by Marc Dickerson

Created on: December 08, 2009

     This is a tough debate. There are several valid reasons on both sides of this argument that are extremely persuasive.

     For instance, federal law trumps state law. It sucks but that’s…well…the law. Then you have to take into consideration that smoking Mary Jane is against my religion. The government only has your best afterlife interests at heart. Lastly, why else would dispensaries and growers get state licenses? I mean, if they’re going to register their legitimate businesses and just dangle temptingly in front of the DEA, then who’s really to blame when they get raided. They’re asking for it.  

     On the other hand, there is several important, but far less compelling, reasons for the DEA not to raid. Marijuana helps patients with debilitating diseases relieve excruciating pain. It gets rid of nausea in chemo patients, so they can eat and get vital nutrients. It’s far less harmful to humans than other legal drugs that shall remain nameless (rhymes with blalcohol and shmigarettes) and let’s not forget that the people that live in the state (otherwise known as, the people the law affects) voted for it. On second thought, scratch the last one. Who needs the democratic process anyway? It’s so bothersome.

     However, based on those reasons alone, there is no clear winner in this debate. That’s why I’m here. Please allow me to provide for you the one reason that will bring this debate to a close.

The DEA has bigger fish to fry.

     Heroine and cocaine are flooding our streets. Prescription drug abuse is running rampant and crystal meth just keeps killing but the DEA is worried about a cancer patients toking up to get some relief? Heaven forbid someone with multiple sclerosis get a little giggly to maybe, just maybe, distract from their body twisting, white hot pain for a few minutes. By all means, DEA, let’s deny someone with fibromyalgia treatment while Columbian drug lords are smuggling narcotics into our country via the stomachs of young women. Why deny the 27,000+ people, in California alone (that’s just who voluntarily registered and doesn’t take into account the other 175,000 estimated to be patients), the quality of life given to them through marijuana?  

     Seriously, until lethal drugs like meth, coke, and heroine are off our streets and out of our lives, zero government resources should be devoted to paying DEA agents to shoot fish in a barrel. At the very least, those agents should be busting weed dealers and users in states where it’s actually illegal. The whole situation is laughable and more than a little sad.

     I’m not going to sit here and say that everyone on the opposite side of this debate is stupid or heartless, but I will say that you are ignorant. Please educate yourselves. Google any one of the diseases I’ve mentioned above and then tell me you don’t want these people to get the treatment they depend on. If you still think the DEA should be allowed to raid unchecked after you've gotten some actual facts into your head, then, and only then, will I concede that you are stupid or heartless. 

     Yeah, that was my 2 cents that just went whizzing by your head.

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