Now that we're skirting the precipice of a depression, if we haven't already fallen in, we should have some new respect for those men and women who grew up in the '20s and '30s. Be a cynic about that Greatest Generation title all you want -- it is a damn fine way to sell books -- but the people in my grandparents' generation survived crap economies, fought off Nazism and had to watch their kids enshrine that sniveling punk John Lennon. Yeah, sure John, you stay in bed until there's world peace. Douche. So now that the few remaining old warriors are spending their twilight years fighting their own rapidly corrupted organs, can't we finally give them a break? I guess not. Because politicians are gutless.
Once again, a bill has been introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives that
would legalize the use of medical marijuana. And once again, it's
probably going nowhere because nobody wants to vote "yes" on anything
related to a reasonable drug policy. They all know that anyone who does
so will be immediately attacked as pro-junkie when it comes time for
reelection. It's a great implicit admission that they suspect most
voters are gullible and every one of them would do the same to their
opponents. Not to oversell it, but this type of incestuous shame-fuck
holds back the progression of all humanity.
In this case, the bill is HB 277, sponsored by Rep. Kate Meiners. The bill's co-sponsor, Jackson County's own Jason Holsman, spoke candidly with me about why people suffering from terminal cancer will keep suffering until we all get off our asses. I really hope this story doesn't get quoted in Republican campaign literature next time around. Jason Holsman wants your grandmother to chief the chronic. ... Can we really trust Jason Holsman?
"I'm supporting it because more than 70 percent of all AARP members polled want to see medical marijuana become legal in the United States," he says. "That's my constituency, and I'm honoring their wishes and trying to make that happen."
If you're interested, the numbers Holsman references are right here. The respondents, all of whom were over 45, overwhelmingly agreed that you should have access to marijuana if a physician prescribed it. The majority, somewhat less overwhelmingly, said they'd obtain weed for a suffering loved one, which is interesting since most believed it was addictive, hadn't smoked it and were against legalizing it across the board. Overall this seems pretty indicative of the lousy job we've done educating people on exactly what effects drugs have, sacrificing the truth for scare tactics like that ad campaign that equated buying a joint to spreading anthrax in the Senate chambers.
Even though seniors are a reliable voting block, Holsman doubts the bill will make it to a committee hearing. At the moment, none is scheduled.
"The majority party isn't interested in moving it along," he says. "It seems like there isn't a willingness to listen to senior citizens and what they're asking for. I think you'd be hard pressed to get a committee hearing. Legislators are afraid of this issue. It's something that can be used against them. It's a real farce. There's valium, vicodin, all sorts of psychotropic drugs are available through prescription. If marijuana helps a patient's appetite, their glaucoma, why not? And with terminally ill patients who are going to die anyway, what does the threat of prison do?"
Holsman says the bills best chance is through a citizen referendum. Assuming enough people push to get it there. "It has to have citizen innitiative for it to have a chance," he says.
Come on guys. Think of everything your grandparents have done for you. They're nice people. Do them this one favor, OK? I promise when you get to their age, you'll be glad you fought now.
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I say make it legal and knock a hole in the national debt, govern it like Beer,as far as dwi's and public intixication.This may be our way out if the government puts the money where it belongs,and leave my S.S alone so it will be there when I get older.It will also help bring the dollar back up to its true value...Think about it?
With Kansas City and the rest of the US struggling for money, it just doesn't make any sense to waste our tax dollars and waste our law enforcement resources on the war against marijuana. Fact is that marijuana is safer than legal pain killers and alcohol, amongst many other legal's like caffine and tobacco which all can kill people. Marijuana has NEVER killed anyone! Fund Kansas City and stop funding the black market! Prohibition creates crime and violence. If a market is provided unregulated, crime and violence will flourish. Legalize-Tax-Regulate-Educate is the logical answer. Prohibition doesn't work. It's time to revamp the bias marijuana laws! Promote Truth with Facts and science not ideology and politics.
Marijuana seems to handle pain like many prescription drugs currently being used. It would be a shame to not use a product that is green in source and would do so much good,if properly controlled. I have known people who have overdosed on prescription drugs that would be alive today if Marijuana had been there prescribed medication. Why not put it on a trial period of one year on its use and maintain records for a follow up descision?
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