It's for my...ah...sleep apnea...dude.

This recent article in the Austin Chronicle describes the U.S. Attorney General's decision to direct the Department of Justice to cease to pursue "individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana" in those states where it is currently legal. This is in line with an Obama Administration promise to do so, and he decision is presented as a way to devote law enforcement assets to more pressing needs; even though the DOJ still recognizes marijuana sales in the U.S. as the "single largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels".

The article goes on to say that even though people with a legitimate medical use will not be pursued, shops that sell medical marijuana outside the state guidelines will still be pursued by federal law enforcement. It also states that U. S. Representative Lamar Smith of Texas, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, was less than pleased that federal law enforcement is choosing to not enforce federal laws. The article wraps up by saying that medi-pot-law advocates were pleased with the decision and that they hoped the new federal policy would influence other states considering medical marijuana laws to pass them.

I thought the tone of the article indicated approval by the author of the Attorney General's decision....not surprising, it was in the Austin Chronicle for cryin' out loud.

I guess the thing that struck me about the article, and the whole "medical" marijuana debate actually, is how such a disproportionally large number of people seem to be interested in the medical treatment plans of a relative few seriously ill people... This strikes me as very disingenuous.

I'm thinking that most of the most vocal advocates are just interested in their having "legitimate" medical marijuana vendors as another avenue to obtain dope and to get high...and don't give a flip about any sick people. They just view it as one more step to universally legal marijuana usage. To say that they are advocating out of real concern for the well-being of others, I think, degrades the truly ill.

The important concrete point to take away from this is that the present administration supports relaxed enforcement of existing federal drug laws.... and is setting policy to reflect that position.

They are doing this as my friend's in California tell me that "Medical" marijuana stores are popping up all over the state, and that shady doctor's are writing prescriptions for anyone for a fee. They also say there's no way of determining where the dope these shops are selling truly comes from. It may very well be cartel dope; and much of it probably is as apparently no one is really checking. I'm sure there's only going to be more of this in the states that authorize the sales of "medical" marijuana, especially with the federal government looking the other way.

I honestly, don't know where I truly stand on the overall legalization of marijuana. I think I may actually lean toward it, but using sick people's misfortune to as an avenue to satisfy one's vices, is....well...seedy.

11/17/09 This person's article on their site pretty much mirrors my thoughts and observations on the use of marijuana. I think it's a pretty unbiased and accurate assessment.