Thread: Marijuana, Fed or State?

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I am a curious person and quite often I get hung up on a topic that has my interest, probably more so than I should.
Every now and again I get so hung up on something that it gets close to being an obsession, albeit a short lived obsession.
Well, lately I have had a reoccurring hang up that has been on my mind since my state (Michigan) legalized the medical use of marijuana.

I have done some looking into how people are using marijuana for medical treatments and many of the uses make sense.
It is use is commonly recommended for treating chronic pain and to treat the effects of chemo therapy, along with quite a few other ailments that require long term, sometimes even lifelong treatment.
That is how it is here in MI and in a few other states.

Many doctors refuse to recommend the use of the drug, which is their right as private medical practitioners.
A problem arises after a doctor does recommend the use of marijuana, and their patient files for and receives a card that, under State law, permits them to legally be in possession of marijuana.
Obtaining marijuana becomes a difficulty because federally speaking, it is still illegal to purchase, and possess, regardless of intended use.

Federal law supersedes State law, so if a state legalizes use of marijuana, persons in possession of the drug can still be arrested under Federal law.

The more I think about it the more I think that perhaps the Federal government should legalized marijuana entirely, and allow the individual States to vote on if the drug will be legal to use in their State, and for what purposes.
The Federal government can then put a tax on the sale of marijuana, and impose a license for individuals to grow and distribute the drug, and set up a plan for pharmacies to carry the drug for patients who are prescribed marijuana.
States that choose to legalize the drug can choose how it will be used, put a State tax on its sale, regulate its growth, put age and other restrictions on who can grow, sell and use the drug and line up penalties for those who misuse the drug.

I know that this is a touchy subject for some, and there are as many opponents as there are advocates and many more who are not on either side.
With members all over the globe, of all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds, I want to know what people here think.
I hope that this can be a calm discussion and sharing of thoughts and opinions.
I encourage individuals to think before they type and to remember that they have the option not to respond if they don’t want to.

Usually i dont think before i respond and this one is going to be the same

First i think the feds have their heads jammed so far up their butts when it comes to them thinking then "can do what the want" The feds think they can steam roll any law or rule and they do.

Medical purpose YES i am so pro on this for pain,appetite,dizziness,depression, you name it i think anybody deserves the right to feel good when they dont.

I think the states have the right idea i mean come on right now we have over populated prison system and have rapist and murders walking free and they want to keep a pothead in jail for years! Something aint right....So some body that was busted with a joint and had the book throw at him for something as harmless as this.

My final thought no matter what the reason for making legal enjoyment,health,what ever the reason. I think mankind should be making their own choices and not the goverment and i think it should be regulated like anything else...beer, whiskey ,wine what ever... So i say smoke it if ya got it And tell the Law to mind their own business. They sure dont pay our taxes i dont know why they are so worried about if someone smokes a lefty every now and then. Cant be any worse then downing a 5th of whiskey on the weekend or a case of beer. USA is so far behind the times its carzy. Look at how Europe treats it. Things seem to be going just fine its not LEGAL there but its tolerated. In USA we are just living with a bunch of tight asses that think its my way or the highway and the hell with anybody else.

It's an aggravating issue, that's for sure. I think the States have the right idea in making it available to persons that need it.

I see a distinct difference between medical need and recreational use, but I have to agree with ToeTag that it's no more harmful than cigarettes or alcohol. It all boils down to the responsibility of the individual. I have never had a problem with excess (unless you count pizza) but I know there are individuals who do.

I think people need to get over the false scandal of marijuana. Because it is currently illiegal, people think only criminals and slackers use it. The belief is that a marijuana smoker has no standing, and can give nothing back to society. If you smoke marijuana, you're a worthless deadbeat that's destined to slip deaper and deeper into drug use until you simply O.D. and die! And, of course, you'll turn to crime to support your habit because you can't hold down a job or focus on anything other than cartoons for more than five minutes straight. So let's just keep them all hidden away in their basements and drug dens and hope they can at least be aware enough to hold onto their job in the service industry. (general right-wing view).

I'd rather have a group of mellow 20-somethings looking for some munchies then a loud, drunken group of Neanderthals threatening everyone in the local QFC at 2am because the bar just closed and they want more beer.

This is my opinion.

Right when i said pothead i didnt refer to just b/c you smoke doesnt make you a burnout just b/c you drink a case doesnt make you a drunk either.
Think about this one. Pilots,surgeons,lawyers,police,preachers,teachers, firemen,politicians etc....The list goes on and on and they also smoke and they deliver to society day after day. You might be thinking OH MY GOD!! Then think they drink also is it still a OH MY GOD!!!

BTW pizza is my enemy also

A form of marijuana is already legal in this country,it's a drug (pill not smoked) with a synthetic THC (active ingredient in marijuana) called Marinol. Last year during a particularly nasty round of chemo I lost all my will to eat and lost close to 40lbs in a really short amount of time. My husband joked to my oncologist about pot, to which she whipped out her prescrition pad and gave it to me. I can attest to the excellent use of this product, it brought back my appetite and lessened my nausea. I'm not against the legalization of smoking it (for whatever reason the user wants/needs it for) but studies have shown smoking it and inhaling it can be detrimental to ones health, much as regular cigarettes are. In short, I agree that it should be federally legalized, but also carry the same warnings as regular cigarettes do, and let states (better yet individuals) decide...not government!

nyhaunter, you are very right about the THC pills and helping greatly with cancer patients. Many have attested to its powerful effects and how much it helped them get through chemotherapy treatment. I think the sheer number of patients testimonies in favor of the drug pushed many in my state to legalize its medical use.

You are also right about the warnings that should be put on the dangers of smoking marijuana. Inhaling any smoke is hazardous to ones health.
Marijuana has many ways it can enter the system other than smoking. A person can ingest pills or tablets, use a vaporizer which is much safer than smoking, steep the plant in hot water, milk or even alcohol (although adding it to alcohol presents added risks) and it can be added into butter or turned into flower and cooked into many foods.

I like the idea of adding warnings for the risks of smoking marijuana, but I think, because of the over all effect marijuana has on the human body, that restrictions similar to alcohol use should be applied. Restrictions such as an enforced age limit on who can possess, use, distribute, and grow; no public use, no driving while under the influence, not being stoned at work, etc.

I agree with everything you said Dogman...especially the part about not driving. They actually printed warnings on my prescriptions about not driving or operating heavy machinery...like I could even remember where my keys were while on this stuff! Let me tell you..it is VERY powerful stuff..equal to or better than smoking it, with no nasty smell of smoke. I watched a very interesing documentary about the legal pot-growers in California who grow it for medical use. It's treated just like any other crop, the growers themselves were farmers, not "stoners" like a lot of people seem to think. They were extremely knowledgable businessmen who found their way into the marketplace legally and with the governemts consent (and in some cases government backing)..in other words it's cultivated much the same way as corn or soy..not grown in some guys basement with lamps.

Thinking about it, marijuana farms could offer a boost in job opportunities.
Of course there should probably be better security on said farms to prevent thieves both inside and out.

I know of a legal medicinal pot farm up here somewhere that has super tight security. Several gates, check points and cameras everywhere, not to mention it's in the middle of nowhere and hard to find if you don't know where it is.

Small edit done here, I changed the title.

After reading it a few times, it seemed like it had a narrow focus.

What I really want this to be is just a sharing of thoughts and ideas on the subject of marijuana and it's current illegal status.

Now I don't smoke it. And an illegal drug is illegal. But I don't think we should close the book on marijuana and its medicinal purposes. My neice went through Chemo when she was 2 years old. And it was hell to go through just watching. I have heard that the Cigarette companys are the people who pushed for it to be illegal. I don't know for sure. Never did to much research on the subject. But it would not be the first time the cigarette companys did something to further their sales. Now all the other man made illegal drugs now I can't say the same. And there is a little truth to the fact that some people that use marijuana use it as a stepping stone to the next type of drugs. But we cannot disregard the medical uses that marijuana can provide.