Disturbing Trend in U.S. Medical Marijuana Laws

[TASedlak]

Disturbing Trend in U.S. Medical Marijuana Laws
By: T.A. Sedlak (Author of Anarcho Grow)

Yesterday, January 11th, New Jersey's legislature passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana. However, their bill is noticeably different than those already passed in thirteen other states. New Jersey is the first state to legalize marijuana for medical patients, but not allow patients to grow their own. Instead patients are forced to purchase their marijuana from government run dispensaries.

While most proponents of medical marijuana appear happy that New Jersey patients can at least legally possess their medicine, others look at the bill as a step back. The facts are that dispensaries often charge steep prices that medical patients can't afford. Many patients are already encumbered by large medical bills, and forcing them to purchase their pot from the state is a burden. They're happy that they can now possess it, but more has to be done.

New Jersey's decision doesn't appear to be a singular case either. There is currently a bill in the Wisconsin state legislature to legalize medical marijuana, and Senator Tim Carpenter (Dem) recently tacked on an amendment that would continue to make it illegal for patients to grow their own. However, there is little buzz about this within the medical marijuana community in Wisconsin. Like folks in New Jersey, many people in Wisconsin just want to get possession legalized.

Still, there should be a simultaneous movement for the legalization of possession and cultivation. Proponents should not only tell people to write their representatives supporting legalization bills, but also tell them to let their representatives know the legalization of cultivation is necessary. Otherwise, the movement is just going to switch from “Legalize our Medicine” to “Stop Taxing our Medicine.” Let's try to get them both passed at once.