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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom