contributed by Mike Overson, editor-in-chief
source:http://eagle.ceu.edu/php-pages/article.php?article_id=1158
Over the weekend I was watching Fox News Network when a story caught
my eye. Various people were interviewing Mitt Romney, republican
presidential hopeful, when one man's question caught my attention. The
man asked whether or not Romney would arrest him as well as his
doctors because of medical marijuana usage.
"I don't support medical marijuana" was Romney's response.
Answer the question though, whether you support the states' rights to
govern themselves is not the question. Will you in your presidency, if
elected, continue to crackdown on doctors that are convinced this
plant is a natural beneficial way to cope with cancer and other
ailments? What about those patients who do not show signs of
improvement except when marijuana is used? It seems to me that as a
voter and more importantly an American, I have the right to know where
potential leaders stand on this and other issues. For the sake of
being fair, I would implore all candidates to answer that question as
well.
For too long the federal government has had free reign over the
states. Medical marijuana is a huge topic of debate in this election.
The time of "stupid pot-heads" is coming to an end. People are fed up
with being stepped on, abused and ignored. More and more states are
ratifying their own laws concerning this.
But how is it that the feds continue to abuse their limitless
resources and get away with anything badges? I think it is appalling
the president has to ask Congress for money to support our troops. If
anyone should get what they need and not have to wait for our
country's "democratic" process to decide its fate, the military should
be it. How is it that the Drug Enforcement Agency has a blank check?
If you are the DEA and you need money to bust non-violent drug
offenders you don't ask, you sometimes give receipts after the fact.
Only when pressured will the DEA publicize its spending. While our
troops across the world need better armor they have to wait to maybe,
just maybe get new equipment before their deployment ends.
But back to arresting people with legitimate licenses. As long as
patients abide by laws set forth by their resident state, the federal
government should step back and let the state worry about the pandemic
this issue created. With all those patients using this devil substance
in the privacy of their own homes, I'm waiting for these cancer ridden
citizens to start pillaging different cities. Twelve medical states
are bravely doing what no one else is daring to do. Sticking it to the
man.
While the DEA continues to raid pharmacies in hopes of crushing what
it sees as a peasant rebellion more and more people are getting these
licenses and supporting the movement, which is medical marijuana.
The majority of the DEA's endless power comes from the
administration's lack of caring. If a president doesn't care that
hundreds of thousands of people are being incarcerated for simple
marijuana possession charges, then the DEA will continue to be
government thugs with no fear of repercussion. My hope is this, one
day the people of America will care about who leads them; who makes
the laws, who enforces laws and who decides that pursuing happiness is
wrong if a certain substance the government chooses is illegal is
used.
So, Mr.. Romney, will you arrest that man and thousands like him? Will
you condemn people to a life in prison for not obeying federal laws?
Why is it that states have to bend to the power of the federal
government? Shouldn't states have rights to decide constitutional
matters?
If someone disagrees with my point of view then I am happy. This
country guarantees a right to say what you think. If that right is not
taken advantage of then this country will soon end up like countless
others around the world. Places where free speech is looked down upon
almost as much as women in some religious countries. If the United
States of America ever ends up like those places, the world will be
hell on Earth.
Send Mike Overson a comment at m.overson@ceu.edu
