The Latest News on Medical Marijuana in California
Our news analyst takes a look on the progressing legalization of a drug which is harmless for many but can become addictive and have a huge negative impacts on the lives of others.
Marijuana has become greatly decriminalized in the last 5 years
- article by Khoi Nguyen
Recently, medical marijuana has been in the news often and is a subject of much debate from both supporters and detractors. Flip through the local newspapers of states that allow medical marijuana and you will see the myriad advertisements that praise the benefits of using it and the simple, easy ways to buy it.
Medical Marijuana has made its way into popular culture. The show “Entourage” has given us a comedic glimpse into the steps taken in order to obtain a medical marijuana license and what it is like to possess one. The character Drama walks into a clinic and after having trouble expressing his symptoms is not-so-subtly coached by the doctor to say the right words to express his “anxiety disorder”.
Currently, the following states have active medical marijuana programs: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Let’s get caught up on the latest happenings in the country’s medical marijuana saga.
Impending Crackdown of Dispensaries by Los Angeles District Attorney
Today, the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles is close to 800. The LA Times reported that county D.A. Steve Cooley thinks the majority (close to 100%) of them are operating illegally and will be prosecuted criminally. He declares that since most outlets earn a profit selling medical marijuana, they are in violation of state law, which states that collectives can only charge enough to cover their own costs.
Cooley is receiving support from Don Duncan, California director of Americans for Safe Access, who agrees that the dispensaries are in violation of state law. Duncan is urging the D.A. to pursue prosecution and target the “problem people”. Mark Kleiman, a drug policy expert from UCLA, also supports Cooley and cites the marketing practices by a large number of dispensaries. Their oftentimes dubious advertising does not “look legal” and does not put enough emphasis on the medical benefits.
Obama’s Support for Medical Marijuana
Before he became the leader of the United States, Barack Obama put his support behind medical marijuana as a presidential candidate and pledged to end federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries. After he took office though, some raids still continued to take place.
This week, the Obama administration protected both individuals and suppliers of medical marijuana under state law from prosecution under federal drug laws. It expressed the strain this type of prosecution put on federal prosecutors and drug agents. Their time could be put into better use with more pressing matters, almost all of which are more important than pursuing medical marijuana patients and suppliers.
This is seen as a huge positive step for medical marijuana patients and those who supply them. Users with serious illnesses will no longer have to fear being prosecuted for curing their pain and suppliers in compliance of state laws will not have to worry of busts occurring at any moment. At the same time, serious drug traffickers who sell marijuana in violation of state laws will still continue to be targeted by the federal government.
