Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2007
Source: State Hornet, The (CA State, Sacramento, Edu)
Copyright: 2007 State Hornet
Contact:  http://www.statehornet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1400
Author: Paul Rios
Cited: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger http://gov.ca.gov
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Schwarzenegger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

GOVERNOR RESPONDS TO SMOKING

Say what you will about his policies, but we have a pretty 
interesting governor. While most states suffer with their stodgy 
career politicians, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a unique character, one 
who is unafraid of making controversial statements. We've gotten used 
to it, frankly.

Maybe that's why there was little public backlash concerning 
Schwarzenegger's recent comments to the British edition of "GQ." In 
an interview, Schwarzenegger told the magazine that "marijuana is not drug."

"It's a leaf," he said. "My drug was pumping iron."

Schwarzenegger's head-scratching response was prompted by questions 
about his own well-documented marijuana use. But if the media were 
quick to pick up on the story, there has been only a little comment 
on his statements, which are especially relevant lately.

Admittedly, there's little to be said about Schwarzenegger's personal 
stance that hasn't already been said, since his take on marijuana 
isn't precisely news. Schwarzenegger once bragged about hashish use 
(and wild bodybuilder orgies) in a 1977 interview with "Oui" 
magazine, a French equivalent of "Playboy." He also appeared on the 
cover of "High Times" in his Conan regalia and flat out told a Los 
Angeles Times reporter in 1989 that he used to smoke "once or twice a week."

It's easy to write these comments off as ancient history. He's got a 
family-man image to maintain now, which means no more weed-fueled 
orgies. But Schwarzenegger's support of the kind bud hasn't changed 
dramatically. After all, he told Sean Hannity that he was in favor of 
the legalization of medical marijuana during his 2003 recall election campaign.

It all amounts to little in terms of action, though.  The governor 
has strong opinions and makes little effort to hide his opinions 
about a lot of things, no matter how inane. But even he can't 
maneuver the political hurdles and controversy that would accompany 
any attempt to further relax California's marijuana laws.

The key challenge faced by supporters of legalization initiatives is 
the fact that under federal law, marijuana use is illegal in all 
cases. Though California already boasts progressive laws in respect 
to medical marijuana, those laws are superseded by federal 
restrictions. So even if Schwarzenegger were to enact changes to the 
state's already liberal statutes, they wouldn't do a whole lot.

But the subject is anything but closed for debate.  California's 
Supreme Court has had to decide several conflicts between federal and 
state law. The latest is the case of Gary Ross, a man who lost his 
job after failing a drug test for marijuana. Though he acquired his 
schwag legally (at least according to state laws) through a doctor's 
recommendation, the Sacramento man was fired 11 days after he was hired.

Ross, who suffers from chronic back pain, received support from 
disability and medical advocacy groups.  The court has yet to reach a 
decision, but Ross' case has already been shot down in two lower 
courts and also by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005.

There are a whole lot of contradictory studies out there; some which 
support marijuana as a healing agent, some which decry the dangers of 
use. Few conclusive reports exist, though. Advocates from the 
American Medical Association argue that until more definitive 
research is available, marijuana should not be legalized. But it's 
hard to justify the drug's illegal status on those grounds when many 
legal, well-researched prescription drugs can prove to be just as 
addictive and potentially harmful. It seems uncertainty is almost 
part and parcel when medicine is concerned.

If there's one thing certain though, it's that plenty of people are 
willing to do whatever they can to get relief. Obviously, that 
includes overstepping the bounds of legality. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake