Herb Ninja

Pot Advocates Need Lobby

11-22-2004 | Kevin Jones | The Daily Texan

Outside of sex, few issues inspire as much passion, euphoria or disdain as marijuana - or so I thought.

A recent Scripps Howard News Service poll revealed that 75 percent of Texans support physician recommended medical marijuana. Not only did medical marijuana do well in a statewide survey, but it polled better than President Bush. No word, though, on whether Texas Democrats were lead to believe election anguish would qualify them for the pain-relieving benefits of a happy, little cigarette.

As promising as this survey seems, the next poll, the one that counts, promises to be much less friendly. That poll will consist of 183 not-so-randomly selected Texans: the House, the Senate and our governor. The stewards of our state have proven to be less weed-friendly.

Remember the good ol' days when public support to the tune of 75 percent provided enough political cover to pursue an issue? State Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, sponsored a bill three years ago that would have made physician-recommended medical use an affirmative defense for marijuana possession. His office has said he does not intend to pursue the issue this session.

Who could blame him? Earlier this year, Gov. Rick Perry's spokeswoman reiterated his opposition to legalizing marijuana for any reason, and we all know how Republicans who side against the our governor are treated (see Carol Keeton Strayhorn).

The significant development in this battle is that the Texas Medical Association supports a doctor's right to discuss all options with patients, including medical marijuana. At least they are consistent. Last session, they joined with state leaders in an effort to return medical decisions to doctors by removing the threat of frivolous lawsuits.

Apparently, the governor only wants to remove obstacles for doctors who meet his ideological approval.

The advocacy group Texans for Medical Marijuana, however, will attempt to keep the issue on the front burner in 2005. Director Noelle Davis is currently shopping for a legislator to carry a medical marijuana bill for the 79th congressional session.

According to Davis, the new legislation goes further than the 2001 version. It will protect doctors and patients from arrest, similar to medical marijuana laws in other states. The problem is that the expanded version must go through a more conservative Legislature than the one that buried the 2001 bill in committee.

Approval of an influential professional association and three-quarters of the population likely will not be enough. Because 75 percent does not a mandate make in Texas - not when you are opposed by the "right" 25 percent.

Texas legislators are not alone in their reluctance on this issue. Most of the 11 states who legalized medicinal marijuana did so through voter referendums. Our state, however, does not allow ballot initiatives. Texas legislates the traditional way: with lobbyists, special interests and political favors. That is probably for the best. Who wants to give the Texas populous a crack at every issue under the sun? It is hardly a perfect system, but as Bill Moyers said (of Texas politicians): "If you think these guys are bad, you should see their constituents."

What medical marijuana advocates need is a good, ol' fashion infusion of political money on their behalf. Maybe a sympathetic board member at Pfizer could initiate a cannabis division in a weed-friendly country. Once that was profitable, it would only be a matter of time before some company lobbies medical marijuana into the next Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Grandma's Christmas cookies would never be the same.

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"Truth is treason in an empire of lies." -Ron Paul