Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jan 2014
Source: Reno News & Review (NV)
Copyright: 2014, Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/issues/reno/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2524

DON'T BE A DICK, SENATOR BROWER

The Nevada Legislature's response to the mandate in 2000 by Nevada
voters to create a system by which sick Nevadans could get access to
medicine was childish and a dirty trick on the most vulnerable people
in the state.

Like when Mom said, "Quit touching your sister," and you responded by
holding your finger two inches from her ear, "I'm not touching her,"
the Legislature followed the words of the law, but let the spirit of
the voter-approved law and the intention of voters dissipate like vapor.

Those lawmakers came up with a draconian system, essentially
re-victimizing those people who, through no fault of their own, were
suffering from things like anxiety, nausea and lack of appetite caused
by cancer treatment, Alzheimer's, side effects of AIDS/HIV treatment,
post-traumatic stress disorder, cholera, insomnia-more diseases than
can be easily listed.

And not only were those victims given false hope of humanity from
their lawmakers, but they were given huge obstacles to overcome-large
costs to those already overcome by medical debt, scrutiny by
government agencies unrelated to medical practices, expectations that
they would manufacture their own medicine. Even those who were told by
the law that they could assist the sick-medical practitioners-came
under fire from licensing boards.

Those lawmakers said to those sick people, "Yes, you can seek medical
help, but we'll punish you for trying." It was nothing short of monstrous.

And now that the law has been reformed, we are seeing before our very
eyes the continuation of that wrongheaded, ignorant, self-righteous
government intrusion into the lives of sick people by individuals who
think they know better what's good for sick people than doctors.

This week, Associated Press reported, "Nevada state Sen. Greg Brower
said Monday he has reservations about a state law setting up a
distribution process for medical marijuana and suggested it could be
repealed," and went on to say that he urged city and county
governments to tell the Legislature that the law isn't working, even
though it has not even gone into effect yet.

C'mon, Greg, don't be a dick. You don't have to beat up on the infirm
to make yourself feel powerful. Anyone can beat on a child with
leukemia. Anyone can beat up a senior citizen with cancer. Denying
treatment to veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome is beneath
anyone. You can show compassion.

Legislators are not crazy about ballot measures initiated by voters.
We're not wild about them, either. But this one is law and should be
respected by-ahem-lawmakers.

The original initiative was passed by a majority of voters not once,
but twice. Lawmakers don't need to open their minds; they don't need
to judge the people who seek out treatment; they don't even have to
agree. What they do need to do is remember they are responsible to do
what the people require of them without acting like spoiled children.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt