States have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use, which is federally illegal. Marijuana is classified under the Controlled Substance Act as a Schedule I narcotic. This means it has no medical value. This conflict in laws creates problems.
President Barack Obama wants Congress to deal with it. It is the responsibility of the Justice Department to update and enforce the CSA: They can transfer drugs from one schedule to another and may add or remove drugs from the CSA altogether. I think marijuana should be exempt from the CSA just like alcohol and tobacco. Reclassifying marijuana under the CSA can also be a solution to the conflict between state and federal laws and could make it available for medical use.
There are problems with the conflict in laws. Licensed medical-marijuana patients can’t travel out of their state with marijuana. Licensed patients and providers can still be prosecuted by the feds for using and supplying medical marijuana. I am a caregiver for three disabled men who were evicted from their federally subsidized housing for using medical marijuana. It has also become difficult to access medical-marijuana varieties because we are very limited to what’s available in state. There are only a few seed varieties that can be purchased at the dispensaries. There are thousands of varieties available, but it is illegal to have them shipped into the United States from other countries. Last year, I had three packages of seeds confiscated by Homeland Security and was threatened with prosecution.
Federal legalization of this medicine is very important. Unfortunately, there are too many people who are complacent with the federal ban on marijuana, just like President Obama. This is because they don’t currently use or need it as medicine. As Americans, we have the right to participate in our own medical-treatment options. This should not be limited because of our government’s outdated and unjustifiable marijuana laws. It’s time to demand they are changed. Marijuana should not be feared. It is medicinal and safer than most other drugs, including alcohol and tobacco!
Eric Gay
Durango
