Reply #38: people can understand that legalization of medical mj means several things [View All]

[RainDog]

in relation to the issue of prohibition in the U.S.

recognizing the medical benefit of cannabis means that it should immediately be moved out of schedule 1 - which could be done with the stroke of a pen. The Attn Gen. could do this tomorrow, and should - but won't. but medical benefits have been obvious for more than 30 years.

this recognition/rescheduling issue means full legalization is about whether or not we want to favor certain substances, like alcohol, and prohibit others, like cannabis, without any basis for such prohibition in reality - b/c the reality is that cannabis is safer than alcohol - or cigarettes, for that matter.

the propaganda that has surrounded the issue of legalization is based upon the assumption of "zero benefit." When this is obviously untrue, the issue of full legalization, again, becomes one of playing favorites with one industry v. another.

If Americans were presented with evidence, or rather, WHEN Americans are presented with evidence that indicates the value to society of ending prohibition, the majority of Americans are smart enough to move from the "okay, I get this" position of legalizing medical marijuana because of its obvious benefits to people with certain illnesses to a move to full legalization. This is what the numbers mean - that Americans are ready for the federal govt to stop this racist prohibition.

In spite of this move in public opinion, however, the Obama administration has increased the number of arrests related to cannabis policy. In spite of the decades of medical evidence, the administration has continued to claim there is no medical benefit. The administration is on the wrong side of history with this issue and if they can't lead, they should at least not hinder the move toward greater fairness in the application of the law.