Eddie asks for some opinions on Initiative #4 legalizing medical marijuana. Truth is I have no strong opinions either way. But Eddie asks, and he shall receive. I oppose the initiative for the following reasons. 1. I don't support the initiative process and so my default setting is to vote "no" on all of them absent some compelling reason to do otherwise (note that the initiative process has some important differences from constitutional amendments and referendum). 2. I'd feel a lot better about medical marijuana legislation if I didn't think it was the first step to total legalization. In general one would think that if a doctor can proscribe morphine he should be able to proscribe marijuana. But I suspect that for many, medical marijuana is just a way to get around our laws against the substance.
It is a technical case that I don't claim to have mastered, but Eddie seems to allude to Raich v. Ashcroft/Gonzalez. I think this case was wrongly decided (as does Eddie, I assume), but I wouldn't stake my reputation (such as it is) on my position.
As I say, I don't have strong feelings on this matter and would appreciate Eddie telling me why I am wrong.
By the way Eddie, the proper salutation for me is "His Eminence."
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