I recently sent some e-mail to David Scott (D-Ga) about Barney Frank's H.R. 5842 and just got this reply back from him.
I am unsure if he will actually see this reply to it, or if he has any real time to "waste" on such an "unimportant and trivial topic which there isn't any time for right now and will detract from real issues and might possibly cause the Democrats to lose every election for the rest of our lives!!!!!!!!".
Or some other such usual nonsense I have to listen to when I bring this topic up.
But I do it anyway. That's activism
Dear Doc :
Thank you for contacting me regarding the use of medicinal marijuana. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this issue.
Mr. Scott -
I am sorry to hear that you, a powerful US Congressman, are still filled with propaganda nonsense where real knowledge about cannabis and medical marijuana should be. It's a serious concern.
Your disheartening reply tells me you still fully believe and use the facade of your office to perpetuate demonstrably untrue statements about this issue. I have to assume you truly believe what you have signed your name to.
As a Democrat here in the 21st Century, you really need to know better.
We have been to the moon. We have developed all manner of technologies that border on magical, but because of actions and "government people" - even those mean really well - Americans remain in the early 20th century when it comes to understanding the cannabis plant. They believe all manner of arcane and easily debunked nonsense.
I have felt the need to take your letter apart and to highlight how little you know about this as well as to highlight how you are aiding and abetting the Republican party by repeating their anti-cannabis rhetoric and framing of the issue.
I understand your views about the benefits of medicinal marijuana to treat individuals with chronic illnesses.
I am certain that you do not, in fact, understand my views. I read your letter many times - I find nothing in it that tells me, a veritable expert in comparison to the average constituent you have, that you know even the first true thing about the plant or the topic.
As you are aware, federal law prohibits the use and distribution of marijuana (1). While the drug may not be the most addictive psychotropic drug, I am concerned its usage could lead to the usage of even more dangerous and addictive drugs. In fact, a 2002 report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that younger children who use marijuana are more likely to use cocaine and heroin and become dependent on drugs as adults.(2)
- Federal law is what we all want to change, sir. Federal law is wrong, it is arbitrary, and it has never been based on facts. If your propaganda sources are stricken from the discussion, which they need to be, Federal law hasn't any logical or salient reason to be involved with the cannabis plant or the private use thereof.
- You quote SAMHSA - they are ground-zero in the propaganda war that you are aiding with this letter. SAMHSA has zero credibility on this issue as they are purely driven by federal anti-marijuana sentiment, known as "reefer madness". You also repeat the "Gateway Theory" which has been debunked many times. Only people stuck in the past or who have done no real reading on this topic still believe this. More GOP hogwash.
If the only sources you know to quote are SAMHSA and other government agencies like the ONDCP, or, for shame, John Walters, then you sir are shooting blanks, at best. You will have no usable facts. Just propaganda, hot air, and, well, you-know-what.
I feel that if we allow the use of marijuana for sick patients that younger Americans might view the drug as therapeutic when for most it is not.
That, sir, is garbage.
In fact, it is republican garbage because this is part of how they have framed the discussion. You do their work for them when you commit this fallacy to paper and sign it with your good name.
Young people are not going to be any more interested in marijuana than they are right now.
In fact, relegalization - the actual state of having cannabis as accessible as genuinely dangerous substances like tobacco and alcohol - will reduce children's interest in it if done properly. As a taboo, it's a magnet for curious children, wouldn't you agree? I'd be happy to make it less interesting.
Seriously, sir, marijuana should be boring. not mystical.
Relegalized and allowed to have a proper place in this society, cannabis should be no more thrilling than beer. Or tobacco. And we can certainly agree on the need to encourage young people to not smoke or drink ANYTHING unhealthy for them before a certain age. I work with children professionally, by the way.
Nonetheless, I feel this issue must be explored (1) because when properly administered, marijuana's therapeutic benefits may outweigh the costs(2).
- "The issue must be explored": This is the part of the frame that says we need more studied before we know x, y, or z. This is untrue and unnecessary. It is just a stalling technique. Footdragging and stonewalling. This game has gone on since at least the Nixon Administration. We don't need more studies.
- Therapeutic benefits
may definitely outweigh the costs: We know tobacco is cancer-causing. Nobody has to go see a doctor and get a recommendation to start smoking it, to get addicted and to develop known diseases. People are simply free to smoke tobacco. The "costs" are minuscule compared to legally available tobacco.
Cannabis isn't remotely the health issue tobacco is - seriously sir, if it was, we'd already know, just like we know about tobacco and alcohol. It would not take a study to "prove" anything.
So people really can just smoke pot as they see fit, just like people choose to smoke tobacco or to become intoxicated and out-of-control on legal alcohol. They can drink until they throw up - no need for a note from a doctor.
The idea we need more studies is frankly offensive, Mr. Scott.
My recommendation is that you support people's full right to access, just as you support their right to smoke dangerous tobacco and drink dangerous - and flammable - alcohol.
You will be interested to know, I have supported amendments to appropriations bills in the past, which would have prohibited funding that would prevent states from implementing their own medical marijuana laws. Although this amendment has failed a number of times, I feel there are merits to discussion of such proposals.
I would be greatly interested to know what prompts you to think medical marijuana must be "explored". You dutifully repeat the official propaganda and then seem to cheerfully advise that you have sought to penalize states for trying to make their own medical marijuana laws. That's not exactly supportive, sir. Again, anybody can go to a store right now, but tobacco and smoke it. You know and I know this is profoundly unhealthy.
Cannabis simply isn't this unhealthy. Aside from the US Government's propaganda nobody can prove cannabis is all that harmful. (And, just to spare you some time, please don't bother to bring up SAMHSA's "emergency room mentions" - that's more Enron-style misleading statistics. Thanks.)
As you may know, my colleague Rep. Barney Frank has introduced H.R. 5843, which would eliminate most federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, as well as H.R. 5842, the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act , which would make marijuana a Schedule II drug-highly controlled but legal. These bills were referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and others for consideration. Please be assured, I will keep in your thoughts in mind should the full House of Representatives have the opportunity to address this matter.
It is my hope that Mr. Frank's bills make it through the process. Americans have clamored for this important change since the Nixon Administration and the US federal government, predominantly the GOP with the usual lapdoggery of some Democrats and the entire media, have fought this every single step of the way.
Mr. Frank's bill will be sadly short of what changes really need to take place and can say they will not make the difference people think it will. Cannabis will still be illegal and the police will still strive to arrest just as many people as possible, if just to get the fines (since decriminalization means fines instead of arrests.).
The black market will remain. Prices might go down some unless the police continue their diligent work which directly supports the profits to be had in cannabis trafficking. All police enforcement of cannabis laws directly support the profits of illegal trafficking.
Only full legalization - exactly like alcohol and tobacco and guns, by the way - will eliminate the problems your government propaganda seeks to blame on the plant.
Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. I hope you will continue to give me the benefit of your opinion in the future. In addition, I encourage you to visit my website at http://davidscott.house.gov, where you can view the latest news and obtain information on issue and legislation that is important to you. You can also sign up for my electronic newsletter, and receive periodic updates on my activities as your representative in Washington . I thank you again for contacting me, and I look forward to continuing to serve you.
Sincerely,
David Scott
Member of Congress
I would like to encourage you to visit Democratic sites such as Daily Kos on some regular basis.
A lot of folks online are organizing to replace bad members of the Democratic party with better folks who are more responsive the "the People" and cannabis reform will be one of those values that reflects a commitment to the people over government ideologies or corporate shenanigans.
Please try to grasp what I have to say and realize millions of responsible Americans smoke pot and want to smoke it without fear of financial ruin from arrests and legal proceedings and without fear of reefer mad cops shooting us for it.
And those millions of people vote, sir.
I strongly advise you to support cannabis reform in all its guises. Support Mr. Franks bill, don't just "keep my thoughts in mind". Stand for Change, sir.
The person and/or political party that fixes this debacle will reap the rewards - such as popularity. It's tempting to work on the GOP about this since they are in such need of popularity, but I am a Democrat - and the Dems should take this trophy for their own.
We can do it.
Sincerely,
"Doc"