Our View

Our View

Where to draw the line on medical marijuana?

As the old saying goes, you give an inch and they take a mile, an appropriate parallel to these pot pushers now trying to triple the number of conditions that qualify pot smokes to use medical marijuana in Arkansas.

Although members of the House Rules Committee not only said absolutely not a House Bill by Rep.

Douglas House, R-North Little Rock failed to get even a motion to put the bill to a vote, these pot pushers are now voting to go back to the voters with another Constitutional amendment calling for legalizing marijuana possession and use for any reason.

As most of us are aware the cultivation farms in the process for growing marijuana and “pot shops” will be popping up throughout the state with plans to distribute the now legal weed to Arkansans suffering from one or more of 18 “medical” issues.

Well, House had hoped the Rules Committee would go along with the idea of expanding the last to 57, something at least two top health officials along with Gov. Asa Hutchinson quickly shot down.

Arkansas has the dubious distinction of being among 33 states to legalize marijuana for medical use after voters in 2016 approved Amendment 98 to the Arkansas Constitution.

From the offset, Arkansas lawmakers and others fumbled around with implementing the growing and selling of the wacky weed but now we should see business ramping up by April. Oh, by the way, West Memphis will host at least three “pot shops” to cater to a clientele of customers diagnosed with such conditions like cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and even muscle spasms.

House, who brought along about a dozen supporters, said most people are already purchasing marijuana off the street illegally and what he is trying to do is bring these people “out of the dark.”

He also amazingly said his bill would prevent people from lying to their doctors about something that is wrong with them just to get a recommendation for a “pot” card.

Throughout this entire “pot” process we’ve heard mention of a “pot” supporter by the name of Melissa Faults, an advocate who uses marijuana to treat her asthma. She now says that she is absolutely disappointed in the committee not even considering expanding the qualifying list and that members had already made up their minds not to hear supporting arguments.

Now Faults says she plans to help get a constitutional amendment on the 2020 ballot to legalize marijuana for simply recreational use.

So then, let this new campaign begin and watch and see if Faults is able to gather the necessary signatures from registered voters to appear on the 2020 ballot.

If 2016’s vote to approve marijuana for supposedly medical reasons is any indication as to how voters feel about this issue it is possible we’ll have people smoking dope all over the place when just a few decades ago being caught with just a small amount in one’s possession would mean serious prison time.

My oh my, how times have changed.

And, who would of said in the 70’s and 80’s that toking up on a joint would do good for what ails you.