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Plainsman1963

While we wait (maybe months) for a decision on the current case before the Supreme Court, if it is a favorable ruling, do you think it will set the stage for a foreign policy shift away from staunch prohibition for the United States?

I would think it would be tough to keep pressure on other countries when more and more of our states are legalizing Medical Marijuana (cannabis) and the Supreme Court rules the states have that right.

What think ye?

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smoking_joe_lee

I voted no on this one because I fail to see any significant conection to foreign policy. For example, some prescription drugs are legal in other parts of the world but not in the US but this is not a huge foreign policy issue.

I'm smoking joe and please pass the fries; French, freedom whatever as long as they come with salt and ketchup.

Buzzby

Since the decision is mostly a states' rights issue and pertains only to medical Marijuana produced and utilized within a state I don't think it would have any effect on foreign policy.

If Raich prevails the government isn't obliged to approve of Marijuana or medical Marijuana. Their only obligation would be to leave alone medical users approved by the states.

I wonder what kind of effect this ruling would have if a state legalized Marijuana altogether? If the Marijuana was produced and consumed within the state it would seem that the states' rights ruling would be applicable.

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jaman

Do you believe a favorable Supreme Court decision would affect U.S. foreign policy?
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I don't think new users and even some old would understand what you mean exactly with this pole .

I think the majority would look at that pole and ask ( what the heck are they talking about ? )

I don't think it should be on the front page ?

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freedom to grow , freedom to smoke .

Mr. President , please relieve us of our dependency on foreign oil !

Legalize hemp production !

solutions

Now that is an interseting question.

I voted yes, as I am generally quite the optimist. I would think that if the Supreme Court recognizes that cannabis most certainly has medicinal value it would be harder for the US government to to argue that cannabis should be scheduled as a drug with no medicinal value. On the other hand the international community has left the US far behind when it comes to medicinal cannabis, so a more sensible view of the US government may not change the view of the rest of the world.

The global span of prohibition is ultimately enforced through the UN's "Single Convention on Narcotics". With 100% of the countries of the world outlawing 100% of the narcotics "on the list" this is probably the only treaty that is fully enforced. (see eg The secret of world-wide drug prohibition by Harry Levine or The Drug Prohibition Church and the Adventure of Reformation by Peter Cohen) Only recently have the first countries like Canada and the Netherlands legalized medicinal cannabis.

Here's something interesting I noticed a little while back while browsing the INCB's (International Narcotics Control Board - the "independent and quasi-judicial" control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions) 2003 annual report. I was checking if they were still calling on the Dutch government to close the "coffeeshops" the INCB repeatedly called "illegal" in previous years.

On page 15 (of 27) the INCB notes:

The next evaluation of the UN Drug Prohibition treaty is in 2008 - when it will evaluate the 1998 pledge to create a Drug Free World in 10 years.

And some people say the Dutch are trying to create a utopian society

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Said one to the other, now listen you two
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or her baby to ruin their lives.
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Larmer

I doubt that it'll have much of an effect. No offence, but the US isn't exactly known for leading by example. Cases in point: nuclear proliferation, conventional arms trading, environment, ahem... democracy....

So maybe the last one is a little extreme, but it's arguable if you ask me.

From a Canadian perspective, it won't matter at all, just look at the recent comments by Paul Cellucci, the US ambassador. It seems a tad hypocritical to threaten trade sanctions for decriminalization when it's already in effect in many US states.

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