Peaceful medicine or evil weed

The Obama Administration’s announcement this week that it will
relax federal prosecution efforts against medical marijuana
cooperatives and registered patients has put the question of pot
legalization back on newspapers’ front pages.
But Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that federal
prosecutors should focus on major drug traffickers and networks,
rather than on prosecuting people who are complying with their
state’s laws, does nothing to answer the much bigger legal,
cultural and medical questions of the pot debate.
Without those bigger answers, it is premature to entertain any
moves to legalize marijuana. Too much violence, criminal control
and conflicting public sentiment remain for us to move safely and
sanely to a world of decriminalized pot, no matter how much we
might wish it.
The Obama announcement does offer some new clarity between state
and federal policy. Local law enforcement agencies welcomed the new
emphasis by the feds over separating legal from illegal pot-related
activities. The safety of permitted medical marijuana users who
previously feared federal raids and confiscation of their personal
property should improve.
But, what do we believe: is marijuana a peaceful medicine or an
evil weed? The latest polls show us to be a society equally divided
on the answer.
A nationwide Gallup opinion poll found that 51 percent of all
respondents favored full legalization of personal marijuana use,
the largest support ever for the change of law. At the same time,
while a growing majority feel pot is no more harmful than alcohol
or tobacco, a significant portion of the population — mostly older
and more conservative citizens — question why society would add
another evil substance that is known to alter behavior and impair
judgement. In a society where DUI arrests, accidents and tragedies
are an almost-daily headline, we don’t need more temptations to get
high and drive, do we?
Although 14 states now have laws permitting registered patients
to use medicinal marijuana, the drug is still registered as a
Schedule I dangerous controlled substance, the same as
methamphetamine and more restrictive than heroin or cocaine. Where
medical studies have proven that cannabis treats pain, nausea and
loss of appetite and is an alternative treatment for HIV/AIDS and
terminal cancer patients, the drug’s benefits and risks need to be
reconsidered.
Today, Sonoma County is home to just five licensed medical
marijuana dispensaries or cooperatives, including two in Sebastopol
and one in Guerneville. Currently Windsor and Healdsburg have
imposed moratoriums on the locating of any pot cooperatives inside
city limits and Sebastopol recently enacted a moratorium on growing
facilities.
At the same time there are thousands of registered individuals
who can cultivate up to three pounds of marijuana each year from as
many as 30 plants in a 100 square-foot area, based on the
voter-approved “Compassionate Use Act” passed in 1996.
This week both Sonoma County’s District Attorney Stephen
Passalacqua and Sheriff Bill Cogbill said the Obama Administration
announcement would mean very little change in medical marijuana
enforcement practices here.
The obvious conflict in state and federal laws has created an
inviting atmosphere for criminal syndicates and foreign cartels.
They have mounted huge outlaw growing and distribution networks
that result in access for minors, violence, trespassing,
environmental degradation of public lands and related illegal
activities. If Holder’s orders to focus more on these traffickers
leads to removing these outlaws from Sonoma County’s remote areas
and street level Black Market — then we’re all for it.
Otherwise, outright decriminalization at this moment would leave
the outlaws in charge and the violent chase for greed and illicit
riches beyond control. More time for wider cultural acceptance and
better legislation is still needed.
— Rollie Atkinson