Jacob Bell
New Member
Regardless of what you think of guns or the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, a new federal order barring users from possessing firearms is illogical and ridiculous, essentially treating law-abiding patients as though they were convicted drug dealers.
What are they smoking at the U.S. Department of Justice?
To be sure, the right to own guns is not absolute. Federal law, for example, already prohibits any one of the millions of Americans convicted of a felony from possessing any firearms or even ammunition.
But that restriction -- while excessive -- is at least comprehensible, assuming past behavior can indicate future actions.
By contrast, there is no rational argument linking gun ownership and licensed marijuana use. Such use means only that a patient is suffering and a doctor has deemed the use of the drug useful in relieving that suffering. It would make as much sense as banning people who take prescription painkillers, alcohol or, for that matter, cough syrup from possessing guns.
At least 16 states, including Michigan, have passed laws legalizing marijuana for certain medical conditions. Many users own guns for a variety of lawful purposes, including collecting, recreational target shooting, personal protection and hunting.
Arguments by federal officials that medical-marijuana users fall under nationwide rules against gun ownership by drug abusers are absurd.
Yes, marijuana can be abused -- but so can any drug, including legal and prescription drugs. The mere fact that people use a medically prescribed drug does not mean they abuse it.
The new federal order appears to contradict previous signals from the Obama administration that it would not pursue individual medical marijuana users obeying state laws. It also puts an added burden on gun dealers to police their customers.
No one, of course, should handle guns or ammunition under the influence of marijuana. But that's equally true of alcohol and many prescription drugs -- none of which the federal government links to rights of gun ownership or possession.
The ban on gun possession by medical-marijuana patients nationwide came in a directive sent Sept. 21 to state and county prosecutors from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It states that anyone using marijuana, even in a state that has passed legislation authorizing its use for medicinal purposes, cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.
This is a clear but errant shot by federal officials, aimed at eroding state medical marijuana laws. Unfortunately, it follows a host of other state restrictions, in place or looming, for Michiganders carrying state-issued cards to use cannabis for health reasons.
Opponents of medical-marijuana laws ought to argue their case on the merits, not issue nonsensical orders that do little but undermine the public's respect for the law.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: freep.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: freep.com
Website: Editorial: Stop treating medical marijuana patients as criminals
What are they smoking at the U.S. Department of Justice?
To be sure, the right to own guns is not absolute. Federal law, for example, already prohibits any one of the millions of Americans convicted of a felony from possessing any firearms or even ammunition.
But that restriction -- while excessive -- is at least comprehensible, assuming past behavior can indicate future actions.
By contrast, there is no rational argument linking gun ownership and licensed marijuana use. Such use means only that a patient is suffering and a doctor has deemed the use of the drug useful in relieving that suffering. It would make as much sense as banning people who take prescription painkillers, alcohol or, for that matter, cough syrup from possessing guns.
At least 16 states, including Michigan, have passed laws legalizing marijuana for certain medical conditions. Many users own guns for a variety of lawful purposes, including collecting, recreational target shooting, personal protection and hunting.
Arguments by federal officials that medical-marijuana users fall under nationwide rules against gun ownership by drug abusers are absurd.
Yes, marijuana can be abused -- but so can any drug, including legal and prescription drugs. The mere fact that people use a medically prescribed drug does not mean they abuse it.
The new federal order appears to contradict previous signals from the Obama administration that it would not pursue individual medical marijuana users obeying state laws. It also puts an added burden on gun dealers to police their customers.
No one, of course, should handle guns or ammunition under the influence of marijuana. But that's equally true of alcohol and many prescription drugs -- none of which the federal government links to rights of gun ownership or possession.
The ban on gun possession by medical-marijuana patients nationwide came in a directive sent Sept. 21 to state and county prosecutors from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It states that anyone using marijuana, even in a state that has passed legislation authorizing its use for medicinal purposes, cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.
This is a clear but errant shot by federal officials, aimed at eroding state medical marijuana laws. Unfortunately, it follows a host of other state restrictions, in place or looming, for Michiganders carrying state-issued cards to use cannabis for health reasons.
Opponents of medical-marijuana laws ought to argue their case on the merits, not issue nonsensical orders that do little but undermine the public's respect for the law.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: freep.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: freep.com
Website: Editorial: Stop treating medical marijuana patients as criminals
