Could legalizing medicinal marijuana be a winning issue for Kerry?

[NNN0LHI]

The last polls on this I have seen has shown that the majority of Americans are for legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Note: I have a personal stake in this as I have Epilepsy and have seen some studies that have shown that marijuana can be very helpful with seizure disorders. I am currently taking several medications 4 times a day to control my seizures and taking them makes me feel like hell. I would like nothing better than to not have to take any more pills that make me feel crappy and still be able to alleviate the seizures.

I can only dream I guess?

Don

[H2O Man]

1. I am thinking that

it might be fun to take a preventative dosage of the good old stuff after voting this fall. In my old age, I tend to avoid those things for the most part. But I'm already thinking of the victory celebration I'm going to be having here. My brother-in-law said that either my sister will be "designated driver," or he'll sleep here. Now, I love summer weather, and am no fan of the cold months, but I'm looking forward to Kerry kicking bush out of the White House.

[mdmc]

10. Party hardy, h2o man

Most recently, two of the most conservative republican - right to lifers in the NYS Assembly have decided to support medical marijuana. The democratic party can join us, or perish. Probably perish.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. I thought he does support it

I believe he's already said he supports MM and doesn't like the Bush admin coming down on people in California.

Hell, Kerry's favorite band is the Grateful Dead, I doubt he's got quams against MJ.

[bitchkitty]

3. What state are you in?

Never mind, don't answer that. I PM'd you.

[readmylips]

4. Kerry must support doctors, not the marijuana....

You guys are phrasing it as if Kerry was for an illegal drug,when Kerry has to be for the rule of law. Rule of Law, doctors decide.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I can't imagine doctors being for it in any great numbers

The monetary stakes are too high for them. They want patients in their offices who they can prescribe drugs to, rather than having people treating themselves with a drug that can't be sold in a pill or injectable form which is one of their main sources of income. Yes, its the money. It always is.

Don

[DaveSZ]

6. Yep

Kerry has to phrase it in a "doctor knows best" kind of way.

I hope he will support it.

[Cooley Hurd]

14. I can think of 3 different lobby groups...

...that would like to see marijuana remain illegal - the pharmaceutical companies, the alcohol & beer lobby and the "Drug-free America" crowd.

All of them have plenty of $$$, unfortunately... :(

[NNN0LHI]

15. The AMA too

They surely don't want people growing their own medicine next to their tomato plants in the garden and not having to pay the doctor 50 or 60 bucks to write a prescription. Nope. The doctors would not be for that in any way shape or form.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. If ALL drugs were legalized and regulated

then the smugglers would be out of business.
A lot of lives would be saved too. I am all for it.

[Kitsune]

8. It might actually convince me to vote for him.

And it'd be the first positive step he's taken in his campaign.

[JI7]

9. maybe in 2008

after he legalizes (though probably with limits)it would be a winning issue because people would see how good the stuff is and that it's not some threat to our values or whatever excuse people give for keeping it illegal under all circumstances.

[Auntie Bush]

11. Sounds like another wedge issue to me. Do we need that?

I am sorry for your problems and wish you well. However I'm afraid it would give Democtats a bad name and we'd lose all possible chances of gaining any Southern states. You could use some teenage friends or a grow lamp.

Good luck with your problem and I hope you feel better. Maybe after Kerry is already in office...they can bring up that subject. I'd be all for that!

[Old and In the Way]

12. Sure, why not?

MJ is a huge component of the underground economy. Legalize it. Look at the discretionary income that would be freed up for the above ground economy. A major rippling boost to our economy. The only people who'd really oppose it are the distributors and the law enforcement industry.

Probably 5MM potential voters who'd put the bongs down and vote too. In fact, if it looks like Bush is going down, I wonder if he'll remember his conservative roots and pre-empt this issue on Kerry?

[randr]

13. Decriminalization of Marijuana laws

would be a tremendous boost to many states that are so hard pressed for cash. Many states have had to cut back on every item except prison costs.

[mzmolly]

16. Yeah, I think it could actually.

:hi:

My grandfather had Epilepsy also, though I never knew him. My mother is bi-polar/schizophrenic and I sometimes wonder if they are genetically related? She has to choose between relative sanity and feeling like crud too.

I am so sorry about the issues your having with your meds.

[mobuto]

17. No I don't think so

Kerry has said he'd be open to legalizing medicinal marijuana, but this really isn't a "winning issue" if by "winning issue" you mean one he should campaign heavily on. I don't think it would win more votes than it would scare away. Is it an issue? Absolutely. And please press Kerry to come out more forcefully in favor of medicinal use, but I don't think he should be making speeches on the subject.