The "Medical Marijuana" Dilemma

Recently, I've been questioning and pondering the reasons to pursue and campaign for medical marijuana laws across the country. There are real merits to medical marijuana programs, any way for people to get the medication that works best for them is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. I don't believe that voters or a legislature should say what is legal for a doctor to discuss with or prescribe for his/her patients. If it works for you, it works for you. That being said, in many states, and even in some that have implemented medical marijuana programs, there are still many people that are not legally allowed to use marijuana even though it works for them; in order to get their medication, these people need to venture into the black market.

And who's to say what diseases are bad enough to merit the use of marijuana? Do we as Americans not self-medicate with an ever-growing array of substances depending on our current state? Pop a few aspirin to get rid of that headache, drink a cup of coffee at 3:00 to get through the rest of the workday, have a glass of wine or a beer at home to relax after that tough day at work. These are all instances of people using various substances to alter their current state, and yet all are socially--and legally--acceptable. Put marijuana into one of those scenarios and you now risk arrest, prosecution, fines and possible imprisonment.

But thats the problem with prohibition, everyone who wants marijuana, sick or healthy, must take the risk of not only arrest but sometimes the threat of injury or theft. And while marijuana users risk their safety and well-being to obtain a relatively benign substance that they choose to use responsibly for whatever reason, those that choose to use aspirin, alcohol and other legal drugs for their minor ailments and relaxation may purchase them over-the-counter with literally no risk to their person--unless they abuse them (aspirin and alcohol have scientifically determined lethal doses, marijuana does not).

I understand that in states like New Hampshire that have been unwilling to abandon long-held irrational views on "illegal drugs", medical marijuana programs serve an important purpose: get medication to those who seriously need it in a safe way and begin to normalize the use to marijuana in the public's perception. What worries me is that medical marijuana can take over the entire debate so that even with full legalization, people (and their legislatures) think that marijuana must be tightly controlled by doctors and pharmacies. When this happens, responsible citizens will not be able to use their relaxant of choice as alcohol or tobacco users do today.

I hate that the prohibitionists of today argue that "medical marijuana is a charade, purely to obtain the goal of full legalization." That is why we in the drug policy reform community must not give up the debate for full legalization just because "medical marijuana" is on the minds of people today. Of course medical marijuana is not a charade, there are millions of Americans that find relief in its use. The fact that our laws force sick people to risk their lives in a black market is inexcusable and until we reach full legalization, we must protect our nation's sick from arrest and provide a safe route to reliable treatment.

The arguments for full legalization are steadfast. Prohibition will always be a stupid policy and no rationally-thinking person can deny that we have failed to control our "controlled substances." We mustn't give up the fight to free ourselves from ill-conceived laws.

The facts and logic are on our side!

Whew...this was a long one, thanks for reading.

--Nick