A number of people in the medial marijuana community are upset at the response of President Obama to the question regarding the legalization of "all drugs" during the recent You Tube interview. I don't think it was the answer that was the problem. I think the question was flawed. The question should have been specifically about the use of medical cannabis and the rescheduling of marijuana by the DEA.
The legalization of "all drugs" is a long, long way from the sensible steps that can be taken to vastly improve America's drug policy. One such sensible step in this direction would be for President Obama to direct the DEA to reschedule marijuana.
The removal of this "Sword of Damocles" that looms over the entire medical cannabis community across all 15 states and the District of Columbia where the people have, in almost every case, voted by overwhelming majorities to allow the use of - and safe access to - medicinal cannabis.
The will of the people should not be usurped by the government! Oh, wait,isn't that the neo-conservative, T.E.A. Party - and new GOP leadership - mantra? So all those so-called "tenther's" out there should be in full-throated support of the individual states rights to govern themselves without federal over-reach.
The issue for the President isn't whether all drugs ought to be legal, that ain't happening anytime soon - and personally I don't think it should ever happen. Legalization of Heroin is as stupid an idea as putting marijuana on the same level as Heroin in the war on drugs. There is just no comparison in the physical damage that Heroin does to the human body, in the social & economic damage that Heroin does to communities, or in the effect that Heroin has on crime in American society. The issue needs to be laser focused on the laws surrounding marijuana and the medical use of cannabis.
I am heartened that President Obama is at least willing to accept that a discussion of America's drug policy is worthy and, indeed, necessary. Once we get the DEA and federal government out of the picture with respect to the control of cannabis, two things will happen:
1) States can regulate and tax the cannabis industry. Once this is a reality the cannabis industry will become a "cash-cow" in terms of state and local jurisdiction revenue. As soon as the 35 states that do not have medical cannabis laws see the revenue potential in the cannabis industry they will have medical cannabis laws faster than you can say "Jack Herer".
2) Marijuana smuggling pretty much goes away. Seriously, when was the last time you heard of an illegal Scotch Whiskey smuggling cartel being busted? Nineteen thirty-something, I think. Take just that one product out of the war on drugs and that would allow for a more effective policy on the drugs that really are damaging to the nation. Like Heroin...and alcohol.
That marijuana will become legal is not really in doubt. It is only a matter of when and how it becomes legal that is in question. By the time my 21 year old son is my age (I'm 52) this will be done. His 20ish kid will wonder that marijuana was illegal, just as people wonder that alcohol was actually outlawed at one time in America. It is my belief that we, who have the opportunity to help craft cannabis legislation, wither as citizen activist or as an elected representative of the people, that works for all members of the medical cannabis community, have an obligation to do everything we can to pave the way for future patients.
It isn't going to be easy and it won't happen immediately. But it will be worth the effort, of that I am sure. Someone once said, "Decisions get made by those that show-up". Let's be the ones that show-up.
Peace and long life!
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