I have made up my mind.  I am sure of it.  I am not a criminal.  I can accept that I broke federal law regarding cannabis, but I am still resolute in believing those laws are unjust, immoral, and outdated.  I continue to read more about the medical benefits of cannabis and the arguments against medical cannabis continue to wear thin.

I was checking out this article from the LA Times entitled "Medical Marijuana: What Science Says," and they have a whole section on the pros and cons of the current situation regarding medical cannabis. On the "pro" side there are doctors and researchers clearly stating the medical efficacy of cannabis for many different symptoms, including neuropathic pain, wasting syndrome, and relief from cancer treatment.  Real live MEDICAL professionals, with degrees and everything.  On the "con" side it should say "neo-con," as the only representative they had to rebuke the studies was a puppet from the "Office of National Drug Control Policy," which has been a complete failure in their war on drugs and are seeing less funding from congress for their failed efforts.  How objective is a person whose literal job is on the line if America quits arresting 800,000+ people a year for cannabis use.

This obvious saber-rattler goes on his predictable nonsense about addiction treatment being prolific for marijuana use (usually court mandated) and quotes a study on "marijuana psychosis," in which even the person whom did the study admits that the risk is small and that it is hard to truly decipher between if the cannabis actually created these problems or if maybe a certain amount of people are just "crazy."  They should do a test of the entire staff of the ONDCP and see what percentage of them are crazy.  In all my addiction treatment I was taught that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."  What do you call decades of failed advertising campaigns and policies that have not decreased drug use one bit, but allowed other drug uses to flourish, while focussing on a plant? Crazy man.  CRAZY.

Yes.  I am more resolute than ever that I am a victim of failed policy making, over-zealous enforcement procedures, and a justice system that does not even allow for a medical doctor or patient to provide insight into the TRUTH.  What is the government so scared of?  Why not let there be open debate amongst a jury composed of MY peers?  How come when a potential juror expresses any knowledge or acceptance of cannabis as a medicine they are immediately dismissed?  Am I missing something?  Shouldn't there be an open dialogue about the true substance of these cases?  About the conflicting statutes of law?  About the possible medical treatments of cannabis?  Why not put the truth out there and let MY peers decide?  Are they scared that twelve well-informed people may find out there is no Wizard of Oz? "Do not pay attention to the man behind the curtain!"

Yes.  I will not waiver.  I accept that I broke the federal law, but when can we start discussing whether or not those laws are just?  We cannot wait for the paid-for politicians in congress to pass legislation.  We cannot hope that we elect a president with the sense to put and end to the madness.  We cannot hope a judge decides to not enforce a law.  Those strategies are failing, and in the meantime patients and families continue to suffer in this immoral battle on what to me seems like simple common sense. Cannabis has been used for CENTURIES without any real harm or documented cases of damaging effect, while for DECADES a few greedy organizations have figured out a ruse to deprive people of safe medicine, criminalize mostly minority groups, and implement billion dollar industries for drug detection and treatment centers.  And I am the psychotic one?  Please.  Knock off the charades and let the doctors decide what is best for their patients.