Would you like Ketchup with that pot? You are Taking Chemo and Can’t eat? Enema anyone?
The governor of New York is the last state executive to sign a medical Marijuana law up to date. While it is better than having no law particularly since 88% of arrestees for pot are black and latino (according to Fox) youth at least you can canned this injustice of making kids criminals before they finish High school. Still the restrictions placed on the new NYS Marijuana law makes it clear that there was a huge political compromise with the religious right and older voters who are not sick nor have family members sick with cancer or other debilitating diseases. It seems that is the only certain way people learn to be humane and tolerant of things they don’t agree with for themselves; But others ask for it as a matter of right. We have seen this unique fenomena with the ‘same sex marriage' debate on prominent politicians and religious people being godly opposed until someone came out close to them and then there is an immediate change.
With this law you are not allowed to smoke it only to ingest it. Imagine someone that can’t eat because the nausea from chemo, now they are making this patient swallow this thing to get relief. You can see that the sponsors of the law as it is, were not thinking clearly of patients but of their political arzes trying to make everyone happy for election day.
Those are the things that burn people from politicians because even in NY where you have a good governor by past standards and a popular one, yet the political issues are taking a front seat above the medical reasons. I am waiting for someone to say the reason is not allowed to be smoked is so the people on chemo wont get cancer.
No drug has gone through more scrutiny for as long as marijuana has. It was grouped together, first in NY with all the other drugs such as heroine and coke. With very stiff penalties. There are still people doing time in jails in this country on pot charges. We got same sex marriage in NY before we got a very restrictive marijuana law. I am happy for gay marriage, and the sense of change is bringing to the nation; For one hope that senseless laws and believes from last century would melt away as the light clears with precise information, illuminating all those old wives tales.
But this proves so hard that in many cases the Supreme Court has to be involved.
I see this marijuana law being challenged in court unless common sense changes are made. If you have one of the diseases that might help you qualify for it, you will find yourself in a maze of legalities of finding the right certified Doctor who doesn’t know you but would have to get to know your Doctor I guess. Afterwords you will have to go to one of the dispensing centers that will be approved to dispense it. Also, I would like to know who pays for it? I think Obama Care might make the health insurance carriers pay for it but at this point is just pot luck.
Advocates seeking more lenient marijuana laws have no intention of stopping with Colorado and Washington. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have allowed marijuana for medicinal purposes, and more could follow. Here's a look at five of the states that may be welcoming more permissive marijuana laws in the near future:
ALASKA (legalization)
Alaska may seem like an unlikely place to follow the lead of liberals in Colorado and Washington, but the state's libertarian electorate may provide a good look at how a different breed of voters will respond to marijuana legalization.
It's early, but proponents have a big head start on fundraising and organization, led by the Marijuana Policy Project based in Washington, D.C.
Marijuana legalization failed in Alaska in 2000 and 2004, but advocates say the landscape has changed markedly since then.
If the measure is approved, adults could use marijuana legally and purchase it at state-licensed stores, but use in public would still be illegal.
OREGON (legalization)
Oregonians rejected legalization just two years ago but are all but certain to have a chance to reconsider this November.
State elections officials haven't yet validated the signatures turned in last week, but advocates submitted far more than they needed.
Oregon has long been on the leading edge of the decades-long push to loosen marijuana laws. It was the first state to decriminalize small-scale marijuana possession in 1973 -- a step that's been taken in more than a dozen other states. Marijuana use remains illegal, but possession of a small amount of the drug is punished with a citation and fine rather than a criminal charge. Oregon was also among the first states to approve medical marijuana.
Unlike Oregon's 2012 effort, the team behind the current initiative has strong backing from many of the groups and individuals who helped bankroll the successful campaigns in Colorado and Washington.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (legalization)
The D.C. Cannabis Campaign says the group submitted 55,000 signatures for a legalization initiative on Monday -- twice the number required to put the issue before voters.
The measure would allow possession of up to two ounces of marijuana in the nation's capital.
But the effort could be frustrated by Congress, which reviews all new laws in the District and has moved to block its other recent efforts to ease up on marijuana laws. Last month, the Republican-controlled House took a big step toward blocking a decriminalization bill passed by city lawmakers. That measure would make marijuana possession a civil offense subject to a $25 fine, one of the lowest in the nation.
Congress used a similar amendment to block the District from implementing its medical marijuana program for 10 years.
FLORIDA (medical)
The push for more liberal marijuana laws is not limited to full legalization of the drug. Florida voters will be deciding whether to allow the drug for medicinal use.
A poll by Quinnipiac University in May found overwhelming support for medical marijuana in Florida, where it will require support from 60 percent of voters to pass in November. Nearly 9 out of 10 voters said they support allowing adults to use the drug for medical purposes. Support was over 80 percent for all age groups.
State lawmakers voted this year to legalize a strain of low-potency marijuana to treat epilepsy and cancer patients.
NEW YORK (medical)
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill over the weekend making his state the 23rd to allow medical marijuana, though his state will have one of the most restrictive programs in the country.
The drug isn't expected to be available for at least 19 months while the state works out regulations.
Patients with one of 10 diseases will be allowed to use the drug, but it must be ingested or vaporized; smoking it will remain illegal. Some advocates argued it is too restrictive but called it an important step.
Sources: AP and Fox news
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