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Letter from U.S. Senator Bob Bennett regarding his personal opinion about medical marijuana
The grassroots organization Legalize Utah received a written response from Senior United States Senator Bob Bennett (Utah - Republican) regarding medical marijuana.
In the response (see scanned copy of his letter to the right), Senator Bennett does acknowledge that President Obama "recently announced (the administration) will no longer seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as the conform to state laws".
He goes on to say "I do not support this more lenient stance on marijuana use. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) places marijuana, along with heroin and several other addictive drugs, in the category reserved for controlled substances with 'a high abuse potential'".
He continues with "The use of marijuana is associated with several significant health risks, including impaired memory and learning, respiratory infection, anxiety and panic attacks".
The fact that Senator Bennett would mention some of the very diseases and/or symptoms which have been scientifically proven to respond to cannabis treatment is more than a little ironic.
He then states "I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana and troubled by the increase in illegal drug use, especially among American teens".
"For these reasons, I cannot support the legalization of medical marijuana at the federal or state level. I respect your right to disagree and thank you for informing me of your views".
Stereotypes of medical marijuana patients are believed by many of those in power and Legalize Utah has made it one of their purposes to "Educate then Legislate" and will continue to do so by sending weekly messages to all Utah lawmakers and attempting to obtain a personal opinion regarding medical marijuana from all current and hopeful lawmakers.
It is apparent that the medical marijuana movement has gained sufficient momentum to start receiving results from full support to those like Senator Bennett. The 2010 Utah elections will prove interesting as public support for medical marijuana continues to rise.
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Comments
The senator was very clever to quote the DEA. But, the DEA is a federal police agency. That would be like asking Elliott Ness if he thought alcohol should be legalized. What a threat to his "job security" to acknowledge that prohibition doesn't work. I am sure there are DEA agents who see the folly of prohibition, too.
The DEA is not the source Sen. Bennett should be seeking for advice or information regarding the efficacy of cannabis as medicine. The DEA is not an agency of doctors or scientists, economists, or sick people seeking relief from their suffering.
Sen. Bennett knows full well that cannabis is an effective and safe medicine. Fourteen states now have medical cannabis "compassion" laws allowing seriously sick people to use cannabis as medicine. These laws also protect patients and doctor from arrest and prosecution.
Sen. Bennett chooses political expediency and "business as usual" over doing the right thing. Shame on you Senator.
The senator was very clever to quote the DEA. But, the DEA is a federal police agency. That would be like asking Elliott Ness if he thought alcohol should be legalized. What a threat to his "job security" to acknowledge that prohibition doesn't work. I am sure there are DEA agents who see the folly of prohibition, too.
The DEA is not the source Sen. Bennett should be seeking for advice or information regarding the efficacy of cannabis as medicine. The DEA is not an agency of doctors or scientists, economists, or sick people seeking relief from their suffering.
Sen. Bennett knows full well that cannabis is an effective and safe medicine. Fourteen states now have medical cannabis "compassion" laws allowing seriously sick people to use cannabis as medicine. These laws also protect patients and doctor from arrest and prosecution.
Sen. Bennett chooses political expediency and "business as usual" over doing the right thing. Shame on you Senator.
Why of course Bennett should be seeking the DEA's opinion...
"Marijuana,in it's natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used under a supervised routine of medical care"
I guess it's the "by any measure of RATIONAL analysis" part that threw him off.
Frightened to death that I my go to jail for having cannabis on me in Utah. Is there any advice for what I should do...
Have you ever interacted with someone high on marijuana? They get the giggles, some are inspired to make music, art, socialize, some get extremely motivated to exercise. And yes some like to just sit on the couch! It just seems that the best reason to keep it illegal is governments, drug lords etc are making too much money off of it. Being a plant, it would be easy to grow, and you wouldn't need to buy your own. Think of all the millions of dollars dealers would lose, and governments wouldn't profit from the fines of being caught. It's depressing really, it's not a health issue, it's all just money.
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