UncleSunny
Well-Known Member
Recently there was an media storm in California. Certain students in a handful of California communities have been issued Medical Marijuana. This is fine; as long as the parents sign and a qualified physician agrees, kids can have legal marijuana. I believe in the medical benefits of Marijuana, especially for things like ADHD, asthma, and depression. I think that kids are going to seek out weed, allowing kids to medicate legally protects them from the criminal element.
HOWEVER, the problem recently is that some of these kids think that it is cute, and they think that they are allowed, to fire up a joint in class. The administrations of these particular schools don't know what to do, but I do.
Throw their asses in jail.
Now, before you storm me with hate mail, I want you to consider my point. It says, very clearly in California Senate Bill 420 that medical marijuana patients CANNOT smoke just any ole place they want to.
While I understand that these are just smart ass kids, the media and the government see something like this on the news and little old ladies (the most politically empowered demographic in the country) panic to their congressmen. They aren't thinking of the people dying from cancer and aids. they just screech "Won't someone think of the Children!!!!" until all the work that Norml, the ASA and other marijuana legislators has been destroyed because some fucking kid wants to piss off his teacher.
Consider this metaphor...let's say you live in a State where marijuana is completely illegal, and you and your friends have a little operation going, except one of your friends starts telling people about it, bragging how he's all gangsta, bringing unwanted attention to your operation, endangering the safety and freedom of everyone involved. How would you feel about protecting this guy?
My point is that these kids need to be sat down an forced to READ the papers they signed that allows them to medicate. I know that many pot smokers just like to get high, and I have no moral issue with that at all. My moral issue comes into play when the people suffering from chronic pain have their medication jepordized because of a few people who don't respect this law. People like you and me have built this law, and we all hope that California sets a good example so other states won't have these anecdotal horror stories to prevent legalization to happen in more states. Sure, cops are asshole and laws can suck, but in a situation like this, disenfranchised people (i.e. us potheads) finally have a modicum of a voice. I'm not going to let some kid in the back row ruin everything just because he or she doesn't understand the scope of what and who is involved. Even if there are some out there who perhaps can be argued have cards that aren't in constant agony, but you know what? Some are, and if you've even seen Cancer or AIDS up close and personally, you'd realize the gravity of these kid's little joke. Every time someone shouts "Legalize it!", we have to remember that part of a law is respecting it when the government tries to meet us halfway.
Or maybe I'm just an uptight asshole. Perhaps I need to go smoke a bowl and cross my fingers in hopes that it stays legal for another day.
HOWEVER, the problem recently is that some of these kids think that it is cute, and they think that they are allowed, to fire up a joint in class. The administrations of these particular schools don't know what to do, but I do.
Throw their asses in jail.
Now, before you storm me with hate mail, I want you to consider my point. It says, very clearly in California Senate Bill 420 that medical marijuana patients CANNOT smoke just any ole place they want to.
11362.79. Nothing in this article shall authorize a qualified patient or person with an identification card to engage in the smoking of medical marijuana under any of the following circumstances:
(a) In any place where smoking is prohibited by law.
(b) In or within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a school, recreation center, or youth center, unless the medical use occurs within a residence.
(c) On a school bus.
(d) While in a motor vehicle that is being operated.
(e) While operating a boat. (a) In any place where smoking is prohibited by law.
(b) In or within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a school, recreation center, or youth center, unless the medical use occurs within a residence.
(c) On a school bus.
(d) While in a motor vehicle that is being operated.
While I understand that these are just smart ass kids, the media and the government see something like this on the news and little old ladies (the most politically empowered demographic in the country) panic to their congressmen. They aren't thinking of the people dying from cancer and aids. they just screech "Won't someone think of the Children!!!!" until all the work that Norml, the ASA and other marijuana legislators has been destroyed because some fucking kid wants to piss off his teacher.
Consider this metaphor...let's say you live in a State where marijuana is completely illegal, and you and your friends have a little operation going, except one of your friends starts telling people about it, bragging how he's all gangsta, bringing unwanted attention to your operation, endangering the safety and freedom of everyone involved. How would you feel about protecting this guy?
My point is that these kids need to be sat down an forced to READ the papers they signed that allows them to medicate. I know that many pot smokers just like to get high, and I have no moral issue with that at all. My moral issue comes into play when the people suffering from chronic pain have their medication jepordized because of a few people who don't respect this law. People like you and me have built this law, and we all hope that California sets a good example so other states won't have these anecdotal horror stories to prevent legalization to happen in more states. Sure, cops are asshole and laws can suck, but in a situation like this, disenfranchised people (i.e. us potheads) finally have a modicum of a voice. I'm not going to let some kid in the back row ruin everything just because he or she doesn't understand the scope of what and who is involved. Even if there are some out there who perhaps can be argued have cards that aren't in constant agony, but you know what? Some are, and if you've even seen Cancer or AIDS up close and personally, you'd realize the gravity of these kid's little joke. Every time someone shouts "Legalize it!", we have to remember that part of a law is respecting it when the government tries to meet us halfway.
Or maybe I'm just an uptight asshole. Perhaps I need to go smoke a bowl and cross my fingers in hopes that it stays legal for another day.
