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| Prohibition vs. Democracy: The County of San Diego |
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Posted by CN Staff on December 01, 2005 at 18:28:34 PT By Kenneth Michael White, Upland Source: Village News 
Calif. -- The County of San Diego recently announced that it would not implement a California law that requires counties to create a medical marijuana identification program. First county supervisors said medical marijuana patients would have to sue them to get identification cards, but then the county changed its position after the local newspaper suggested the county should sue the state for declaratory judgment, which is what they decided to do. As we wait for this litigation to start, now is a good time to consider the merits and demerits of the position of the County of San Diego regarding medical marijuana.
The county adopts the same position as the federal government, and federal law does not recognize medical marijuana. As far as federal law is concerned, a person using marijuana at a rock concert has the same status as a person using marijuana based on a doctor’s recommendation. Common sense defies this blanket categorization, but the typical responses are to point to legal medicines that provide similar relief as marijuana and also to argue that permitting the medical use of marijuana sends the wrong message to children. One county supervisor said medical marijuana was so dangerous that he equated the decision not to comply with California’s medical marijuana law as an act of civil disobedience akin to Rosa Parks refusing to obey Jim Crow segregation. There is one drug approved in the United States that contains a component of marijuana, but it is expensive and not as effective as natural marijuana for some patients. There is also another drug, an oral spray, which is the entire marijuana plant in liquid form that has been approved for limited use in Canada and Spain. However, even if this drug becomes legal in the United States, there still remains the problem that for some people the natural plant is better medicine. The right to make personal medical choices does not end simply because a company created a new drug; a decent healthcare policy should thus recognize medical marijuana as an option for patients. The County of San Diego is not primarily worried about healthcare policy, but rather doing the right thing for the youth. Arguing that California voters were misled in 1996 when they passed Proposition 215, county supervisors claim moral necessity compelled them to disobey an unjust law that hurts the youth. Exactly how a mandate that police officers not arrest people in certain circumstance hurts the youth is unclear, but perhaps prejudice has blinded logic here. It has happened before. When the federal government first prohibited marijuana in 1937, Congress appealed to racial animus directed primarily at Mexicans as the main reason. The county should consider this fact when citing Rosa Parks for their disobedience. There is no rational basis why the bigotry of 1937 should prevent qualified patients from safe access to medical marijuana in 2005, and the charge that medical marijuana hurts the youth r reminds one of the trial against Socrates. A recent study has shown that marijuana use by the youth has actually declined in California since 1996. Socrates would probably laugh to learn that the County of San Diego has claimed the youth must be protected from the voters of California. The fact that Socrates was killed by a democracy does caution that voters can be wrong, tyranny of the majority can happen, but common sense should persuade the County of San Diego that when it comes to medical marijuana, prohibition is the source of tyranny, not democracy. Complete Title: Prohibition vs. Democracy: the County of San Diego and Medical Marijuana Related Articles: SD Refuses To Administer Marijuana Cards County To Sue State Over Medical Marijuana Laws Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #14 posted by FoM on December 08, 2005 at 16:46:26 PT |
| RE: ‘Prohibition vs. Democracy: the County of San Diego and medical marijuana’
Rev. Randelyn C. Webster, DSM San Francisco December 8, 2005 The problem with Prop 215 isn’t Prop 215... it’s the hypocritical atmosphere which forced it to be written in the first place. There should be no question that people who are sick need their medicine. It is inhumane to keep it from them. Regarding our youth, let’s speak frankly...the only thing more difficult than talking with kids about sex is the issue of cannabis. How do we come across to them without sounding like hypocrites, when all we’re really trying to say is that we love them very much and that we’re scared to death for their safety and well being? Simple. Rather than running away from what is feared, we need to stand before it and see the truth. Rather than hiding behind years of misinformation and manipulation, we need to come out into the light of scientific fact. Otherwise we are just continuing the deception. Children do not respect people who lie to them. They do not open themselves to people who violate their trust. Rather they become jaded and overly cynical. Lying is an inappropriate teaching tool. If we want to reach our youth in such a way that they will hear us, we have to be honest. And honesty begins at home...that reflection in the mirror, for instance. Can any of us truly look in the mirror and calmly say that it’s okay to deny sick and dying people their medicine? Do any of us really think our kids would give us the time of day if they found out we were being that heartless? Today’s kids aren’t dumb. They grew up on anti-drug TV commercials and D.A.R.E., and have no doubt seen their share of reality within their own peer groups and through the entertainment industry, not to mention on the home front. Balking California law does not solve the problem; rather it makes things more complex, sending a very negative message to our youth. The message? It’s okay to ignore the rules. So let’s stop using our youth as a smoke screen (pardon the pun), and address the REAL issue! It’s time for us to open our minds and learn the truth about medical cannabis. We’ll be a lot better for it, and we’ll gain a hefty bit of respect from our kids, too. http://www.thevillagenews.com/story.asp?story_ID=8278 *** RE: Prohibition vs. Democracy: the County of San Diego and medical marijuana Brian Thome December 8, 2005 This was a well-organized article displaying common sense in personal and public opinion. I am an Emergency Medical Technician in Santa Clara County and I understand not only the body’s physiological aspects with marijuana use, but the social views in our community as well. I truly believe marijuana is misinterpreted by most of the public. To Kenneth Michael White - good job. http://www.thevillagenews.com/story.asp?story_ID=8272 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by Had Enough on December 03, 2005 at 05:36:48 PT |
| Evil: Uttered most often by people unfettered by deep thoughts. Cool [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by Had Enough on December 03, 2005 at 05:19:49 PT |
| GEORGE HARRISON lyrics - "Sue Me, Sue You Blues" You serve me And I'll serve you Swing your partners, all get screwed Bring your lawyer And I'll bring mine Get together, and we could have a bad time * It's affidavit swearing time Sign it on the dotted line Hold your Bible in your hand Now all that's left is to Find yourself a new band . . . * We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues * Hold the block on money flow Move it into joint escrow Court receiver, laughs, and thrills But in the end we just pay those lawyers their bills * When you serve me And I serve you Swing your partners, all get screwed Bring your lawyer And I'll bring mine Get together, and we could have a bad time * We're gonna play the sue me, sue you blues * I'm tired of playing the Sue Me, Sue You Blues * http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/george_harrison/sue_me_sue_you_blues.html [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by afterburner on December 02, 2005 at 20:24:32 PT |
| Recall is necessary to reclaim our democracy. Recall - the third leg of populism (initiative, recall, referendum) Government "of the people by the people for the people," a beloved American tradition. We are rising like an unstopable tide, showing the truth about cannabis to a world hungry for mental health. The torch of freedom welcomes visitors and guests to our Eastern harbor. We carry that torch, share that torch with each pass of the peace pipe. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 02, 2005 at 11:52:27 PT |
| I bookmarked the tiny url and will try to remember to use it more often because it sure makes the comment tidy. Thanks I'm slow at trying new things. LOL! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on December 02, 2005 at 10:32:23 PT |
| Hey J L, those pesky long urls get us alll goofed up, I dislike them for their cumbersome nature ... I went to tinyurl.com and converted your long one to the above. http://tinyurl.com/ tryit, youll like it ... peace [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by Zandor on December 02, 2005 at 08:20:11 PT |
| The money they are using to pay the lawyer to fight state law belongs to the people. The people have a right to recall those officials who abuse and misuse public funds. They are spending public money to fight the will of public. San Diego should start a recall petition drive of those elected officials for misuse of public funds. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by Hope on December 02, 2005 at 08:07:55 PT |
| means they should be dethroned immediately! It's nothing short of terrifying what these, and other prohibitionists, think they have a right to do to people and this country and it's principals because of prohibition. Doesn't America care? Hasn't anybody noticed that they're lunatics? They need to be arrested and dragged off to their own prisons. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on December 02, 2005 at 01:05:31 PT:
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| See they have no real argument. So they go for the emotional button. The kid card. Arn't mom and dads meds easy pickin's. Kids see their parents take prescription drug they don't need all the time. What kind off message does that send? The reality of life is human beings like a
mind altering substance or activity. So get off of "my drug or no drug" and mind your own buiness. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Jim Lunsford on December 02, 2005 at 00:38:08 PT |
| This is only slightly off-topic. Global warming is definitely linked to the Cannabis movement. And it is yet to be a major part of any political campaign. Why? because we don't demand it. At least Canada has people insisting on it. And some of them are coming from groups of people whom we've grown comfortable with calling "evil." Yet, they are people too. How much does market share matter when there is no market to share? Peace Jim Excerpt: More recently, a more enlightened group of Canadian business leaders has emerged — members of the Executive Forum on Climate Change. In a recent letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, they said they accepted the "consensus that climate change raises the risk of severe consequences for human health and security and the environment." And they called on the federal government to move forward with an ambitious new plan for greenhouse gas emission reduction beyond the current Kyoto deadline of 2008-12. These included the CEOs of Tembec Inc., Shell Canada, Alcan Inc., Falconbridge Ltd., B.C. Hydro, Power Corp., Home Depot Canada, Bombardier Inc., Dominion of Canada General Insurance Co., Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. and E.I. Dupont Canada Inc. Rev Jim Lunsford First Cannabist Church Evil: Uttered most often by people unfettered by deep thoughts. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 01, 2005 at 22:11:42 PT |
| Thank you for the link. I've been looking thru the forum and I bookmarked it now. It looks like a really nice place. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by afterburner on December 01, 2005 at 21:39:51 PT |
| "The best hemp and the best tobacco grow on the same kind of soil. The former article is of first necessity to the commerce and marine, in other words to the wealth and protection of the country. The latter, never useful and sometimes pernicious, derives its estimation from caprice."
- Thomas Jefferson, journal, March 16, 1791 The Supreme Court got it wrong on commerce: "The best hemp ... necessity to the commerce and marine"; "wealth and protection of the country." "Ask Dad. He knows." --Sweet Caporal cigarette poster, pre-1947 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by ekim on December 01, 2005 at 19:24:00 PT |
| The lawsuit alleging that the HEA drug provision and comparable state measures are at odds with the U.S. Constitution is expected to be filed in federal court in Washington State. Potential claims in the lawsuit include violations of the Fifth Amendment’s protection against double jeopardy and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. In addition to losing their federal aid, students with drug convictions in 23 states, including Washington State, are also stripped of their state financial aid. “Students should not have to serve a second sentence under the drug provision of the Higher Education Act,” said Adam Wolf, an attorney with the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project. “Countless Americans have been forced to sacrifice their education to unjust and self-defeating drug war policies. It’s time we put education over politics and restore financial aid.” More than 250 organizations have called for repeal of the HEA drug provision, including the National Education Association, the Association for Addiction Professionals, the NAACP, and the Presbyterian Church. For a full list, see http://www.raiseyourvoice.com/supporters.shtml. Anyone affected by the HEA drug provision should call 1-866-4-HEA-FIX or e-mail hea@aclu.org to obtain further information about the lawsuit. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by mayan on December 01, 2005 at 18:53:04 PT |
| Arguing that California voters were misled in 1996 when they passed Proposition 215, county supervisors claim moral necessity compelled them to disobey an unjust law that hurts the youth. Once again, the intelligence of the voters is insulted! Such arrogance! I would bet my bottom dollar that if Prop. 215 were voted on again today in California it would pass by an even greater margin. And how is allowing sick people to use their medicine without fear of being caged hurting the youth? These supervisors are becoming the laughing-stock of the land. They will lose this one bigtime. THE WAY OUT... URGENT: Please Sign Able Danger Petition Now – Demand Rumsfeld Un-gag 9/11 Whistleblowers: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=748 CNN Online Poll: 89% Believe There's Been a 9/11 Cover-up: http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=consp_911&Number=294196063#Post294196063 SF911Truth Festival Dec. 3rd - 4th and Future Events: http://www.911blogger.com/2005/12/sf911truth-festival-dec-3rd-4th-and.html 911 for Very Busy People: http://georgewashington.blogspot.com/2005/11/911-for-very-busy-people.html Daryl Bradford Smith interviews Ray McGovern (audio): http://www.iamthewitness.com/DarylBradfordSmithInterviewsMcGovern.html Evidence of Demolition Charges In WTC 2: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/wtc2_cutter.html [ Post Comment ] |
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