Letter on DEA to President Obama

Dear Mr. President Obama,

As you are aware, the American people are waiting to hear the DEA's decision on the scheduling of cannabis (marijuana), which was supposed to be released in June. Honestly, I don't trust the DEA to rule in the country's best interest. I'm not a legal scholar, but I know that laws regarding this plant are deliberately complex.

As I understand it, plants are not legally considered medicine, even when the plant has traditionally been used medicinally and components are isolated for modern medicine, as in the case of white willow (asprin) and foxglove (digitalis is used in heart medicine). Since these plants are not considered to have medicinal value, this sets the precedent that cannabis will not be given that status. But neither do we have foxglove eradication program making sure only those with prescriptions get their digitalis (after all, the plant can be poisonous in wrong dosage).  People take herbs at their own risk.

There was even a time when doctors were forbidden from admitting that herbs had any effect medically, because legally they have no medicinal value. I know a nurse practitioner who recently reversed his stance on natural remedies, once he saw the effect of peppermint oil firsthand. The asthmatic discovered he didn't need his inhaler when the oil was applied to his chest, and this flew in the face of everything he learned in medical school.

It's really difficult to trust the FDA and the DEA to not be in the pocket of Big Pharma. From here, it seems policy is more firmly shaped by pharmaceutical profits than good public policy. We see Big Pharma's fingerprints all over the opioid epidemic, and the law makes it so hard to study cannabis that it's suspicious. If cannabis sativa (sativa means "useful" in Latin) is really so dangerous as the propaganda has been telling us for so many decades, then science would confirm this. The reality is, we've been lied to, and science is proving that.

Why put so much legislation in place to keep us in the dark? Who benefits so much from prohibition? Not the American people- it creates black markets, overpopulated prisons, waste of tax revenue, and a divide with law enforcement. Adults are trusted to be responsible with alcohol, which has many known negative attributes. We've seen positive effects everywhere cannabis has been legalized, so it doesn't seem like there is any good reason for it to be illegal.

Prohibition does nothing for the good of the People, but certain special interest groups make money because of it. Doesn't this fit John Locke's definition of Tyranny, against which our Founding Fathers told us to be ever vigilant?

I have a sinking feeling that when the DEA reveals its decision, it's going to preserve the status quo as much as possible, while creating avenues for Big Pharma to cash in. So I'm asking you to please use your influence to right the injustice inherent in prohibition. We're supposed to be free to persue our happiness, and for some of us, cannabis helps us on our way. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Raven Wildchild

An open letter to President Obama on marijuana legalization

Dear Mr. President Obama,

I recently signed a petition regarding the acting DEA chief, which has since gathered over 125,000 signatures as of this writing, and have been eagarly awaiting a response from the White House. I hope your delayed response is due to deep consideration on the matter.

 I have decided to write this letter because I am not entirely satisfied with the scope and wording of the petition- I feel much was left unsaid.
Several congress members have also sent you a letter on the subject, which makes several of the important points the petition didn't address so I won't waste the words repeating theirs.

Mr. President, you have said in the past that young people should be concerned about climate change, jobs, the economy, war and peace, and that marijuana legalization should not be our highest priority. I absolutely agree those are important concerns. But someone needs to point out that the marijuana industry in Colorado has been the most successful economic and jobs booster the country has seen since the recession, and the state has profited to extremes.

 If we should be worried about climate change and the environment as you have stated, we should allow farmers to grow industrial hemp- it's a green source of biofuel, bioplastics, construction materials, paper products, clothing, food, and more. A cheap, drought resistant crop, it would stimulate our economy from farmer to consumer.

 There is no good reason this plant should be illegal. There is nothing negative about marijuana that isn't also true about alcohol or cigarettes, except its legal status, a draconian double standard. The mere fact that it is illegal creates far more problems in the world and costs the country much more money than if it were a taxable commodity. The only ones who benefit from this system are Big Money groups.

 I understand you may be concerned about the stereotypical stigma of being our first African-American president and legalizing marijuana, and the role model you present to your daughters. But the status quo is based on Victorian morality to which most of the country no longer ascribes, propaganda and corruption from Big Money, and a legacy of racism as demonstrated by the very use of the word "marijuana," as opposed to "cannabis" or "hemp."

 I have no doubt you read the recommendation to legalize from the Global Commission on Drug Policy in 2011, signed by many respected world leaders and intellectuals. They agree: it's really in the best interest of the people. But if you're unwilling to effect that, please at least overhaul the DEA so it no longer hinders progress. If the government seriously thinks that medical marijuana involves smoking the "leaves" as the acting DEA chief said, and that's what is being sent out as research grade marijuana, it's no wonder we're getting skewed results from government approved science- it's the wrong part of the plant. Research grade marijuana needs to equal the standard of medical grade marijuana buds available in dispensaries. Period.

Thank you for your time and consideration. This affects millions of Americans in our everyday lives, and we depend on you to do the right thing.

Respectfully yours,

Raven Wildchild