Looks like the medical Mary Jane petition is back. Let’s pass it this time South Dakota. It is the compassionate and smart thing to do;

Documents were filed Monday to seek a statewide public vote on a proposed law that would legalize marijuana in South Dakota as a medical treatment for severe and chronic pain.

“They know this law is best for South Dakota versus what we have now, which calls these patients criminals,” said Emmett Reistroffer of Sioux Falls.

The proposal would legalize the limited use of marijuana to treat severe debilitating pain, nausea, seizures and other medical problems. Those eligible would include people suffering from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases.

Supporters have argued that marijuana is effective in easing pain, muscle spasms and the nausea that can accompany chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

Of course the distractors have B.S. excuses as to why this is bad ‘for the kids’

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However law enforcement officials have opposed the effort to legalize marijuana for medical use, saying such a move would lead to increased use by teenagers. Marijuana also can cause loss of energy and motivation, moodiness and difficulty in concentration, opponents argue.

Well, if you are battling Cancer, I’m sure you have quite a bit of these symptoms with or without the use of marijuna. But the benefit is the alleveation of pain and suffering.

Even if South Dakota legalized medical marijuana, users and caregivers could be charged with federal offenses because federal law continues to outlaw the drug, law enforcement officials have said.

And that is why the more states that pass this, we can pressure the Feds to change the law.

9 Thoughts on “Finally a smart petition drive

  1. Angry Guy on May 5, 2009 at 6:26 am said:

    While I think decriminalization of the ganj is something my kids might see in their lifetime, this localized effort is akin to pissing into the wind. I would say “I’ll eat my hat”, but I’m still working on my “Smoking Ban” hat helping.

  2. l3wis on May 5, 2009 at 6:29 am said:

    You are right, even if it passes it is still against Federal law. There needs to be a National effort.

  3. Ghost of Dude on May 5, 2009 at 6:33 am said:

    Marijuana also can cause loss of energy and motivation, moodiness and difficulty in concentration, opponents argue.

    And the side effects of alcohol are… the same. Though I’ve never seen a stoner try to pick a fight just for the hell of it.

    You are right, even if it passes it is still against Federal law. There needs to be a National effort.

    It also becomes a federal enforcement problem. The state will no longer be paying to lock people up for weed, nor will we be wasting police resources enforcing stupid laws against a plant. Let the DEA worry about people with a dime bag.

  4. some douche on May 5, 2009 at 9:49 am said:

    While I agree it’s probably a good idea to decriminalize a plant that is pretty damn easy to grow, the medical route is stupid. If this were a viable scientifically-proven medicine the FDA would have approved it years ago. There are just too many side effects. Using pot as a treatment for pain or depression is like using a shotgun as a three-hole punch. Doctors aren’t stupid, but it could all just be a conspiracy.

  5. l3wis on May 5, 2009 at 11:16 am said:

    Well, I’m more for giving it to people with incurable diseases.

    #1 The FDA wouldn’t approve it unless a drug or food company submits it as a product. The FDA just doesn’t go out and approve drugs on their own. And secondly it really isn’t a ‘drug’ in the sense of pharm, it is a plant. And since you can’t patent a plant, the drug companies are not interested in pursuing it.

    #2 Yes, there is ‘minor’ side affects, but they outweigh the side affects of other pain relieving prescription drugs.

  6. Ghost of Dude on May 5, 2009 at 2:29 pm said:

    Actually, pain relief, appetite stimulation, and euphoria are the most common side effects of pot. They are also the reason people smoke it/eat it/atomize it.
    Like I said on PP’s blog: The people fighting tooth and nail against this either have a vested interest in keeping people from growing their own pain reliever, or have a vested interest in keeping as many people as possible incarcerated and having paramilitary police for drug enforcement purposes.

  7. l3wis on May 6, 2009 at 6:30 am said:

    It used to be if you were caught with a joint and your were not drunk or high, the pigs just took your joint and paraphanelia and gave you a $75 ticket. Now they lock you up costing taxpayers too much for petty offenders.

  8. Costner on May 6, 2009 at 7:31 am said:

    I won’t argue it should be decriminalized. In fact I’m not sure it should even be illegal considering it is less harmful than about 95% of the prescription drugs on the market and even less harmful than alcohol.

    That said, there is a snowball’s chance in hell this would pass the moral review of the South Dakota voting public.

  9. l3wis on May 6, 2009 at 7:48 am said:

    I think last time on it was on the ballot (don’t quote me) it got either 36-40% of the vote. I would’nt think it would be to hard to inch that up a bit.

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