Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2011
Source: Record, The (Stockton, CA)
Copyright: 2011 The Record
Contact: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=A_OPINION05
Website: http://www.recordnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/428
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

FEDERAL, STATE FIGHT WON'T HELP

Medical marijuana advocates have gone to court in an effort to stop 
the federal crackdown on pot dispensaries in California.

Their main argument: The Department of Justice is entrapping pot 
providers by reversing its own policy. They cite last year's 
agreement by federal prosecutors to dismiss a case against a medical 
marijuana cooperative in Santa Cruz County because the DOJ had told 
U.S. attorneys to defer to states on the medical use of pot.

California allows marijuana to be used under a doctor's supervision, 
although exactly what constitutes medical supervision seems to get 
more broadly defined by the day. Federal law, which trumps state law, 
does not allow the use of pot, even for medicinal purposes.

Last month, the state's federal prosecutors announced an effort to 
close pot clubs. They told landlords who rent space to the 
dispensaries they faced property seizure.

Also last month, the California Medical Association came out in favor 
of legalization. State doctors are caught between state and federal 
law, not to mention providing the best treatment for patients. One 
possibility is to make marijuana a legal controlled substance 
available only through pharmacies and in known dosages.

It's time to work toward resolution, although an election year is 
hardly the time to expect a rational discussion.

There was hope that by having federal officials back off from 
cracking down on pot dispensaries that the state could handle 
policing problems. That has proved problematic but not impossible.

It's time for the federal government to move marijauna to a 
controlled prescription drug status and stop uncontrolled games being 
played out in several states.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom