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Pompo

Blowing Smoke
The city's promise not to cooperate with federal drug raids means little without a concrete plan to accompany it.
2/1/08|The Daily Californian| by Editorial Staff

They don't pass out coupons on Telegraph or sport neon signs above their doors, but they're nevertheless a Berkeley staple. Windows shuttered, bouncers at the door-they're your friendly local medical marijuana dispensaries, and the City Council wants you to know it has their backs.

In response to Drug Enforcement Agency raids on Bay Area dispensaries, the Council this week voted to declare the city a "sanctuary" for medical marijuana, pledging noncooperation with federal raids.

The decision is an accurate reflection of local views. Eighty-five percent of Berkeley voters supported the 1996 state proposition that legalized medicinal marijuana-not that the city needs statistics to back its pot-friendly credentials.

What's more relevant is that the city measure is consistent with the decision reached at the state level. The consequences of that vote-and the legal implications of individual states flouting national drug policy-are issues beyond the purview of the Council members. Their job is to honor the wishes of the constituents they serve and the state government to which they report.

It's a job only half done. Grand pronouncements of disregard for federal law are a surefire crowd-pleaser in a city where it's easier to window-shop for bongs than flower vases. But simply declaring support for medicinal marijuana in a state that's already gone much further than that is essentially redundant.

The recent vote fits a long and tired pattern of grandstanding and empty gestures. If the Council is truly concerned about ensuring users' access, it should establish clear procedures to be followed in the event that federal authorities turn their attention to local dispensaries. If it lacks the initiative or resources to do so-and we're putting our money on the DEA if push comes to shove-then the measure is nothing but bluster. And you can't smoke that.

 

Logos

I'm actually a little surprised that California hasn't outright legalized the plant yet.

The absurdity of these laws in the face of what we know of the cannabis plant is beyond me at this point. And I'm pretty sure the feds know just about everything there is to know about it, their unwavering stance has to be based in fear or it would have never been made illegal in the first place, or continued for so long given things like that La Guardia report, the LeDain report, the DEA judge Francis Young referring to cannabis as the safest most therapeutic substance known to man.... Back in 88 even. And on and on and on...

What ever happened to of the people, by the people and for the people.

If you are called for jury duty, check out fija.org, lets abolish these laws with the last vestige of power we still have it is becoming apparent to me that the concept of voting for the lesser of evils hoping for change isn't doing us much good, that only leaves us with the ability to nullify law in the jury box and with our dollar vote.

Given the current presidential candidate circus, remember that when Bush was campaigning 8 years ago he promised to leave the medical marijuana issue to the states, and he hasn't come close to doing that with his 8 years...

Peace and Love

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Brother Logos
The more I learn, the less I know. | Truth doesn't change, only our perception of it does.
THC Ministry | The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ | The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion
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Buzzby

Surveys show that a majority are against it.

Marijuana's continued illegality has little to do with science and much to do with deep-pocketed lobbies' opposition, politicians' fears of appearing "easy on drugs", and the bureaucracies' fear of looking stupid after 70 years of demonizing the drug.

Essentially correct, except for the "most".

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Logos

I stand corrected Buzzby.

You are absolutely correct on your second point, and to expound just a bit, I knew a guy in Washington State who grew and sold marijuana and he knew a state level representative, I forget exactly who, but that isn't important. He told me a story wherein this particular rep came to his town and called him looking to score some smoke for some party that was coming up in Olympia, and this friend was big on keeping up with the news, especially this particular reps record of voting on cannabis related issues.

When he arrived to deliver the marijuana, he set it on the table and proceeded to question the rep on his hypocritical voting record, the rep responded that he had to present an image of being tough on drugs to appease his constituents. My friend picked up the bag and told him that until that changed he wouldn't sell any to him.

I love that story in that it shows the true hypocrisy of some reps and the moral standards of my friend who would stand for something before making money. I believe the rep is still in the government, but at a county or city level. He was running while I lived there anyway, I'm not sure if he won any position or not.

Nice points Buzzby, thanks for your clarifications.

Peace and Love