Democratic candidates on medical marijuana

[Ficus]

I thought this might be interesting for some to compare. I've not seen all of the candidates' views on this, so for those interested, here it is:

The candidates' positions on medical marijuana, according to their campaigns.

JOHN EDWARDS: Science is still unclear. There needs to be a high-level Food and Drug Administration commission to determine right away whether medical marijuana is the best way to treat pain.

JOHN KERRY: Supports the use of real science to determine the effectiveness, safety and need for the controlled medical use of marijuana. If scientifically warranted, and studied by an objective commission, the use must be closely restricted to prevent abuse and illegal trafficking.

HOWARD DEAN: As a doctor, he believes marijuana should be treated no differently from any other drug. It should be evaluated by the FDA for its safety and then approved if it is safe and effective, rejected if it is not.

DENNIS KUCINICH: Disagrees with President Bush's methods of "harassing medical marijuana patients" and instead favors medical marijuana being used to relieve the suffering of seriously ill patients.

JOE LIEBERMAN: Is aware of reports that marijuana may provide therapeutic relief for some individuals, but isn't aware of any reputable studies to support this. He opposes legalizing a drug that many health professionals believe has greater health risks than therapeutic benefits.

CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN: Is in favor of medicinal marijuana use.

Campaigns for Dick Gephardt, Wesley Clark and Al Sharpton did not respond timely to requests for information about their position on this issue.


http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/22620209.html

:smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke:
:dem: :dem:

[Hep]

1. Hooah!

Looky here! Politicians giving politician answers!

[Ficus]

4. true enough

but it seems like only Dennis K and CMB favor it without more "studies"

[Hep]

8. YEah

But we have regulation for a reason, as screwed up as it can be.

The only reason Pot is questionable as medication is that concentrations of active ingredients can not be discerned in mass quantities. Hard to regulate.

[Carl21014]

2. Forget Medical - I want it legalized period!

Sell it in the liquor store!

[onebigbadwulf]

3. Wow...

Joe sounds more like a republican every day... tough question? Plead ignorance! If ol joe had half a brain he would realize that several scientific studies have been done to suggest Mary Jane is very therapuetic- especially in cases of glaucoma and appetite stimulation where marinol (a synthetic THC drug) is not.

[VermontDem2004]

5. I disagree with all the candidates

Make it legal.

[Rooktoven]

7. Chalk up another one of us for legalization...

Probably still too big a risk on the main stage. A 2nd term president would have to push it-- or a candidate that doesn't give a fsck.

[Ficus]

9. would you want

Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds making it instead? My worry about making it outright legal is that big tobacco companies would dominate the industry because of their resources and built in advantages (i've seen a malboro design for a pack of joints) and I just don't quite trust those folks...

:dem: :dem:

[VermontDem2004]

11. With tobacco you have over 50 different companies that make it

I'd imagine the same for Marijuana, maybe PM and RJ Reynolds will jump to the idea but under legalization their would be other companies producing it. I really don't care about all that other stuff, I just don't want to have to pay over 100 dollars in court fees, fines, and probation over a resonated pipe.

[concord]

6. Are all of them on it?

Or just a select few ;)

[Ficus]

10. just didn't respond that's all

Dick Gephardt, Wesley Clark and Al Sharpton did not respond timely to requests for information about their position on this issue.

I'm sure they all have some views on it. Well maybe not Clark, yet, like with many things.

:dem: :dem:

[sandnsea]

12. Kerry - moratorium on arrests

He said that during a town hall meeting. He said he just thinks there has to be a legitimate, non-political process to put an end to the controversy once and for all.

I'm in Oregon and my family doctor will not prescribe pot to be smoked. He prescribes it to be baked in brownies because he says his patients say it works better and he doesn't want smoking to create more health problems in the long run. So even if medical marijuana were legalized, there's no guarantee it would be legal to smoke it.