The Year In Pot: Top 10 Events That Will Change the Way We Think About Marijuana

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By Paul Armentano, NORML. Posted January 1, 2010.

There has been a tidal shift in politics and on Marijuana laws in America, from Obama lightening up on pot prosecutions to the recognition of cancer prevention properties.

#1 Obama Administration: Don’t Focus On Medical Marijuana Prosecutions
United States Deputy Attorney General David Ogden issued a memorandum to federal prosecutors in October directing them to not “focus federal resources … on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.” The directive upheld a campaign promise by President Barack Obama, who had previously pledged that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue.” Read the full story here.

#2 Public Support For Legalizing Pot Hits All-Time High
A majority of U.S. voters now support legalizing marijuana, according to a national poll of 1,004 likely voters published in December by Angus Reid. The Angus Reid Public Opinion poll results echo those of separate national polls conducted this year by Gallup, Zogby, ABC News, CBS News, Rasmussen Reports, and the California Field Poll, each of which reported greater public support for marijuana legalization than ever before. Read the full story here.

#3 Lifetime Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced Cancer Risk
The moderate long-term use of cannabis is associated with a reduced risk of head and neck cancer, according to the results of a population-based control study published in August by the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Authors reported, “After adjusting for potential confounders (including smoking and alcohol drinking), 10 to 20 years of marijuana use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.” Read the full story here.

#4 AMA Calls For Review Of Marijuana’s Prohibitive Status
In November, the American Medical Association resolved that marijuana should longer be classified as a Schedule I prohibited substance. Drugs classified in Schedule I are defined as possessing “no currently accepted use in treatment in the United States.” In a separate action, the AMA also determined, “Results of short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.” Read the full story here.

More: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/144896/the_year_in_pot:_top_10_events_that_will_change_the_way_we_think_about_marijuana

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1. Obama deserves praise for his administration's stance

in regards to medical marijuana.

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2. That decision is the major catalyst for what's happening in Colorado right now.

I'm amazed how many local politicians have said things like "The People voted for this, this is what they want, so we must respect the will of the people".

How often does that happen? It's extremely rare.

[STTA]

3. I hope your prediction is true

Most people in the U.S. understand that Marijuana prohibition has caused more problems than it has cured. We have created a whole new generation of “Gangsters” by implementing a prohibition on Marijuana. One of the biggest problems with repealing our current Marijuana laws is; incarceration has become so profitable – Prisons, jails and the services linked to them have become so powerful, it is unlikely that pot will ever be legal in the U.S.A. for other than medical reasons.

Yes, we (our country) will save money by not enforcing “personal responsibility”.
Yes, our country would gain revenue by taxation and or growing permit fees (as well as recovery of lost payroll deductions).
Yes, people would stop losing their jobs because they smoked a joint two months ago.
Yes, law enforcement would have more resources to concentrate on “real crimes” such as murder and child molestation.
Yes, even the most “conservative” of people agree.

I hope your prediction is true… we need to change the way we look at Marijuana, as well as the affects the prohibition is having on our civilization.
:yourock: