Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Gov. Jan Brewer has made a name for herself by taking on the federal government on multiple fronts on the issue of states' rights.
But not on all of them.
Brewer said this week she has no interest in challenging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency over its threat to sanction Arizona doctors who prescribe marijuana and other drugs as they are allowed to do under a 14-year-old state law.
The issue arose as Brewer repeated her public stance against Proposition 203. That is the latest version of a medical marijuana law for Arizona.
Brewer said the experience of other states has shown that these laws are prone to abuse.
"Almost all marijuana recommendations come from a few doctors (who) for, say, $150, will prescribe pot to nearly anyone,' the governor said. While she said some people might benefit from marijuana, "compassion will quickly turn to capitalism.'
The governor, who is married to a chiropractor, acknowledged that doctors already can prescribe much more dangerous drugs than marijuana. But she said this is different.
"If they want to regulate it like, for instance ... OxyContin, well, then, prescribe it and get it at a pharmacy.' Brewer said.
In fact, Arizona voters actually approved a law by a nearly 2-1 margin in 1996 which has some constraints beyond what voters are being asked to approve.
It does allow doctors to prescribe otherwise-illegal drugs, including marijuana.
But it also requires the doctor to "document that scientific research exits which supports the use' of that drug to treat a disease or relieve pain. And a patient who wants such a prescription must first obtain the written opinion of a second doctor.
That law, which was re-ratified in 1998 after state lawmakers tried to undermine it, never got a chance to take effect. That is because the DEA threatened to revoke all prescription-writing privileges of any physician that wrote an order for any drug the federal government considers illegal, regardless of state law.
Based on the Arizona experience, subsequent ballot measures adopted in other states were crafted to get around that by simply requiring a written "recommendation.' That same language exists in Proposition 203.
Brewer, who already is challenging the Obama administration over what she sees as improper federal intrusion, said she wasn't interested in making the same assertion of states' rights on the 1996 law which remains on the books.
"I'm not going to take that obligation on,' she said. "I've got plenty on my plate.'
Brewer, using power given to her by the Legislature, has made Arizona a plaintiff in a multi-state lawsuit challenging the new federal health care law. She is arguing that Congress and the president exceeded their authority in mandating that individuals obtain health insurance or face a fine, and in requiring states to maintain current eligibility for their Medicaid programs to qualify for future federal dollars.
Separately, Brewer wants federal courts to rule that Arizona has a legal right to enact its own immigration-related laws. A judge has blocked key provisions from taking effect; a federal appeals court will hear the governor's arguments next month.
If approved, Proposition 203 would allow those with a doctor's recommendation to legally obtain up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks from one of the approximately 125 dispensaries that could be established around the state. Those dispensaries would obtain their supply from their own cultivation facilities.
Those who live at least 25 miles from a dispensary would be allowed to grow their own marijuana.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: verdenews.com
Author: Howard Fischer
Copyright: 2010 Western News&Info, Inc.
Contact: Questions? Comments? Tell us what you think - The Verde Independent - Cottonwood, Arizona
Website: Brewer will not stand in way of DEA sanctions on medical marijuana doctors - The Verde Independent - Cottonwood, Arizona
But not on all of them.
Brewer said this week she has no interest in challenging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency over its threat to sanction Arizona doctors who prescribe marijuana and other drugs as they are allowed to do under a 14-year-old state law.
The issue arose as Brewer repeated her public stance against Proposition 203. That is the latest version of a medical marijuana law for Arizona.
Brewer said the experience of other states has shown that these laws are prone to abuse.
"Almost all marijuana recommendations come from a few doctors (who) for, say, $150, will prescribe pot to nearly anyone,' the governor said. While she said some people might benefit from marijuana, "compassion will quickly turn to capitalism.'
The governor, who is married to a chiropractor, acknowledged that doctors already can prescribe much more dangerous drugs than marijuana. But she said this is different.
"If they want to regulate it like, for instance ... OxyContin, well, then, prescribe it and get it at a pharmacy.' Brewer said.
In fact, Arizona voters actually approved a law by a nearly 2-1 margin in 1996 which has some constraints beyond what voters are being asked to approve.
It does allow doctors to prescribe otherwise-illegal drugs, including marijuana.
But it also requires the doctor to "document that scientific research exits which supports the use' of that drug to treat a disease or relieve pain. And a patient who wants such a prescription must first obtain the written opinion of a second doctor.
That law, which was re-ratified in 1998 after state lawmakers tried to undermine it, never got a chance to take effect. That is because the DEA threatened to revoke all prescription-writing privileges of any physician that wrote an order for any drug the federal government considers illegal, regardless of state law.
Based on the Arizona experience, subsequent ballot measures adopted in other states were crafted to get around that by simply requiring a written "recommendation.' That same language exists in Proposition 203.
Brewer, who already is challenging the Obama administration over what she sees as improper federal intrusion, said she wasn't interested in making the same assertion of states' rights on the 1996 law which remains on the books.
"I'm not going to take that obligation on,' she said. "I've got plenty on my plate.'
Brewer, using power given to her by the Legislature, has made Arizona a plaintiff in a multi-state lawsuit challenging the new federal health care law. She is arguing that Congress and the president exceeded their authority in mandating that individuals obtain health insurance or face a fine, and in requiring states to maintain current eligibility for their Medicaid programs to qualify for future federal dollars.
Separately, Brewer wants federal courts to rule that Arizona has a legal right to enact its own immigration-related laws. A judge has blocked key provisions from taking effect; a federal appeals court will hear the governor's arguments next month.
If approved, Proposition 203 would allow those with a doctor's recommendation to legally obtain up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks from one of the approximately 125 dispensaries that could be established around the state. Those dispensaries would obtain their supply from their own cultivation facilities.
Those who live at least 25 miles from a dispensary would be allowed to grow their own marijuana.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: verdenews.com
Author: Howard Fischer
Copyright: 2010 Western News&Info, Inc.
Contact: Questions? Comments? Tell us what you think - The Verde Independent - Cottonwood, Arizona
Website: Brewer will not stand in way of DEA sanctions on medical marijuana doctors - The Verde Independent - Cottonwood, Arizona
