The Pelosi-Boehner Cannabis Conundrum
January 29th, 2009 by Alex
A recent editorial from Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, delves into the political disconnect between prominent legislator’s statements on marijuana reform and the actions they end up (not) taking.
Allan focuses on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Republican Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), illustrating their two completely different backgrounds and positions while showing how their actions are essentially identical when it comes to marijuana law.
Pelosi has been a positive advocate for medicinal marijuana for years, but has yet to put those words into definitive action. On the flip side, Boehner is a libertarian that favors reduced governmental interference while still regurgitating DEA-styled talking points against marijuana. He’s more than happy to support that status quo, instead of listening to his (and basically the entire country’s) constituents.
It’s going to take one politician with the power and guts to stick their neck out to really advance marijuana law reform. As it sits, the chances of Nancy Pelosi being a champion for the cause are looking more and more unlikely.
Allan finishes his article perfectly by coining the term Pelosi-Boehner Cannabis Conundrum, a fitting reference for leaders who are not leading.
Roll Call Addresses Marijuana Reform
January 5th, 2009 by Perry
In what many in the MMJ community are considering a sign of the times with our incoming lefty administration, Roll Call, a traditional Capitol Hill magazine recently covered the topic of marijuana reform.
Running the jump under the headline, “A Tokin’ Lobby Expects Less Opposition in ‘09,” the article talks about how after eight years of pushing a strong stance against weed, the government’s attitude towards the medicine may begin to change.
The article quotes several of Obama’s platitudes regarding decriminalization, but more significantly reports a call by Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, for congress to study marijuana politics.
While such a request was likely to go unheeded in years past, Obama’s sympathy towards medical marijuana users could lead to a rescheduling of the drug out of the Class-A category with heroine and LSD.
New Zealand Calls for Marijuana Education
December 22nd, 2008 by Perry
Citing rising medical costs as the primary reason, New Zealand officials are calling for more education against the dangers of cannabis, after the results of a recent government study were published.
The National Drug Intelligence Bureau report stated marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the country, and responsible for more than $30 million in medical bills. The country provides universal health care for all of its citizens, and said that a rise in the drug’s potency is part of the reason there was a 50-percent rise in in medical costs between 2004 and 2005.
One of the major findings of the study was that most of the hospital admissions were suffering from a psychotic disorder, followed by cannabis poisoning, harmful use, and dependence and acute intoxication.
As reported by the Dominion Post:
Bureau co-ordinator Detective Inspector Stuart Mills said the report provided the first big picture of cannabis’ harmful effects. We talk about methamphetamine, but here we can see the harm it causes with the number of hospital admissions caused solely by cannabis.
Here were a few of its key findings:
- weed-related hospital admissions outnumbered those for opiates, amphetamines and cocaine combined
- Maori (a native group) account for almost half of all cannabis-related admissions
- a quarter of all cannabis seized is linked to organized crime
