Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jun 2012
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Tony Bowles

WHY CRACK DOWN?

Barack Obama promised during his 2008 campaign to end the war on 
medical cannabis, saying his administration was not going to be using 
Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state (medical 
marijuana) laws.

Well, here we are, reeling from one of the most severe crackdowns on 
the medical cannabis community ever. Federal attacks have resulted in 
the closing of some of our oldest and best regulated medical cannabis 
dispensaries and a warning that nobody is immune from action by the 
federal government.

It's a real shame, too, because President Obama recently took a stand 
for marriage equality. But the use of medical marijuana under the 
care and supervision of a licensed medical professional has even more 
support; it consistently carries 80 percent support in nationwide polling.

The closure of dispensaries does not mean that these thousands of 
people will stop buying and using medical marijuana. Patients will 
now simply have to find marijuana elsewhere, probably on the streets. 
They are sick, in pain and should be afforded the same access to 
marijuana as they would any other medicine.

Mr. President, please do the right thing and take a stand for all 
patients in need of safe access to their medicine.

Tony Bowles, Oakland
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom