.”

BU American Civil Liberties Union President Ryan Menezes said he disagreed.

 “Medical marijuana use is a victimless crime,” Menezes, a College of Communication senior, said. “Science, not politics, should guide American medicine.”

BU political science professor Christine Rossell said she has seen a shift in opinions around marijuana, but does not credit Obama.

“Views around marijuana started changing long before he took office,” she said.

College of Arts and Sciences junior Kerry Molloy said she does not see anything wrong with legalizing medicinal marijuana.

“If it helps with certain kinds of pain, why not?” Molloy said. “However, out of everything going on, if Obama doesn’t get to it, so be it. I’m more concerned about getting a job after graduation.”

2 comments

bongy mcroor

Mon Feb 23 2009 01:27

"Bring back our factories and jobs. Put our young and old people back to work. Give 'em a job, a trade, some dignity, and a chance to make something of themselves and their families. Too many think street thuggery is an occupation (Thanks record companies for that skewed world view!). This service economy stinks and will fail in the long term. Who wants a minimum wage job flipping burgers or cleaning motel rooms when a good job or a trade/skill can rake in some serious cash! Can't afford my taxes to keep up with this style of (selective) law enforcement and non-responsive government."

This does not even relate at all to your arguement.

Tell Your Children

Wed Feb 18 2009 15:31

What is it about marijuana that scares some people so much? Once you try it, you find out quickly that there's not that much to it. It's not anywhere near heroin but the govt ranks it there. Why? Science doesn't agree with that assessment. You've got beer marijuana and liquor marijuana. Some is weak and some is strong. I've never seen anyone (50 years plus) that "had too much" and couldn't handle it. When they get close, it's laugh and eat. Where's the crime in that? It's unregulated now. Anyone can purchase it without showing an ID. No one can stop that unless you regulate it. Seen anyone trying to sell you moonshine lately?...bathtub gin? Need alcohol? What do you do? Go to the liquor store. Should be the same with weed. Regulate, tax, and ID. The current govt policy now fits the definition of insanity...the same thing over and over expecting different results! Couldn't stop alcohol consumption during alcohol prohibition. Not working with marijuana either. Regulate and Tax. Repeal marijuana prohibition and let the drug gangs dry up. It will come to two Americas. One with a badge and one without. Guess who loses? They are picking the low hanging fruit and avoiding the meth heads and alcoholics because they fight back. How am I suppose to pay for this level of law enforcement... selective law enforcement. I can't afford this anymore. Bring back our factories and jobs. Put our young and old people back to work. Give 'em a job, a trade, some dignity, and a chance to make something of themselves and their families. Too many think street thuggery is an occupation (Thanks record companies for that skewed world view!). This service economy stinks and will fail in the long term. Who wants a minimum wage job flipping burgers or cleaning motel rooms when a good job or a trade/skill can rake in some serious cash! Can't afford my taxes to keep up with this style of (selective) law enforcement and non-responsive government.
Oh, yeah. Let our farmers grow hemp! We can import it but can't grow it. Why? Is there anyone in the government that can tell the difference between wine and grape juice?
I'm BROKE!!!, pennyless, USA

"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded."

-Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) U.S. President.

Speech, 18 Dec. 1840, to Illinois House of Representatives

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