ASA Sues US Government for Pot Mistakes
February 23rd, 2007 by Alex
As some of you may have read, an important legal motion has been filed by Americans for Safe Access against the United States government. They have intelligently changed tactics away from forcing the US to decriminalize marijuana, but instead admit that they have it inaccurately classified.
For decades, the United States has been ignoring fundamentally proven scientific studies (not to mention thousands of sufferer affidavits) that solidify the stance marijuana is a legitimate medical treatment.
Joe Elford, Chief Counsel for Americans for Safe Access, says it best:
The FDA position on medical cannabis is incorrect, dishonest and a flagrant violation of laws requiring the government to base policy on sound science.
Now, I believe this is the first attainable step towards 100% decriminalization and then (later down the road) legalization. This move shows that not only are medical marijuana groups intelligently approaching their ultimate goal of safe access, but they’ve got the guts to follow it up with action.
I can go on and on about this subject, but this has been reported in many, many different places - I just wanted to throw in my own take. Below are plenty of links that delve into this issue further:
- Americans for Safe Access Press Release
- New Study Shows Medical Value of Marijuana
- Government Sued for Marijuana Lies
- Medical Pot Advocates Sue Feds Over False Info
- US Is Sued Over Position on Marijuana
- Medical Marijuana Group Sues US Government
- Government Sued for Marijuana Lies (World News)
And with all of this scientific data backing us up, it’s always interesting to see a completely biased anti-marijuana post written on a supposedly “progressive” weblog - Progressive U.
It’s awesome to see how the article author gets crucified in the blog comments. Guess this puts the lazy, uneducated stoner myth to rest…
California Judge Denies Pot Law Challenges
December 8th, 2006 by Tim
Medical marijuana patients can rest easy knowing that San Diego’s challenge to the state Compassionate Use Act has failed.
The basis for the counties’ argument was that San Diego should not be responsible for upholding a state law that is counter to a federal law. Specifically, they didn’t want to give medical marijuana users identification cards, so they took the issue to court. Joining them in the battle was San Bernadino county and Merced county. Not cool guys.
I know there are a lot of state-level issues that require serious attention, but the resources a lawsuit like this wastes just isn’t worth the price. Unfortunately, San Diego saw otherwise.
Superior Court Judge William Nevit Jr. explained his ruling this way:
Requiring the counties to issue identification cards for the purpose of identifying those whom California chooses not to arrest and prosecute for certain activities involving marijuana use does not create a ‘positive conflict.
This was his 2nd ruling on the subject which has now backed up his original stance on the case. San Diego attorneys are still debating whether to appeal the decision, but they should just let this die.
States are allowed a certain amount of autonomy under the constitution and challenging that does nothing but cede more power to the federal government. Plus, 55% of California voters made the Compassionate Use Act a law, who is San Diego county to overturn the entire state’s opinion?
The ruling also lets the 10 other states with medical marijuana laws breathe easier. Hopefully, this will be the final nail in the coffin of San Diego’s attempt to repeal the act, and we can move forward on the path to legalization.
[via Mercury News]
