USA - Palin Pick Makes Medical Marijuana a Problem Issue For McCain

[Expat98]

Palin Pick Makes Medical Marijuana a Problem Issue For McCain

by Scott Morgan, StoptheDrugWar.org
Sept. 4, 2008

We know she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska. And we know that she hypocritically claims to oppose legalization. But Sarah Palin is also governor of a state that’s had a medical marijuana program for ten years. How does she feel about that?

Does Sarah Palin share John McCain’s open hostility towards seriously ill patients who use marijuana on the advice of their doctors?

Frankly, I highly doubt Palin agrees with this. It’s bad politics for her in Alaska and, for that matter, everywhere else as well. If pressed, she’ll be forced to take the party line, but that won’t go well for her. Palin can’t conveniently defend federal supremacy over state medical marijuana laws because she’s already argued that her own past marijuana use was legal in Alaska. She can’t defend medical marijuana raids without labeling herself a criminal.

The point isn’t that there’s anything damaging about her admitted marijuana use or that people who admit trying marijuana become obligated to support medical access. Neither is true. The point, rather, is that Palin’s personal story highlights the absurdity of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. telling people all the way up in Alaska what sorts of petty drug laws they ought to have. She doesn’t want to go there. It’s a terrible jumping-off point for initiating a defense of federal authority to arrest sick people.

That’s why the Obama campaign would be smart to apply pressure here. Public support for medical marijuana is overwhelming and the video of McCain literally turning his back on a wheelchair bound patient is compelling. This debate polarizes independent and libertarian voters in Obama’s favor, while forcing McCain to defend another unpopular Bush policy. Biden’s obnoxious drug war background also becomes a counterintuitive asset, as he can ably deflect any shrill attacks from the law & order crowd on the right.

As the democrats clamor for opportunities to puncture the narrative of McCain/Palin as a "reform" ticket, there is nothing to lose, and potentially much to gain by directly challenging McCain’s deeply unpopular views on medical marijuana.

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http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_...edical_marijua

[Lunar Loops]

This article suggests that there is a strong groundswell of public opinion in favour of medicinal marijuana use in the USA. Is this really the case? I mean is your average Joe Soap in the street (who does not have a need for medicinal marijuana) REALLY that bothered about this issue? I mean they may feel that it should be legal, but do they actually feel strongly enough for it to be a vote clinhing issue? I wish this were true, but I doubt it.

[FuBai]

Originally Posted by Lunar Loops

This article suggests that there is a strong groundswell of public opinion in favour of medicinal marijuana use in the USA. Is this really the case? I mean is your average Joe Soap in the street (who does not have a need for medicinal marijuana) REALLY that bothered about this issue? I mean they may feel that it should be legal, but do they actually feel strongly enough for it to be a vote clinhing issue? I wish this were true, but I doubt it.

Around 80% of the population support Medical MJ in the USA - caveat: this info comes directly from the Med MJ clip of the Montell Williams show from the video archive.

[Expat98]

Well, the campaigns will be focusing on different issues in different states.

The election results this year are going to look a lot like they did in 2004, which was a fairly close election. Most states are either solidly red (Republican) states or blue (Democrat) states. There are only a few so-called "swing states" where there is some question of which way they will vote. Here's a map showing the swing states in yellow:




And here is a list of the twelve U.S. states that have legalized medical marijuana use: AK, CA, CO, HI, ME, MT, NV, NM, OR, RI, VT, and WA.

As you can see, only 4 of the states (CO, NM, NV, MT) that have passed medical marijuana legislation are swing states. So I guess the medical mj issue could be somewhat important to people in those states, but I doubt that it would be as important as a lot of the other factors they'll be considering.

For the other swing states that haven't legalized medical mj, it probably would not help the Obama campaign much to point out that McCain is against medical mj, and may even hurt them.

The bottom line is that you are correct: medical marijuana is not a big issue in this election.

[Lunar Loops]

Originally Posted by FuBai

Around 80% of the population support Medical MJ in the USA - caveat: this info comes directly from the Med MJ clip of the Montell Williams show from the video archive.

Yes, I wouldn't argue with that, but my point was more "how many of those would consider this a vote-clinching issue?". As Expat pointed out, not very many.

We may like to think these issues are of prime importance, but the majority of the public don't see it that way.

[Nature Boy]

I wouldn't consider it a vote-clinching issue but it certainly could be used in order to make McCain look rather inhumane during the televised debates. I've seen some very conservative hard-asses sympathize with medicinal marijuana users when confronted head-on. McCain's town hall routine of entirely changing the subject ("hemp makes great rope, ROFL!") or completely turning a blind eye wouldn't work on a nationally broadcast debate if the question was put properly.

[elpatto]

It's tough to say if this will be problematic, I think not anyway. Just because somebody uses or has used marijuana doesn't mean that they are for legalization. It's the same arguement used by the republican party ; "We support our troops"- It seems that the troops are used to make people support the war. One is often in support of the troops but completly against the war, one could argue also that the want for the wars to be over is supporting the troops more then asking them to stay in some tough part of the world, with no direct objective.

Back on track, If her marijuana use was legal at the time, then there shouldn't be a massive problem. It does seem funny how many politicians are almost promoting the fact that they have used marijuana recently. It's nothing to be proud or ashamed of in my opionion, anything to catch the "Stoner vote".
peace out

[Richard_smoker]

where is this proof or even just some support to the claim that she smoked weed? seriously, I want to see this... -DICK

[Expat98]

Originally Posted by Richard_smoker

where is this proof or even just some support to the claim that she smoked weed? seriously, I want to see this... -DICK

She has said so. A google search should find it.

She said, "I can't claim a Clinton and say I never inhaled." But she says she didn't like it. Yeah, right!

[enquirewithin]

Didn't like it!

Hypocrisy and lies are their bread and butter.

[Richard_smoker]

ok...that's right...she admitted to it. Well, I certainly hope that this discrepancy between state-legalization and DEA/federal ENFORCEMENT of marijuana illegality, will be given some much-deserved media attention...although I doubt that she would even give ANY thought to her previous condition (as a citizen of Alaska) even if she were elected vice-prez, then McCain croakes, then she becomes prez...she will likely just turn her back on the whole issue. that is, if she doesn't outright side with the feds.

I didn't realize this was all over the news recently. My mom cleared that up in all of 2 seconds. But she also claims that Obama "refuses to say when the last time he smoked crack was."

My reply was, "what? that statement implies that he has ever smoked crack."

her: "exactly."

well, I guess I've been outta the loop again, it seems. The national news stations have pissed me off so many times with their inability to cover even the most mundane of international topics...the last 4-5 years, I've had to watch BBC News just to find out what the hell is going on in the world...guess i should muster up some energy to actually watch the american circus present my news on a golden platter. -DICK

[elpatto]

Sorry bout a late reply Richard. Yea I think it was in the speach/debate thingo on the 26 ish of August.

I just got to the US like 3 months ago, man politics are great here. Terrifying Republicans, spineless liberals, full scale flame campaigns. It's more like "don't vote for that fella, he blows" rather then "vote for me, i kick ass".

Little bit of a MILF that Palin, lol. Like naughty secutary style. To bad she is probably psychotic.


peace

[Richard_smoker]

Originally Posted by elpatto

Terrifying Republicans, spineless liberals, full scale flame campaigns. It's more like "don't vote for that fella, he blows" rather then "vote for me, i kick ass".

hahaha... exactly! apparently, in life, as in chess, one should attempt checkmate quickly, with as few moves as possible. It has been said that Americans "all have Attention Deficit Disorder." With that in mind, you could say that they've proven to be quite successful in the past decade by simply using the following duo of political strategizing:

1. busting the dogshit out of their opponent &
2. instilling fear of their opponent being elected

-DICK

[Raoul duke420]

Glad to hear she used to get her smoke on. That is news to me. I sure wish one side would step up and support medical marijuana users and end all this bs, wasting our money to punish the sick.

[purplehaze]

I agree with you, i actually stopped watching the televised speaches because all they do is bash one another. I think they shouldn't mention the other ones name and just speak about what they stand for. It makes me sick to see the potential world leaders argue back and forth saying im better than him on national television. Thats not what we need for deciding who to vote for.

As for obama, for the people who don't like what palin and mcaine stand for they should let them dig there own grave. I woulnd't lose the vote of other americans by stating i stand for medical marijuana. Some people are very closed minded and could easily go the other way simply because of a statement like that.

Although i'd love to hear it on tv come out of one of there mouths. Seriously though, i wished they would stop talking about each other, so immature.

[Figaro]

Yea, McCain who keeps saying that Scientist are saying that Marijuana is a "Gateway DRUG", but the fact is that scientist are saying that there is not such a thing.

But McCain keep pushing the myth of 20 years ago. And no one has really confronted him about it. He keeps pushing a myth about this GATEway Drug like marijuna, that leads to harder drug.... It is just a myth that McCain has made a commitment to continue to promote.

We truly have to confront him with it. or else people are going to believe it again while it is a myth.