From the L.A. Medical Pot Trenches

Jacob Sullum noted below the possible end game in Los Angeles' long struggle to regulate medical pot to its satisfaction--and its D.A.'s petulant insistance that he doesn't care if the City Council says over the counter sales of medical pot can be legal, he's prosecutin' away.

I was at the joint council committee meeting yesterday, and wrote a bit on what happened, with both quotes and links from local media and some of my own observations, at my California news and politics blog "City of Angles." Tomorrow, the whole council may actually approve a new ordinance; stay tuned.

Comments

[Chad]

I support the legalization of drugs. I have always opposed medical marijuana laws, and time has proven my argument essentially correct. They are nothing more than a smoke-screen for pot-heads. As I predicted, pot-friendly doctors are prescribing it for every ailment under the sun, from "stress" to stubbed toes. Whoda thunk?

Legalization should go through the front door, not the back door. To the extent that there are legitimate medical uses for cannibis, it should go through the same route as any other drug...and certainly would not be delivered by smoking.

[justin Beano]

What?? POts illegal? Since when? I been smoking it for 30+ years and I had no idea!

Jess
http://www.online-privacy.at.tc

[Agent Provacateur]

Chad:

1st paragraph good.
2nd paragraph bad.

[Hacha Cha]

who cares if people lie to get medical marijuana, people lie to get vicodin, morphine, amphetamines, benzos, etc., etc. but they all have legitimate medical use. people need to have access to medicine.

[?]

A law that invites you to fraudulently conspire with a state-licensed professional to obtain an otherwise-illegal thing should probably make the little Admiral Ackbar in your head yell at you.

[Episiarch]

It's a trap?

[The Admiral]

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[Rhywun]

I was looking at the list of "Schedules" on wikipedia today... it's utterly ridiculous--and obviously a "political" decision--that weed is a "Schedule I" drug.

[skr]

The names "shall be made available by the collective to the Police Department upon request," according to the older language

If only someone could have predicted the fuzz would try to get the names of the patients. ... What's that...

[Episiarch]

The cops and prosecutors are going to fight legalization tooth and nail, as it removes one of their greatest sources of power over people.

[miklen]

"removes one of their greatest sources of power over people"

It also removes their greatest sources of funding, via asset forfeiture

[phillip traum]

[quote]Legalization should go through the front door, not the back door. To the extent that there are legitimate medical uses for cannibis, it should go through the same route as any other drug...and certainly would not be delivered by smoking. [/quote]

sure, the back door might be a kinda dirty way to go, at least you're getting what you wanted.

[troy]

The back door is an entertainment center too.

[Paul]

It would be nice if legalization went through the front door, and eventually I think it will. But the Berlin Wall of Pot is falling now before our eyes in spite of the curses, threats, demands for more scientific studies and confusion of the authorities. It is too messy to do it right, so let's everyone pile on and pull the whole thing down for good.

And if you live in Los Angeles, please be sure to vote against Cooley in the next election. He wants to put you, your friends, or your kids in jail for smoking pot. Out with him.

[CharlesJames Socks]

Joint council, lol.

[Joe]

I was at the joint council committee meeting yesterday.

[DWPittelli]

"To the extent that there are legitimate medical uses for cannibis, it should ... not be delivered by smoking."

I will concede that vaporized forms may be healthier than inhaling smoke, but it's not always easy keeping down your Marinol pill when the whole point of taking it is to keep (or stop) you from vomiting.

[R C Dean]

To the extent that there are legitimate medical uses for cannibis, it should ... not be delivered by smoking.

Perhaps that is a decision for you and/or your doctor to make?

[Rich]

the Berlin Wall of Pot is falling now before our eyes

I believe another commenter has a small wager about this.

Careful about minefields behind the crumbling wall.

[jpocali]

To be honest I don't give a frog's fat ass if it goes in through the front door or the back door or the freakin window so long as it gets through.

[BakedPenguin]

I posted the story of Peter McWilliams on another thread, but if you're still reading Chad, (or anyone else who opposes medical marijuana) read this.

Yes, full legalization would be far better. But there are valid medical uses for marijuana. MM is not just an workaround for stoners.

[jasno]

War breaks out within the marijuana legalization movement (part 1)

We're already seeing some splintering between the various groups. There's a lot of money to be made and a lot of greedy, rent-seeking cannabusiness folks who want to establish themselves as the gatekeepers.

[Michael Ejercito]

I am not a fan of the criminalization of marijuana.

Nevertheless, District Attorney Steve Cooley must enforce the law.