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Subject: The United States Supreme Court:
A Triumph for Drug Dealers
By Jay R. Cavanaugh, Ph.D., National Director
Many of us concerned and compassionate citizens have
been upset and filled with misgivings since the US Supreme
Court upheld the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
and irrationally denied any medical utility
to medical marijuana. Federal Law will continue to attempt
to thwart any cultivation and distribution of marijuana,
medical or not.
Yes, we look to our State Governments, Congress, and
the Courts for redress. So who won the 8-0 vote for the
CSA (Confederate States of America?)?
Patients? No. They will suffer. Families? No. They will have
to watch their loved ones suffer. States? No. While not
directly confronted the battle lines are clear. So who won?
The black market pot dealers won. Big Time. Easy to grow
medical marijuana now sells for an average $5,000/pound.
This pot is often substandard and even contaminated.
Would you trust a dealer with your medicine?
The average cost to patients to buy medicine from the pot
pimps is $800/month as if any could afford that. Why is
the price so outrageous? The Controlled Substances Act.
Designed to "protect" public health, the CSA has done
unimaginable harm to millions and torn at the heart
of our democracy in a blind flight to coerce a moral
crusade upon American citizens.
In 1980, I was appointed by then Governor Jerry Brown
to the California Board of Pharmacy. Sworn in by a Superior
Court Judge, I was charged by the Governors Office to break
the backs of those trafficking in black market pharmaceuticals.
In 1986, I was reappointed by Republican Governor George
Dukemajian, in large part due to our strikes against rogue
pharmacies and wholesalers.
By 1990 when I left the Board, the net effect of a decade of
law enforcement was to raise the street price of codeine from
$2/pill to $5/pill. The drug dealers needed us.
The same scenario has been acted out in the total prohibition
of marijuana. No exception for medical use despite demonstrated
patient need. Record marijuana seizures and yet a steady supply
and steady price ($400/ounce-past two years).
Pot Dealers had been able to wholesale excess production
to cannabis clubs until banned last week. The clubs met
expenses and often gave away free medicine. No more.
Now the big winners, drug dealers, need not wholesale any
more. The price is going up. If you don't believe that, do you
believe it will go down?
Despite billions in expenditures, the CSA insures the health,
vitality, and profit of the black market at the expense of
millions of Americans whose only crime was to become ill or
care for someone who is. Is this what Congress intended?
"If you haven't changed your mind lately, maybe you don't
have one." It's time to check. An unrepentant drug
warrior who took great pleasure getting the "bad" guys, I
have had to face some painful truths. I changed my mind
based on overwhelming facts and experiences. Will my peers
and colleagues?
Medical marijuana, affordable, safe, and unhindered. Who
with a heart and active intelligence can argue with that?
Has the CSA lowered the country's appetite for drugs? No.
Has medical marijuana increased the perceived dangers
of pot? No.
A triumph for pot dealers. Job security for the drug police.
Suffering for ordinary Americans. Fear for the growing
heartless disaster called government.
Jay R. Cavanaugh, Ph.D.
(818) 346-4493
National Director
AAMC
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