] Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich signed a law Thursday that
] will greatly reduce penalties for disease sufferers who
] use marijuana to relieve pain.
]
] The new law sets a maximum fine of $100 for "medical
] marijuana" users who have less than an ounce of the leaf.
] It makes Maryland the 10th state since 1996 to ease or
] eliminate sanctions for medical use of the herb, which
] gained wide use during the 1960s because of its euphoric
] effects.
]
] Maryland's move is a setback for the Bush administration,
] which had called on Ehrlich, a fellow Republican, to
] reject the measure.
]
] The White House has made marijuana a particular target of
] its anti-drug efforts, arguing that users often move on
] to more dangerous drugs. It has campaigned against
] medical marijuana proposals in several states, prosecuted
] distributors and growers of medical pot in California,
] and urged Canadian officials to reject a plan to
] eliminate criminal penalties for most marijuana users in
] that country.
]
] Despite those efforts, lawmakers in states across the
] nation have shown a willingness to separate marijuana
] from other banned drugs. That's largely because of claims
] by scientists and patients that the drug's most active
] ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can ease pain and
] nausea and improve the appetites of those suffering from
] AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other ailments. ItÂ’s a step in the right direction, but as long as it remains a "controlled substance" (an oxymoron if ever there was one) with fines for possession, the illegal drug trade will continue to profit. C'mon folks - quit being so damn wishy-washy on decriminalization. It's gotta be all or nothing. |
