Pitch Cover Story - High Above the Law
The cover story on this week's Pitch magazine is entitled "High Above the Law". It is an extensive piece written about the efforts to legalize medicinal marijuana in Missouri. Unfortunately, after reading the article, one gets the distinct impression that the advocates for this policy are not well organized, and definitely lack the people skills needed to make their point. I got to wondering why this might be.
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a drug manufacturer that markets a product called marinol (http://www.marinol.com/) It is a synthetic version of marjiuana that is available by perscription to those who benefit from this form of therapy. It is rather expensive of course. The current excuses for having this legal, but not marijuana is that the delivery vehicle is ingestion rather than smoke inhalation, and the fact that it does not contain the other chemicals known to be in the cannabis sativa plant. Ignoring the facts that marijuana can be effectively injested, and that there have not been any conclusive studies done to prove harm with the other chemicals, politicians remain steadfast in their opposition to the weed. What is the real reason for this, you ask? In this writer's personal opinion, it's because the drug company probably is organized, and has some polished speakers to lobby on its behalf.
Our drug policy makes absolutely no sense. Why do we put people in prison for drug posession, where they can readily obtain more drugs, but not the treatment they so desparately need? Do we expect prison guards to treat drug and medical problems? Most offenders are non-violent, but are taking up huge amounts of prison space. Why do we freely admit that prohibition of alcohol (one of the most destructive drugs) was a failure, but refuse to admit that prohibition of drugs (the "war on drugs") has been a failure as well? Why do we allow physicians to perscribe some of the most destructive and addictive substances known to man, but we won't allow a person to grow a weed in his back yard to save his life? Nobody has ever died from a marijuana overdose, yet thousands die annually from perscription drug overdoses.
It's high time we take a serious look at our drug laws. The advocates of a sensible drug policy need to come out of hiding, organize, and form a strategy. The war on drugs is not a war on drugs, it's a war on the American people, and our civil liberties. Where are the voices of reason?
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a drug manufacturer that markets a product called marinol (http://www.marinol.com/) It is a synthetic version of marjiuana that is available by perscription to those who benefit from this form of therapy. It is rather expensive of course. The current excuses for having this legal, but not marijuana is that the delivery vehicle is ingestion rather than smoke inhalation, and the fact that it does not contain the other chemicals known to be in the cannabis sativa plant. Ignoring the facts that marijuana can be effectively injested, and that there have not been any conclusive studies done to prove harm with the other chemicals, politicians remain steadfast in their opposition to the weed. What is the real reason for this, you ask? In this writer's personal opinion, it's because the drug company probably is organized, and has some polished speakers to lobby on its behalf.
Our drug policy makes absolutely no sense. Why do we put people in prison for drug posession, where they can readily obtain more drugs, but not the treatment they so desparately need? Do we expect prison guards to treat drug and medical problems? Most offenders are non-violent, but are taking up huge amounts of prison space. Why do we freely admit that prohibition of alcohol (one of the most destructive drugs) was a failure, but refuse to admit that prohibition of drugs (the "war on drugs") has been a failure as well? Why do we allow physicians to perscribe some of the most destructive and addictive substances known to man, but we won't allow a person to grow a weed in his back yard to save his life? Nobody has ever died from a marijuana overdose, yet thousands die annually from perscription drug overdoses.
It's high time we take a serious look at our drug laws. The advocates of a sensible drug policy need to come out of hiding, organize, and form a strategy. The war on drugs is not a war on drugs, it's a war on the American people, and our civil liberties. Where are the voices of reason?
posted by Jason E. Peck at 6:34 AM
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