Pubdate: Sun, 21 Mar 2010
Source: Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Pueblo Chieftain
Contact:  http://www.chieftain.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1613
Author: Steve Henson
Note: Steve Henson is The Chieftain's managing editor.
Also: Relevant part of a longer column. Title by MAP's editor.

THIS WHOLE MEDICAL-MARIJUANA THING IS A CHARADE

ON A TOTALLY different subject, I'd like to call your attention to a
special series of articles that is beginning in today's newspaper
regarding the medical marijuana issue.

In editing the articles before publication, and in visiting with
individuals in the community who have obtained their medical marijuana
permissions from the clinics/dispensaries, I have come to a conclusion:

What a joke! This whole medical-marijuana thing is a
charade.

While some places require individuals to produce their medical records
and undergo an interview and possibly a medical exam, many are just
rubber-stamping the permission slips, not even bothering to ask a
single medical question.

Look, if we as a society think it's time to legalize marijuana, then
just do it. Regulate the quality (which isn't happening now), sell it
to anyone 21 or older and tax the heck out of it.

Now hold on. I'm not saying that's what we should do. For the record,
I've never tried it but have been around it a lot. Most people in my
generation have. I don't believe in illegal drugs or even alcohol.
I've seen the damage they can do. Just my opinion.

But I do think this medical marijuana scam going on in Colorado is
ridiculous. The voters spoke years ago that they wanted to allow it,
but the state and local governments have taken the Pontius Pilate
approach and failed to properly regulate both the qualification and
distribution processes.

The Legislature needs to step up. If it is unwilling, then let's stop
the charade. Without legislative action, what we've done is legalize
marijuana -- period.

Is that really what the state intended years ago when it voted to
allow medicinal marijuana? Maybe it is, but I don't think so.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake