Maine Medical Marijuana Act 2009

Many can remember the debate almost 10 years ago that brought the benefits of medicinal marijuana to the forefront of Maine politics. There was lots of hoopla, lots of political and socially conservative rhetoric, and ultimately there was the overwhelming majority (over 62%) of Mainers who favored the legal possession and use of marijuana by qualified patients.

Even with the passage of the medical marijuana law of 1999, little has changed in the landscape of providing a natural solution to the pain associated with certain debilitating medical conditions like AIDS and cancer. Although patients can "possess" up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana because of ensuing legislature, PATIENTS CANNOT LEGALLY BUY IT. Sure, the act of '99 allows them to grow up to 6 plants, but what dieing elderly person in the urban cities of Maine has the ability, the knowledge and the financial resources to grow marijuana year round?

Apparently I am not the only person dumbfounded by the current marijuana laws. In January of 2009 over 55,000 Maine citizens signed a petition to enact a new and more broadly based law. The Maine Medical Marijuana Act of 2009 is on the upcoming November referendum and the new legislature, if passed by the People, will expand the list of diseases for Qualifying Patients, contain more legal immunity for prescribing physicians and allow for the cultivation of marijuana by state licensed non-profit dispensaries, where Qualifying Patients can obtain marijuana and access information on the subject.
View the entire bill here: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Maine_Medical_Marijuana_Act_-_Proposed_Bill

The Maine legislature had their shot at passing the bill in the House in April, as a way of tinkering with it to their liking, but the old fashioned dogma apparently got in the way, as usual. Politicians will still not put their reputations at stake by endorsing and promoting laws that help the sick obtain a natural remedy to painful conditions. Yet, they'll allow pharmaceutical companies to peddle amphetamine-based drugs like Ritalin to our toddlers, they'll allow methadone clinics to set-up shop, they'll encourage doctors to prescribe addictive drugs like Oxycotin and Vicodin, and then they'll approve funding for violent wars and mandatory deadly vaccines to prevent "the flu".

They'll claim to be looking after the safety of individuals and claim marijuana is a gateway drug and that there are better ways to relieve pain.

Such hypocrisy is thicker than a plume of bong smoke, that it repels the human mind to even consider why marijuana is not legal for use, in either a medicinal or recreational manner.

In the State of Maine, its legal to drive a motorcycle up to 65 miles an hour in the dark rainy night without a helmet on after consuming up to a level of .0799 % of blood alcohol.

In the State of Maine, its legal to walk in the woods and shoot things that are not wearing orange.

In the State of Maine, its legal to do a lot of dangerous activities, and you know what? It should be...as long as its the People who decide so through Citizens Referendums.

The time is long overdue to begin a forum, AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, for discussion on the DECRIMINALIZATION of marijuana. The war on drugs, the prohibition of drugs, does nothing to deter people from using...just as speed limits and seatbelt laws do nothing to deter drivers from driving how they will. It is simply none of the State's business, authority or Constitutional right to declare certain activities "unsafe" or "wrong" or "immoral". That's what our Founding Fathers believed, and its why we have People's Referendums that allow (no pun intended)"Grass Roots" movements to WRITE OUR OWN LAWS.

If the Maine Medical Marijuana Act of 2009 passes by the majority of Maine folk this coming November, the State has no choice but to accept the message, and begin another dialog about the legalization of all drugs. The choice to use comes from within, its a personal decision, a family value-based decision - not the decision of the State. Right or Wrong.

Now, where'd I put my car keys?