UN Board Says Marijuana Machines Illegal

[slackmaster]

This was a few hours too late for LBN, so here it is.

VIENNA, Austria - Marijuana vending machines in Los Angeles violate international treaties and should be shut down, the U.N.-affiliated drug control board said Friday.

"The International Narcotics Control Board is deeply concerned about reports that computerized vending machines to dispense cannabis (marijuana) have been put into operation in Los Angeles," Philip O. Emafo, president of the board, said in a statement.

At least three Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensaries have installed vending machines to distribute the drug to people who carry cards authorizing marijuana use. The drug is said to alleviate chronic pain, loss of appetite and other ailments.

Supporters say the machines, which dispense 1/8th or 2/8th of an ounce of marijuana at a time, offers users lower drug prices and increases security....

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/world/europe/2008/02/08/UN.Marijuana.Machines/

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. At the risk of sounding like a John Bircher

The UN should go Cheney themselves.

[angrycarpenter]

2. Who is it hurting.

It is being sold over the counter to verifiable adults who would have bought it elsewhere. It's revenue is being taxed. The money stays in America instead of going to a drug cartel.
It takes what harm there is in pot away.

[theredpen]

3. Hmmm.... I wonder if this will make medical marijuana a right-wing cause celebre

I mean... which do the wingnuts hate more: the UN or stoners?

(I realize that the marijuana in these machines is meant for sick people, but we already know — based on our health care system — how much the right hates sick people.)

[slackmaster]

4. It could create cognitive dissonance among some UN detractors

:D

[niyad]

5. what the hell is the problem? there is a special card that one has to use in order

to get this, and only people with actual prescriptions can get those cards.

[slackmaster]

6. The idea is that it violates a 1961 international drug control convention

The UN has no real power to enforce their opinion without violating US sovreignty.

[ixion]

7. message to the UN: shut the hell up and concern yourself with truly important matters

rather than continue to sow sorrow in the form of anti-drug legislation.

[RedCappedBandit]

8. I say War On Drugs is illegal

So there.