Let me say this at the outset: 1. I do not condone drug use; 2. Society should not be held financially responsible if persons who indulge fail to earn enough to support themselves over their lifetime; 3. I believe it is a states rights issue; 4. I think the federal government should be using all of its law enforcement manpower to put murderers and thieves behind bars. Not waste time with stoners.
That said, a young man from suburban Denver named Chris Bartkowicz was taken to jail and charged in federal court on one count of possession with intent to manufacture, dispense, or distribute a controlled substance. He appeared in court Tuesday and will remain in custody until his next hearing Thursday. His case, however, will be the first of its kind.
Other states, like California, provide only statutory protection for medical marijuana. Colorado, however, added medicinal marijuana specifically as a right to its state Constitution. Add to that the fact that Bartkowicz is one of the only people nationwide to face federal charges since an Obama Administration memo in October telling federal agents to respect medicinal-marijuana laws, and you have the ingredients for the perfect storm.
“There are complex legal issues that haven’t been addressed in this state,” said Bartkowicz’ attorney. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has ruled in a prior case that the federal government can regulate marijuana, even if it is grown, sold and used entirely in a medical-marijuana state. Read more
Medicinal marijuana is becoming a hot topic business. My neighbor rents out bedrooms in his home and he told me he is renting two rooms to young men from California. One is from LA County, the other from north of Sacramento. Both are out to see what Colorado is doing right about its medicinal dispensaries.
Ever since National Geographics celebrated broadcast on the Emerald Triangle the gold rush for marijuana cultivation has taken the west by storm. Bills are moving through state legislatures to move marijuana into the mainstream. Will we see taxing and legalization before the year is out?
Comments
You say you do not "condone drug use". Shouldn't that be "abuse"? What do you consider a "drug"? Aspirin? Tylenol? Penicillin? Vicodin? Or only those which the government has decided are "illegal"?
Drug abuse. Amended. Thank you!
Marijuana prohibition is wrong!
Legal substances, things like water and aspirin, kill more people per year, marijuana being a historical 0 death rate. The amount of danger involved with using this plant speaks to my previous point. It also means, with effects less than that of other unscheduled already legal substances, it can only be a law dictated from opinionated hyperbole.
Stop wasting resources on this plant. Record eradication every year - as well as - record growth and availability. A growing - 72 year - well funded - failing war that will never end. An anti-human rights money pit for something that is far less dangerous than alcohol.
- A Great WAR -
opposingviews.com/i/marijuana-is-the-flame-heroin-is-the-fuse-lsd-is-the-bomb--3
Get out and protest on March 26th from 12 Noon to 2:00pm. We are tring to set up a day of national protest against the illegal raids of the DEA against legal medical marijuana. In San diego we will be gathering at 940 Front St. San Diego (Downtown Federal Court house). You can find a place to protest that works for you. It is the time for everyone to come out of the Cannabis closet and demand that the Feds back off.
Learn more at www.movementinaction.org
While you have some very valid points, your story would be more credible if you knew a little about criminal law. You state that the feds should spend more time putting murderers and thieves behind bars and leave the "stoners" alone. 98% plus of the murder and theft in the nation is prosecuted under state statutes - not by the feds, since states under the Constitution primarily have "police powers" over health, safety and morals (ie, murder and theft). Federal drug laws come into play through its commerce clause. It kinda taints your whole article.
TK, I appreciate your distinction, but I dont agree. Federal law enforcement has all kinds of effects on local law enforcement. Clintons "Cops on the Street" initiative to name a famous example. Billions are allocated to state and local law enforcement and strings are attached to everything they do. Federal law enforcement from the Attorney General on down is a part of that. If there were no federal law enforcement boot on stoners there would likely be no local enforcement either.
#1. It is a violation of the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution for the feds to interfere with the decision the voters of Colorado made.
#2. Chris violated State law and should be prosecuted under that State Law.
#3. As a disabled veteran, citizen of the Great State of Colorado, and registered patient & grower...I expect the Governemnt I served to honor the US Constitution, the one I swore to uphold and serve....not their misguided "reefer madness" mindset.
Yes, I'll be the first to admit, there are those abusing the law....as well as the laws that govern the "legal" narcotics big Pharma shoves down our throats. Personally, I have cut down, by 70%, the amount of Oxycontin, fentanyl and morphine they want me to take!
Walk a day in my shoes....and then tell me "I DON'T NEED MY MEDICINAL MARIJUANA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lets not forget the tenth amendment, States have the RIGHT to govern themselves. So STOP with the excuse "Its against the FEDERAL LAW". People continue to use this excuse as a means to do away with Medical Marijuana, Wake up and smell the CONSTITUTION PEOPLE, States do indeed have the right to make their own laws and also have the right to ignore FEDERAL LAW, also if the people of Michigan voted in the Medical Marijuana Law then the only way to change it is to take it back to the people of Michigan to re-vote on it, until than this is for the State Senator and his backers, Quit trying to change a voter approved (63%) law, get over your predigest ideas and also quit trying to decide what is best for everybody based on your own morels & predigest thoughts. Medical Marijuana has been a blessing for myself as I no longer vomit every morning and my chronic pain from nerve damage is controlled more than ever and I do not miss taking all of the prescribed medicine ( oxycontin, lortab, muscle
as I no longer vomit every morning and my chronic pain from nerve damage is controlled more than ever and I do not miss taking all of the prescribed medicine ( oxycontin, lortab, muscle relaxers, methadone, sleep aids, etc.) Why is it OK in everybody's eyes to be taking these kinds of medicines, which are very addictive and the side effects are unreal. Please try to understand that Marijuana is a true medicine that helps with no side effects and for those who won't listen, as a smoker I don't believe in the use of any STREET DRUGS and I do not feel as if Marijuana is leading me to stronger drugs as the Doctors have done that for me.
Well, it seems the issue at hand is what roll if any should the Feds. play in Medical Marijuana? The concerns of those still wearing blinders, relate to public health, saftey, and or welfare. Let's go over the stats.;
People who die each year in the USA from,
Tobacco. 500,000
Alchohol. 250,000
perscription drugs 150,000
ALL other(illegal) drugs 10,000-15,000
marijuana -0- Zip- none-nada, by the way, there are zero recorded deaths by marijuana, EVER!
Soooo, why is there so much anger over a plant that has NEVER killed anyone? By the statistics, it seems rooted in money, power, and greed. Certainly NOT public health, saftey, or welfare.
Rev. Dr. D.V.D., D.D.
Thank you Reverend. Well said.
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