A new wedge issue!

[yebrent]

The Supreme Court ruled against medical marijuana today, trampling the rights of 10 States who's citizens have voted for and legislatures have approved use of medical marijuana. 4 of the 10 States are are "red" States. (Alaska, Colorado, Nevada and Montana)

Yahoo story

In those and other States, many conservatives side with the pro medical marijuana activists as this is a classic states rights issue. There really should be no jurisdiction for the Federal Government if the marijuana is locally grown and locally distributed, not crossing state lines. But the majority of the Supreme Court felt differently.

So, it appears that the only option left is to create a Federal Law to either allow medical marijuana, or to allow for the States to decide for themselves.

This is a major wedge issue that should not be ignored, especially if the Federal Government begins to act on the Supreme Court ruling by arresting and imprisoning critically ill people. I sure hope the Democratic Party has the balls to run with this. It should be key to the strategy of winning in the West. Don't underestimate how big of an issue this is.

[Zhade]

1. I'm not even sure it's a wedge issue at all.

Millions of U.S. citizens use it, including conservatives who want to, you know, conserve their health (and who, like most people who use it, enjoy the benefits of the plant).

I agree, this should be fought, but I seriously doubt Congress will do jack shit. Hey, a presidential candidate could run on making pot legal, and he'd win big, but no one who actually has a chance is going to buck the corporate cash inflows from Big Pharm, Big Oil, and other industries threatened by both Ms. Jane and her sister Ms. Hemp.

Idiots, all of them. Liars and fools.

[yebrent]

6. Your post doesn't explain why it isn't a wedge issue?

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you are saying? That is won't be a good issue to use against Rethug incumbents in the western states? Why not? Just because you don't think we can get it through congress? Did the Rethugs think they were going to get a anti-gay marriage amendment passed when they proposed it?

[Zhade]

8. I guess because when I hear "wedge issue", I think of right vs left.

I agree that it's a GREAT issue to use - trust me, I fully support the legalization of Ms. Jane.

You make a good point about its not getting through Congress having little impact on the merit of pushing the idea.

I was actually in agreement with you, just didn't see the idea of a wedge issue the same way. Sorry I was unclear.

[yebrent]

9. my understanding of a wedge issue is...

an issue that divides a political party, not just left vs. right. This could be an issue to divide libertarian minded republicans from the right wing Christian conservatives. Stem cell research is another good wedge issue, because it is causing many republicans to break from the President and his right wing Christian base.

[Internut]

12. You don't think the issue would divide

Democratic party as well?

AFAIK (correct me if I am wrong) the Democratic leadership is very far from supporting medical marijuana. I wish I was wrong, but if I was, the medical marijuana law delegating the decision on it to individual states would sail through Congress, even with the Republican majority there, because I am sure there are quite a few "state rights" Republicans would would support it.

[yebrent]

15. I think Bush would veto it.

The Dems need to quickly fall into line on this issue (even if some aren't for it), like the Rethugs do on issues like abortion, gay marriage, etc. It is a hot topic out west and could be effectively used to further divide the Republican party along the conservative/Christian right rift. I sure hope the Dems who are against medical marijuana aren't as STRONGLY against it as you suggest. It would be silly to pass up this opportunity.

[Internut]

17. I wish - but my private estimate of the odds of this

happening (Democratic party almost unanimously backing the medical marijuana bill) are somewhere between slim and none, with a heavy leaning to none. As I said, I am hoping very much I am wrong.

[yebrent]

20. I hope so too.

I'm getting awfully tired of the Dems falling in line with the administration on this issue, the drug war, and "free" trade.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Wedge Issue # 2: Stem cell research.

Wedge issue # 3: Social security
#4...the war.
#5...(Suggestions? A properly constructed assault of flying wedges could really blow the Pugs apart in 2006).

[yebrent]

14. Good list.

I think I would also add, Terri Schiavo, Tom Delay and tax cuts for the richest americans.

It is difficult for many Dems who supported to use the war as THE issue in 2006. But for any Dem who is challenging a Rethug incumbent, I think it is critical that they run as anti Iraq war. They don't have a vote on the war to defend and being a "bring the troops home" candidate in 2006 is likely to pick up the majority of independents and even a few Rethugs.

[OhioBlue]

18. another suggestion

Outsourcing & Health care
The R spin is so full of holes - the think tanks have produced all the reports for wall street on how it is good for the us economy to outsource, there are seminars on how to outsource to improve productivity, etc. The same for taking steps to improve health care. they use scare tactics like the dems want to socialize medicine and we'll have to wait 2 years if we need an operation. I saw a statistic somewhere that the US actually spends more today per capita in tax dollars on health care than the Canadian Government does. We're just inefficient and held hostage to the Health Care Industry's lust for profit.

Another - the environment, how it effects citizen's health, how it costs more long term to society to abuse the environment, how it jeopardizes future generations, etc.

[Karmageddon]

3. God makes pot, man makes alcohol. Who do you trust?

Frankly, I neither trust man nor believe in god, so I'll just pop a beer and twist up a number and ponder the idiocy of our government before they make "pondering" illegal too.

On the other hand, this might be an argument that you can use on the christo-fascists when they talk about the alleged evils of pot. It has the word "god" in it, and it fits on a bumper sticker, so it's simple enough for them to understand.

[MojoXN]

5. Well, technically, yeast cells make alcohol...

[Karmageddon]

7. Oh sure, confuse the issue with facts. But it is man who mixes ....

...the yeast with the barley and malt and hops and puts them all together into convenient single serving bottles and places these wonderful delightful little packages in the refrigerated section of convenience stores near you.

Pot on the other hand, sprouts spontaneously in ditches and fields all over the place, with no artificial processing necessary.

[demwing]

13. Pot comes from Mexico, The Mid-East and The Orient

All places that the Theo-Corporate fascists would like to fence off from "The Heartland." :)

Oh yeah, and California and Hawaii, htose bastions of lefty liberalism.

[Jackpine Radical]

23. Grapes have the yeast right on the surface of their skins.

Fallen grapes will turn into wine on their own account. So will various berries & other fruits--apples, etc. This sometimes results in drunken birds, who really should not fly after imbibing.

[Fridays Child]

4. The FDA approved coxibs despite a known risk of sudden cardiac death

But terminally and severely ill Americans can go to jail for easing their pain with marijuana.

There Bush goes, creating his own reality, again.

[IChing]

10. I'm sure my dead neighbor would agree

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3798065&mesg_id=3798065

[yebrent]

11. Will the Democratic Party eyes open to the opportunity?

Or will they punch another gift horse in the mouth?

[libertypirate]

16. This is about pills, don't fool yourself...

If you can grow pain relief by yourself you don't need the pill pusher.

[yebrent]

19. OK. I agree.

But what are your feeling about using this issue to win seats in 2006? Even if the DLC is beholden to the drug companies, it doesn't mean that the rest of the party needs to be. Pelosi, Reid and Boxer all should understand the significance of this issue based on the states they represent. It is strongly backed by progressive democrats in each state that passed medical marijuana laws.

[Jackpine Radical]

24. You're absolutely right.

Big Pharma & the AMA have been in cahoots for years. They'd also love to outlaw or severely restrict herbal remedies.

[yebrent]

21. bump for the night crew.

[sweetheart]

22. The dems don't want 30 million voters... why would they want that?

The democratic party is totally in a pickle about whether to support
the people or the corporates, and as of this, it is the corporates
and why they are a losing party. You'd think they'd grow a pair, but
as of yet, its really a tiny little bud. ;-)

[dansolo]

25. Opium in Afghanastan is a bigger issue

If people wanted to point out the absurdity of the "anti-drug" policies of this administration, then they should be asking why we are effectively subsidizing the opium crops in Afghanastan.