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Loading ...GOP blasts Obama pot rule
03.19.2009 4:30pm EDT
(Washington) Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is taking aim at the Obama administration’s policy change over medical marijuana.
The Justice Department has announced it will target California’s medical marijuana distributors only if they violate both federal and state law.That’s a break from the Bush administration, which targeted dispensaries under federal law even if they complied with the state’s law allowing sales of medical marijuana.
Grassley said the new policy, outlined by Attorney General Eric Holder, is harming health care reform and will lead marijuana users to try harder drugs.
Marijuana is considered beneficial for treating side effects of HIV/AIDS and some forms of cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.
Users typically smoke marijuana to combat nausea and pain associated with the diseases.
California is one of 13 states to allow medicinal use of marijuana. California voters approved Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, in 1996. It made marijuana available by prescription for medicinal uses.
Following passage of the law, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the Justice Department regularly raided and prosecuted dispensaries for marijuana.
Medical marijuana advocates in California welcomed the Justice Department news, but said they still worried about the pending cases of those already in court on drug charges.
In 2006, when Republicans controlled the Congress the House rejected a proposal that would have blocked the Bush administration’s Justice Department from taking action against state medical marijuana programs.
A study of HIV patients by the University of California at San Francisco found that those who smoked pot experienced much less pain than those given placebos.
Dam GOP! they get their bad rap from their stupid theocratic social agenda. The prohibition of the drugs commerce causes more social ills then the commerce associated with the drugs. The same can be said for prostitution as well.
“Grassley said the new policy, outlined by Attorney General Eric Holder, is harming health care reform and will lead marijuana users to try harder drugs.”
Oh give me a break. I’m no fan of marijuana, but it’s not my place to judge others who use it, especially those who use it for medicinal purposes. This “gateway drug” argument is such a load of poo.
The real reason marijuana can lead to harder drugs is because sellers try to push them. It has nothing to do with the effects, since all drugs provide their own unique experiences. That’s why they have so many different classifications.
Face it, if people can get their high from a legal source, then why would they bother to use illegal ones?
will lead marijuana users to try harder drugs.
Surely, Senator you jest. Prohibition laws are destructive to our society.
The only person more insane than a drug addict that continue to use drugs is the person trying to make him stop using drugs.
They muss Know a lot in Iowa,Maybe thats why there behind the rest of us
I find it truely reprehensible that the bush administration sought to prosecute people distributing marajuana for medical purposes. They might as well have banned chemotherapy or the other drugs that would help cure or aleviate symptoms of those suffering chronic illness. and still republicans are trying to keep the federal ban on marajuana, even for medicine? How very narrow minded of them. Worried about the drug being misused? thats a separate problem, not one that warrants punishing the innocent users who are using it to alleviate pain and suffering. Good on you Obama for seeking to be more lenient.
This isn’t GLBT related…what a waste
AHHH the tables have turned on conservatives. Can’t have the voter thing both ways Mr. Republican. Either they are or are not the final arbiters of law.
Goodness. Someone in goverment with a rational and logical thought process. OMG..we are actually being represented by the majority vote instead of someones faith. How totally refreshing. Keep on truckin Obama. I salute you.
What else would you expect from a Republican from Iowa.
Might do Chuck and the Republicans some good to smoke a blunt or two.
@ NO:
Please explain to me how medical marijuana, which is used to alleviate pain/nausea in patients with HIV/AIDS, is not a “gay-related” issue.
Thanks Bud. You beat me to the punch. Medical Marijuana is used to treat a variety of symptoms. Though HIV and Aids affects many groups, a large group is the gay population.
In all my years of nursing I have treated or taken care of at least 500+ alcoholics. I would say that about at least 10% of people have many health issues related to alcohol.
I have yet to have a patient that used marijuana who has health problems from it.
Yes it may make you lazy and not so productive but that is your prerogative as long as your not sucking at societies teet to house or feed yourself.
Let people use it and tax it. Budget problems will nearly be over and people wont be put in jail over mandatory sentencing that makes no sense.
GOP blasts Obama on everything, even bills that truly make sense cant wait to see what they have to say when DADT is repealed. They’ll shred this president to pieces.
Chuck Grassley is the cruel joke that passes for legislative leadership. It’s ironic that a delusional man with that surname should make marijuana his windmill.