This morning I viewed 2 news stories that prompted the writing of this article. The first is the story concerning a terminally ill woman in California. A Federal Appeals court ruled against her in a medical marijuana case. Three judges in the ninth district court ruled that her case lacked the legal grounds to exempt her from federal prosecution. It’s amazing to me that they ruled against her all the while stating that they sympathized with her and had seen “uncontroverted evidence” that she needed marijuana to survive.
What in the world is going on here. Are we so mired in bureaucratic mumbo jumbo that we’ve cancelled out our ability to be HUMAN. I understand why most illegal drugs are dangerous and I believe they should stay illegal, although I feel it is more of a health problem than a criminal one. But marijuana is NOT a dangerous drug. Anyone who has been around who knows the truth, knows that the biggest risk to smoking pot is getting arrested by the police. As a stand up comedian I’ve talked to hundreds of young people and the comment concerning the anti drug movement is universally the same. “When the DARE people or whoever spouts that pot is dangerous, we know they are lying so why should we believe anything else they say.”
Ok, so everybody can see through the B.S. so what. The so what is that marijuana has been recognized by medical experts as having some very significant benefits for a myriad of medical conditions. Eleven states and soon a twelfth will be added, have recognized this and have passed legislation legalizing medical use. But the Federal government refuses to allow it. Why? Because apparently Republican’s don’t care whether it saves somebody’s life, or allows an individual to seek relief from debilitating conditions. Every since Reagan coined the term “war on drugs” Republican’s have enjoyed how easily they can work their base up with the issue. It’s nothing but a political football they use to distract their own base from looking too closely at the people they’ve elected. And for some reason that defies logic, Republican’s are unwilling to remove marijuana from their list of dangerous drugs. I’m sorry, but this heartless attitude towards the human beings whose lives have been liberated by medical marijuana is cold blooded.
I you are a Republican and are offended by me making this statement, then I’d like to know why you are not offended by a political party (Republican) that can so easily turn it’s back on this kind of suffering. And just so they can keep a political tool in their war chest.
The other story I saw today involved a veteran of the Iraqi war who had recently committed suicide. After an unusually long tour in Iraq as a marine he was given a General discharge because he had began drinking and getting into trouble. After being diagnosed with PTSD, he sought help at 2 VA hospitals. He finally hanged himself after being turned away by both institutions citing “no room.” The boy was told he would have to go on a waiting list despite his telling them he was having suicidal thoughts.
Again, what in the world is going on here? How cold can Republican’s get. I’ve been on this planet for nearly fifty years and every single time Republican’s get into power it’s the same thing. Cut, cut, cut go any programs that benefit regular people, INCLUDING VETERANS. And spend, spend, spend, go the programs that line the pockets of their wealthy constituency. And when the Democratic party takes power and tries to do anything about it, the Republican’s fight them every step of the way. The only conclusion I can come up with is that the Republican party is cold blooded to the extreme and just don’t care about anything but power and money.
*****************************
Devin Barber, Politics Correspondent
Devin’s column, “Left Of The Right” published every Tuesday and Thursday to Gather Essentials: Politics is a Blue Collar Democrats take on current political news.
Devin was raised by proud Roosevelt Democrats. Being the son of parents counted among the throng of Americans displaced by the Great Depression has given Devin a deep rooted passion for causes dealing with the poor and the working class.
You can find all of Devin’s columns at http://gather.com/leftoftheright
You can keep up with Devin’s postings and his Gather activity by joining his Gather network. Just click here: http://kiwina58.gather.com and then select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page.
You can find Devin and other Political Correspondents, plus celebrity content and plenty of other politics experts at Politics.gather.com.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 8
I also agree about medical marijuana. But, I will go one step further. I would support an overall legalization of marijuana. Why? Simply because it is not a dangerous drug and should not be categorized with the dangerous drugs that do exist. Also, if marijuana were to be legalized, it might prove to settle down the need for the truly dangerous drugs that are presently available on the streets. I believe that a lot of drug users might settle for the legal (marijuana) alternative than to risk incarceration for engaging in the use of dangerous, illegal drugs. Thus, the war on drugs might just fade into a fringe police enforcement issue, rather than being, as it is now, a war that we are losing.
Actually I believe the war on drugs (aka war on people using chemicals we don't) started with Nixon, for reasons that had little to do with the drugs and lots to do with going after certain segments of the citizenry.
Also, arrests for marijuana were highest under Mr. "I never inhaled" Clinton, huge percentage of the prison population.
If you really want to have fun, look at the money being made in the WOD...now there's a topic for a rant.