Pubdate: Sun, 01 Mar 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n111/a09.html
Author: Julian Grant

CHERRY-PICKED CAUSES

"State Republican advocates for Oakland pot dispenser" (Insight, Feb. 
22) and "GOP's crusader for legal pot calls it conservative cause" 
(Feb. 22) have both put a spotlight on the efforts of Orange County 
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher to get the Justice Department to refrain from 
trying to shut down dispensaries in states where voters have approved 
the use of medical marijuana. They have also noted Rohrabacher's 
advocacy for the legalization of recreational marijuana use is part 
of his strong "civil libertarian streak."

Unfortunately, Rohrabacher's libertarian sentiments regarding 
marijuana use and his statement that "Republicans are supposed to 
believe in limited government and individual responsibility" don't 
extend to recognizing the right of all individuals to choose whom 
they wish to marry or to allowing women to control their reproductive 
health. Back in 2008, Rohrabacher voiced support for Prop. 8 and 
stated that he "would suggest not changing the definition of marriage 
in our society to make a small number of people feel more 
comfortable." He also voted to ban any federal health coverage that 
would include abortion or family planning funding in U.S. aid abroad. 
Apparently, civil libertarians can cherrypick their causes.

Julian Grant, Pacifica
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom