Medical Marijuana News

Today (right now, in fact) a California appeals court is hearing arguments in a case where Felix Kha, a Garden Grove patient who is legally allowed to use marijuana as a medicine, is demanding that police return eight grams of cannabis they seized from him in 2005. An Orange County judge ordered the return of Kha's medicine two years ago, but the city appealed. Kha's lawyer, Joe Elford, notes that such defiance of California's Compassionate Use Act remains common, although some law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, have seen the error of their ways.

In other medical marijuana news, Barack Obama has joined the seven other Democratic presidential candidates in promising to call off the DEA's medical marijuana raids if he's elected. In case you're keeping track, that's 100 percent of the Democrats who say they'll respect California's policy choices in this area, compared to 25 percent of the Republicans. Fred Thompson, who has not officially announced his candidacy yet, has made noises about the importance of federalism but so far as I know has not taken a stand on this issue yet.

Comments

[Taktix?]

We took this trip to Garden Grove...

[Brian]

that's 100 percent of the Democrats who say they'll California's policy choices in this area

[TallDave]

Finally, a reason to vote Dem.

[sage]

What Brian said.

[Tommy_Grand]

OCPD cant give his tree back b/c they smoked it

[Francisco Torres]

Who gives a rat's ass what Fred Thompson says or not? Ron Paul already said he's in favor of disbanding the DEA. That is MUCH more avant garde than whatever the Dem-a-gogues have promised.

[anon]

...It smelled like Lou-dog inside the van, oh yeah,,,

[notalocal]

...This ain't no funky reggae party, $5 at the door...

[Mr. Nice Guy]

"that's 100 percent of the Democrats who say they'll respect California's policy choices in this area, compared to 25 percent of the Republicans"
But as SIV will tell you, things like facts and math won't convince some folks that on drugs the Dems are simply better (though they have a looooong way to go themselves) than the GOP.

[Matt Tievsky]

That's definitely cool, but the next question is, how many of the Dem candidates are lying?

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Some of them might be lying of course, but there is something to what Voltaire said "Hypocrisy is the homage which vice renders to virtue." The Dems at least feel on some level these raids are indefensible (they either feel it to the point they have a conviction to end them or know its indefensible to advocate them in public). The GOPers confidently acclaim their callous stupidity AND will act on it. That's more scary to me...

[theophanes]

That 8 grams was seized in 2005? Even if he does get it back that's going to be some stale bud. Hardly seems worth it does it?

[Jim Bob]

Drug War policy could be a reason for to vote democrat in 2008. Maybe.

It seems that the return of this 8 grams of ganja is simply to make the government eat crow; I'm sure he could have gotten some more herb by now. And I support this and every other effort to expose Drug Warrior thugs and prosecutors for the moralizing, vindictive assholes they are.

[Jim Bob]

"a reason for me to vote democrat"

me engrish good

[Doctor Duck]

how many of Dem is lying?

Why... all of them, of course. If not about this, then something.

[Goldthwait]

"In case you're keeping track, that's 100 percent of the Democrats who say they'll respect California's policy choices in this area,"

And you actually believe them? Man, that speaks volumes about your political biases

[jh]

In case you're keeping track, that's 100 percent of the Democrats who say lied when they said they'll respect California's policy choices in this area, compared to 25 percent of the Republicans.

Does anyone really believe anyone but Ron Paul would seek to end the War on the Law of Supply and Demand Drugs?

[Warren]

RON PAUL '08

Remember when we use to say Al Gore would have been worse? The worst leftist, progressive, Stalin apologist, the Democrats could possibly produce. I'm talking resurrected ghost of Paul Wellstone red, will still be an improvement over the past eight years.

[Goldthwait]

"But as SIV will tell you, things like facts and math won't convince some folks that on drugs the Dems are simply better (though they have a looooong way to go themselves) than the GOP"

Two words come to mind when I read the above quotation: naive, gullible.

[Goldthwait]

"Remember when we use to say Al Gore would have been worse? The worst leftist, progressive, Stalin apologist, the Democrats could possibly produce. I'm talking resurrected ghost of Paul Wellstone red, will still be an improvement over the past eight years"

Damn, someone finally admits the last two years of the Clinton Administration really sucked. Thank you.

[SIV]

But as SIV will tell you, things like facts and math won't convince some folks that on drugs the Dems are simply better

YeaH, but if you aren't on drugs they are worse!

On a related note I find watching Bill Maher's show stoned makes it much more entertaining.

[SIV]

what jh said seconded

[Robert]

Yes, the Democrats are better on it, but it's such a minor issue. I think that's why the Republicans are against it -- it's because they know it's symbolic. The reason it's symbolic is that illegality & enforcement make hardly any difference as to availability of mj to anyone, let alone med mj patients.

Practically nobody would change a vote on the single issue of med mj in favor of a candidate who's for it. However, being against it speaks great volumes to at least a few voters who might vote on strictly that symbolic issue, and vote for the candidate who's against.

[Steve]

Cigarettes prevent Parkinsons and senility, but that doesn't mean doctors should prescribe them.

I wish lefties would quit pretending Marijuana's a medicine and admit that it's a recreational drug for smelly, annoying hippies who think sharing is a one-way street from others to them and don't have the sack to drink Jack.

Then legalize it.

[Adam W.]

jh, I think Tancredo would at least end the raids; I beleive he's consistently voted in favor on Hinchey-Rohrabacher.

[dhex]

On a related note I find watching Bill Maher's show stoned makes it much more entertaining.

yeah this is basically the best reason to keep weed illegal. it makes tedious nonsense tolerable.

on the other hand it makes the dr. keith ablow show into a slow-motion car wreck worthy of david cronenberg.

[Warren]

I remember one Sat. afternoon circa 1995. Sun was shining, absolutely beautiful day. I had a couple of roommates and we all had different things planned. There were like a dozen people in the house getting ready to hit the day. Last thing to do before heading out, pass the bowl around natch. The next twenty minutes not a word was spoken as we were all transfixed on the, previously unnoticed, television. And what were we watching, a broadcast of Madhouse (John Larroquette, Kirstie Alley) Damn that was some good weed.

[TallDave]

If we could wrest the GOP from the unthinking grip of the theocons/so-cons, they would seem to be the natural fit for drug reform. I mean, they're the party that understands supply and demand, free trade, and market distortions.

I mean, what we really have now is a poliy that makes drug dealers rich, imprisons people committing victimless crimes, and prevents alomst no one from doing drugs, all so a few people can have their morality enforced as law against people's freedom to ingest whatever they want. It's as bad as the laws against homosexuality.

[Mr. Nobody]

This website has a lot of information on both sides of the medical marijuana debate: http://www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org

[R C Dean]

Drug War policy could be a reason for to vote democrat in 2008. Maybe.

Much as I despise the WoD, the Dems are already promising higher taxes, socialized medicine, and you know they still want gun control.

Sorry, no sale yet.

And yes, I do believe that if Ron Paul was elected President, he would do everything in his power (which might be surprisingly little given Congressional opposition) to throttle back the WoD.