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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Medical marijuana shouldn't be illegal
Samuel Bagdorf of San Francisco lighting a marijuana pipe yesterday at a medical-marijuana clinic in that city. (ERIC RISBERG / Associated Press)

The Obama administration's new policy on medical marijuana should make it easier for New Jersey and Pennsylvania to legalize its use for seriously ill patients.

The Justice Department has removed a major legal hurdle by issuing a memo directing federal prosecutors in states that allow medical marijuana not to target patients or their sanctioned suppliers when the drug is purchased for legitimate purposes
 
The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration's, and makes more sense.
 
Federal agents are still empowered to go after people whose marijuana distribution and non-medical use is not permitted under state law, or who use the sale of medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes.
 
With that cleared up, New Jersey and Pennsylvania should join the 14 other states that allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes.
 
A bill pending in Trenton would authorize state-registered marijuana users and their primary caregivers to have up to six marijuana plants and one ounce of marijuana. Those eligible would get ID cards issued by the state Department of Health and Senior Services. Marijuana could also be purchased at licensed centers.
 
Lawmakers may need to fine-tune the New Jersey bill to limit access to only those with legitimate illnesses.
 
In Pennsylvania, State Rep. Mark Cohen (D., Philadelphia) has introduced a similar bill that would require prescriptions for medical marijuana and set regulations for its distribution and sales.
 
Studies show that allowing seriously ill or dying patients to use marijuana could have a tremendous health benefit. Researchers generally agree that it can ease pain and suffering from debilitating medical conditions, such as cancer or AIDS, and improve patients' quality of life.
 

 
Posted by Melanie Burney @ 2:59 PM  Permalink | 2 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:09 PM, 10/20/2009
    Glad we are moving to common sense legislation. There is no rational reason why medical marijuana is impermissible. Now if we could only legalize marijuana altogether, and tax it, we would put a huge dent in our federal budget while decreasing crime at the same time.
    — birds
  • Comment removed.


2 comments
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