Pot legalization effort defies stereotypes

I like Steven Greenhut's logic in today's editorial.  One anti-marijuana argument that is often used is that marijuana is a "gateway" drug that leads users to harder, more harmful drugs.  Taking Steven's argument to the next step, if marijuana and methamphetamine are both illegal, then why not switch to the harder drug for more "bang for the buck" with no telltale smell, smaller & easier to hide, and no "paraphernalia?" I've been convinced for a long time that legalizing pot would actually reduce the number of users who "graduate" to harder drugs, and do more to keep it away from children.

Pot legalization effort defies stereotypes Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com:

Greenhut also notes that Humbolt County residents are against legalization because they recognize that if it does become legal, they will then have a lot of competition from legal growers, and most likely lose a lot of revenue.  I'm convinced that similarly the "anti drug -industrial complex" are tkehe main foes of legalization.  Whenever the subject of legalization is discussed the advocates are usually regular citizens.  However usually the only opposition to it are people who's income and livelihood depend upon keeping marijuana illegal.  Who are they?  They are the "drug enforcers" including police, DEA, FBI, Coast Guard, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Judges, Baliffs, Court Reporters, Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Prison Guards, Prison builders etc.  I'm  sure all of these people believe they are serving their country and are doing an important job.  They are all also paid well and are respected by their community.  So when they argue against legalization, they are believed by their neighbors.

Every time the police catch a drug operation, they always cite an exaggerated "street value" of the confiscated drugs.  Always noticeably absent from those reports is the cost the Government expended in investigating, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning the criminals.  My "back of the envelope" calculations estimate that the cost for us to fight the drug war is way more than 10 times the value of the drugs moving through the illegal channels, and possibly 100 times more than the value of the drugs confiscated.

U.S. Won’t Sue to Reverse States’ Legalization of Marijuana - NYTimes.com

It is hard to imagine how our governments could come up with a more complex set of laws, rules,and regulations.  This latest announcement from the Justice Department appears to add to that complexity.
U.S. Won’t Sue to Reverse States’ Legalization of Marijuana - NYTimes.com:
The simple solution, which is to lower the status of the drug on the DEA "schedule" level to a drug that could be prescribed when required.  That would protect the medical requirements, and "children"...

Sanjay Gupta backs medical marijuana, apologizes for previous views - CBS News

It appears to me that politicians always have a knee jerk reaction to consideration of medical marijuana.  Whenever serious studies are done, it seems that the results of the analysis show that medical use of marijuana doesn't have much worse side effects than other prescription drugs.  Yes, it isn't a perfect drug -- but no other drug seems perfect either.  Now Sanjay Grupta has come around according to CBS News.  Why does it take so long?
Sanjay Gupta backs medical marijuana, apologizes for previous views - CBS News:
His statement is very well written: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/

Why do so many lives have to be ruined by being arrested for using it or selling it?  Why do we have to spend so much money trying to interdict smuggling, catch growers or prosecute users?

Marijuana tax touted as budgetary benefit to US and states. Really? - CSMonitor.com

There has always been active discussion over how much revenue could be raised by legalizing and taxing marijuana.  This article points out some of the problems.

Marijuana tax touted as budgetary benefit to US and states. Really? - CSMonitor.com:

Yes we do need to determine the shape of the "demand curve" -- Also the "supply curve" if people are able to grow it at home.

Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research --at UCSD

I didn't know that this CMCR existed, and I didn't know that they had issued any reports either!  It sounds like the Government wants to ignore the findings.
Here is a link to their web site.
Welcome to CMCR:

RAMONA COUPLE FOCUS OF MEDICAL POT CASE

With this case against a sick Ramona couple, it is clear that US Attorney Laura Duffy, and San Diego DA Bonnie Dumanis are over-reaching their boundaries just to make news and their own personal prejudice.

RAMONA COUPLE FOCUS OF MEDICAL POT CASE Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com:

Using helicopters to photograph and find illegal growers on public land is one thing -- but using them to also look for people growing plants in their own back yard is something else!  It seems to me that a judge should throw out the case based upon search without a search warrant!