Regarding Carolyn Short’s commentary on Medical Marijuana (May 23): The writer states that the vote on this issue was a scam to legalize pot and has since “been proved right.” She provides no evidence for this.
She goes on to discuss the legalities of the issue, citing letters and actions taken by a collection of politicians.
She makes no mention of the many doctors, psychologists, scientists and patients who are for the program, nor of the 50 percent of the voters who approved it.
It should be understood that those patients seeking relief through the program for serious, painful, debilitating and even maddening conditions do not call for a politician, lawyer or journalist when they are out of options or do not choose to accept the chemicals offered by big pharma.
Ms. Short seems to prefer that these people be incarcerated for their misfortunes regardless of cost to taxpayers. This is tantamount to torture as it can only increase the pain and suffering while piling on legal costs and humiliation from abuse at the hands of the criminal “justice” system.
Jim Johnson
Mesa
Arizona Willie posted at 3:29 pm on Sun, May 27, 2012.
Mr. Johnson --- perhaps she's a jail worker or lawyer and is just trying to keep the flow of prisoners going to keep her cash flow up.
What would all those lawyers and jailers do if we cut loose all the people in prison for just relatively small amounts of weed?
It would drive up the unemployment rate a point at least. :)
truth posted at 4:52 pm on Sun, May 27, 2012.
I also noticed that the Tribune delited what I wrote, in 2011 CEO'S earnings up 6% second year increade in a row, corporate profits in the Standard and Poor's up 16 % in 2011.
truth posted at 5:03 pm on Sun, May 27, 2012.
Around 40 years ago Alaska decriminalized marijuana, 30 years ago Oregon decriminized mariujana, in Oregon it was a $35.00 fine. Last year when I was in Amsterdam marijuana is legal in cafe shops. Checking Amsterdam's crime rate it is less than half of the U.S. crime rate.
fae4now posted at 5:37 pm on Sun, May 27, 2012.
So right Willie and Truth. It's all about the money.
If it were legal to grow/use here perhaps it would stem the flow across the border. But then who would we blame for all our problems? And how would our cities/courts/ jails make money?
Just keep whipping up the masses on the immigrant issue so we'll support laws aimed at illegals that really subordinate EVERYONE'S civil liberties. And we can ignore the fact that throwing people in jail ( 1 in 6 LEGAL residents - really !?!?) is profitable.
Cerulean posted at 9:14 pm on Sun, May 27, 2012.
2010 was the third time Arizona voters passed initiatives to legalize Medical Marijuana. The first time was in 1996 after which the republican legislature told citizens, in effect, ‘you don’t know what you are doing’ and they overturned the law on technicalities. Another initiative passed in 1998 and again the legislature threw it out. It was narrowly defeated in 2002 as voters found the decriminalization language to forward.
I agree with all of the above comments and add that the majority of Arizona’s voters do not share Ms. Short’s post hoc rationalizations.
Accuracy posted at 12:19 pm on Mon, May 28, 2012.
The Arizona voter-approved medical-marijuana law (Proposition 203) and medical-marijuana laws in 17 other states conflict with the federal drug law – Marijuana is still illegal under federal law; which outlaws the cultivation, sale or use of marijuana.
And no state can enact laws or ordinances that conflict with the federal marijuana law.
The Veterans Affairs Department in 2011 issued guidelines that permit patients treated at VA hospitals and clinics to use medical marijuana in states where it is legal. But the guidelines don't allow VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer last year balked at allowing dispensaries. Because, the voter-approved measure contradicted federal law and put state employees, who are charged with approving medical-marijuana dispensaries, at risk of prosecution. Federal prosecutors, so far, have not threatened to prosecute. She later acquiesced after a judge ruled the state had no discretion on implementation of the dispensary portion of the law.
Many registered patients in the state, under bona fide medical conditions, can now possess medical-marijuana legally under the Arizona law.
VofReason posted at 12:57 pm on Wed, May 30, 2012.
Yup, when Az wants to enforce the borbder, it is jumping over the Feds responsibility to do so and therefore wrong. When Az gets hoodwinked into legalizing MJ against Federal law, no problem from the liberal crowd. Strange. Want to know who the MJ law really "helped"- patients with pain? Noooooo. Swing by Scottsdale and Thomas and look at the unruly cat in a concert shirt and cuttoffs with the sign that says "get your MJ perscription here". That is who won.
VofReason posted at 12:58 pm on Wed, May 30, 2012.
Maybe that is ok and the right of the voting public. But don't hide behind the fact that this was all about getting patients with pain the ability to get pot. Just not being truthful.