What do the politicians say? Why is it in states like WA, CO and AK that politicians still insist marijuana is BAD? They are "going along with the voter's choice". They assume no responsibility. They only sign the legal degree.
Freshman Class: "Introduction to Politician 101".
"Marijuana Is Bad". Repeat that 10,000 times.
Freshman Class: "Politician 101".
"Marijuana Is Bad". Repeat that 10,000 times.
Freshman Class: "Politician 102".
Lecturer:
"What do we know as newly elected politicians class?"
Class: "Marijuana Is Bad"!!!
"Any questions?"
"Marijuana Is Bad".
"Marijuana Is Bad".
Freshman Class: "Introduction to Politician 101".
"Marijuana Is Bad". Repeat that 10,000 times.
Freshman Class: "Politician 101".
"Marijuana Is Bad". Repeat that 10,000 times.
Freshman Class: "Politician 102".
Lecturer:
"What do we know as newly elected politicians class?"
Class: "Marijuana Is Bad"!!!
"Any questions?"
*******
With the recent bill introduced into Congress, a bill that would move marijuana from Schedule One to Schedule Two, I wrote my Congressmen to urge my support. The following two responses may or may not be from representatives from my state. The point is to review, analyze and deconstruct the meaning and intent of the responses.
Letter One:
Mar. 10, 2015
Mar. 10, 2015
"Thank you for writing to me with your views on the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you about this important issue.
While I do not support legalization of marijuana, I am sympathetic to people with chronic pain and other serious conditions for which medical marijuana might provide relief. Since 1996, twenty-one states, including New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana with the condition that it be regulated and under the supervision of qualified physicians, and Colorado and Washington have legalized the drug for recreational use. I believe that state legislatures are the best place for these decisions to be made, and I do not support federal legislation that would mandate legalization.
Regardless of whether a state chooses to legalize marijuana, I believe that we should make a concerted effort to prevent recreational drug use, especially by youth. As you know, the legalization of marijuana use continues to be debated extensively on the state level ##################. I would encourage you to contact your local legislators to express your views on this matter. You can find your state representatives at the following link: #######################################################################
While I do not support legalization of marijuana, I am sympathetic to people with chronic pain and other serious conditions for which medical marijuana might provide relief. Since 1996, twenty-one states, including New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana with the condition that it be regulated and under the supervision of qualified physicians, and Colorado and Washington have legalized the drug for recreational use. I believe that state legislatures are the best place for these decisions to be made, and I do not support federal legislation that would mandate legalization.
Regardless of whether a state chooses to legalize marijuana, I believe that we should make a concerted effort to prevent recreational drug use, especially by youth. As you know, the legalization of marijuana use continues to be debated extensively on the state level ##################. I would encourage you to contact your local legislators to express your views on this matter. You can find your state representatives at the following link: #######################################################################
*******
LETTER TWO:
March 13, 2015
Dear Mr. XXX:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you.
I sympathize with those who experience pain from heart-wrenching illnesses, and I understand the challenges and difficulties that those diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening diseases face. However, I believe law enforcement would encounter significant problems with enforcing medical marijuana laws. I also have safety concerns about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, in part because the Food and Drug Administration has not yet found sufficient evidence to determine that the marijuana plant would be a safe and effective treatment for medical disorders. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind should the Senate consider relevant legislation.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. As your Senator, it is important for me to hear from you regarding the current issues affecting ############# and our nation. Please do not hesitate to be in touch again if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
******
Dear Mr. XXX:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you.
I sympathize with those who experience pain from heart-wrenching illnesses, and I understand the challenges and difficulties that those diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening diseases face. However, I believe law enforcement would encounter significant problems with enforcing medical marijuana laws. I also have safety concerns about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, in part because the Food and Drug Administration has not yet found sufficient evidence to determine that the marijuana plant would be a safe and effective treatment for medical disorders. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind should the Senate consider relevant legislation.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. As your Senator, it is important for me to hear from you regarding the current issues affecting ############# and our nation. Please do not hesitate to be in touch again if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
******
Review LETTER ONE:
Acknowledges changes in marijuana a laws around the country. Acknowledges marijuana as a medicine. Believes states should have right to decide (federalism). Invokes the FDA which has nil control over plants. Shows ignorance in that she argues for no tolerance for recreational drugs, but in doing so ignores facts like alcohol, coffee, sugar and tobacco. Believes the federal government should not change anything about it's stance on marijuana, why I'm at a loss. Makes use of "by youth" an example/issue against legalization; but the reality is we're talking about adults.
ANALYZES:
"Marijuana Is Bad".
DECONSTRUCTION:
"Marijuana Is Bad".
*******
Review LETTER TWO:
Does not believe marijuana is a medicine. Believes Law Enforcement is incapable of functioning if marijuana were legal. Believes like Ex-Pres. Reagan, marijuana is as bad as walking into a nuclear blast. Totally will not support the bill.
ANALYZES:
"Marijuana Is Bad".
DECONSTRUCTION:
"Marijuana Is Bad".
Politicians who are out of touch with the benefits of decriminalizing cannabis must, in my opinion, know nothing about the plant. If they did, they would realize the benefits, even if they don't partake themselves. I will not rehash the benefits, as we already know some of them. Wouldn't it be ironic if cannabis turned out to be the cancer cure that our society so desperately needs. It's already been proven to cure some cancers. I don't like politicians who keep side-stepping the issue because they don't want to deal with the controversy. As in Governor Hassan's case where she continually refers to cannabis legalization as "being bad for the children"! Well, yeah, but isn't that up to the parents as "responsible parents" to keep their kids safe. Funny how alcohol is a known killer, as are cigarettes and tobacco, yet many households contain these items, not to mention the danger of having guns around children. When talking about cannabis decriminalization, I'm talking about for responsible adults, not children. I had a husband who died from alcoholism and a father who died of cancer from cigarette smoking...both legal substances. It's time the politicians do what the majority wants, not what they want.
ReplyDeleteThank-you Cass...
ReplyDelete"It's time the politicians do what the majority wants, not what they want."
Well said. But it's not simply about the majority. It's about the truth... politicians raise the issue often as you point out - "what about the children?" And you go into other dangers legally acceptable in a household. The truth is marijuana is not the danger politicians tout. Even in a Black and White world of Yay or Nay, the science about marijuana proves it's relatively safe, yet politicians continue to deny that. Even if 30% of the adult population prefers toking, eating pot brownies and cookies, if the science proves marijuana is not the harmful and deadly marihuana envisioned and fabricated in the 1930's, it should be legal. And it may well cure or prevent cancer... it's a God-given plant; do deny it to the public, to incarcerate adults who wish to use it, grow it is an abomination. It's unjust. Politicians have an obligation to protect society and an obligation to protect people's right under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Stone-walling marijuana legalization accomplishes neither.