You can't throw a rock these days without hitting an interesting medical cannabis development somewhere in this great nation of ours. From coast to coast, a rising tide of legislatures, lawyers and patients is washing up against a sea wall of cock-blockers and naysayers. It's fun to watch, and interesting to muse upon.
To wit:
New Hampshire
In the bucolic state that nestles up beside Vermont, medical marijuana is crashing on the rocks. Advocates there are trying for the fourth time in six years to pass an MMJ law, facing an apparent uphill climb since the previous governor, Democrat John Lynch, vetoed previous attempts. This time around, with a bill pending in the Legislature, Gov. Maggie Hassan, also a Democrat, is hinting she might also strike down the current attempt. It's about homegrown.
"The governor believes any measure permitting the use of medically prescribed marijuana must ensure that the method of distribution is safe and tightly regulated and has concerns about the ability to properly regulate a home-grow option, but she will continue to listen to the concerns of advocates, law enforcement and legislators as the process moves forward," Hassan's spokesman, Mark Goldberg, told The Associated Press.
The law, pending in a New Hampshire House of Representatives committee, would allow patients to grow up to four plants and 12 seedlings. That provision—aimed at easing access for rural and low-income patients—could endanger the law because it would be tough for law enforcement and regulators to monitor and would encourage patients to take the easy road to wellness and not to consider (potentially more harmful) alternatives, a doctor said.
"As written, this bill does not appear to be aimed at making herbal marijuana available for the rare patients who truly need it, but more for making an infrastructure to distribute marijuana to many people who might feel better using marijuana," former New Hampshire Medical Society president Seddon Savage told AP.
Hmmmm. Isn't that the point? Making patients feel better? That's pretty much why I use cannabis—to feel better. And using a less harmful medicine in lieu of prescribed medications seems to fit right in with the oath Seddon took. According to Hippocrates:
"I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel."
Yup.
North Carolina
Lawmakers killed an MMJ bill in the House of Representatives here after a bunch of pesky constituents kept calling and emailing lawmakers, urging them to support the bill. The Rules Committee squished the bill out of existence after supporters "harassed" lawmakers with a barrage of support, one lawmaker told WRAL, a radio station in the state capital.
"We did it to be done with it, so people could move on for the session," said Rep. Paul "Skip" Stam, a proud Republican.
When the bill came up for debate in the Rules Committee, dozens of supporters came to speak. The committee limited their comments to 20 collective minutes, then raised the cock-blocker in the form of an "unfavorable report." This ensures not only that the bill won't move forward, but that it can't be considered again.
Fuckers.
Bullhead City
A couple of apparent dumbasses were arrested here last week for apparently pushing the envelope of acceptable medical cannabis behavior, according to TV station KPHO in Phoenix.
The couple converted their home into a cannabis shop, complete with a sign showing business hours, a menu and prices. Not cool, Todd Leavitt, 45, and Erin McHarg, 36. Um, selling cannabis is illegal, and having 7 pounds each of the stuff is highly illegal, considering that it's 22 times the amount two patients are allowed to have. They also had several gallons of cannabis oil, which is probably enough to ease the pain of several herds of elephants and certainly enough to raise the hackles and arm the arguments of cannabis naysayers.
More fuckers.
