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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Drugs America's Next Pot Model

Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 3:14 PM

The State of Rhode Island will oversee the cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana. Here's part of an email I just received from the Marijuana Policy Project:

In landslide votes of 68-0 and 35-3, the Rhode Island General Assembly today overrode Gov. Donald Carcieri's (R) veto of legislation to allow the licensed, regulated sale of marijuana to seriously ill patients. Rhode Island will now become only the second state (after New Mexico) to license and regulate medical marijuana dispensing.

What happens in Rhode Island could eventually happen in every state... if the Obama Administration lets it. As far as the federal government is concerned, there are zero allowances for pot farms, distribution networks, and packaging operations—regardless of a state legislature's vote or how sick the pot users are. They could crush this program like a soda can. But if they stand back, choosing not to prosecute Rhode Island and New Mexico, it's a tacit endorsement of letting those states establish mechanisms for distributing legal medical marijuana. That model can then be adopted by other states, such as California, which is considering a ballot measure to regulate pot for recreational users.

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Sell it in state-run liquor stores - they have to check your ID anyway, and that ensures quality and cuts out the drug pushers.

I can see exempting taxes for people on chemotherapy permits, of course, but everyone else should pay a tax similar to that for alcohol (which, surprising as it sounds, is used by a lot of people as a treatment for PTSD, even if it's less effective than Creatine).

Posted by Will in Seattle

on June 16, 2009 at 3:21 PM

I feel sick

Posted by really on June 16, 2009 at 3:29 PM

Rhode Island: America's Stoned Pimple

Posted by jns on June 16, 2009 at 3:37 PM

This has nothing to do with pot but Dan I wanted you to see this so I posted it to the top entry.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/0…

Posted by chrissowick on June 16, 2009 at 3:37 PM

sometimes I think the medical marijuana thing is just distracting from the bigger issue that pot should simply be legal like alcohol and cigarettes.

if we get it legal "for medical purposes" it makes marijuana sound MORE like a controlled substance whereas it seems that we should be guiding the discussion towards marijuana on the same level as other recreational drugs like alcohol, caffeine and nicotene.

Posted by pffft on June 16, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Hmm, good point, pffft.

It's not like people in Rhode Island want to live free or die, after all.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on June 16, 2009 at 4:00 PM

Weed, weed hooray for weed.
Who was ever to blase for weed?
Make this the night for weed
If we have to fight, let's fight for weed.

Celebrate 4:20 responsibly.

Posted by meowmeowkitty on June 16, 2009 at 4:10 PM

Marijuanna SHOULD be legal, just like alcohol and cigarettes, pffft. I'll agree with you that far - and it should be taxed like mad. But as someone who uses majuanna for medical purposes - I'll take it anyway I can get it.

My ideal scenario would be that it was permitted for medical use, five years would pass and The Powers That Be would see that no one's head exploded, and then it would be permitted to the general public for recreational use. I don't think it will be to go from prohibittion to legalized any faster than that.

BTW, just came back from Amsterdam, where a joint sells for a minimum of 8 Euros [about $13 U.S.]. That's the basic, fairly weak but no-tobacco-added-type of joint. The price goes way up from there.

Posted by Schweighsr on June 16, 2009 at 4:45 PM

So Dominic tell me...

What is the medical condition you'll be using to justify using marijuana?

Inquiring minds want to know...

Posted by Reality Check

on June 16, 2009 at 7:11 PM

Does having back hair qualify for medical marijuana?

Posted by callinitlikeitis on June 16, 2009 at 9:00 PM

Will, the state liquor store does not and should not care about your identity. They need to verify that you are of legal age to purchase alcohol. Please don't spread the idea that people need to show their papers upon demand in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security is doing plenty of that on its own.

Posted by Phil M on June 16, 2009 at 10:04 PM