Medical marijuana deserves further effort
Concerned that proceeding further would place state employees in jeopardy of federal prosecution, Gov. Jack Markell pulled the plug this week on the state's gestating medical marijuana program. In so doing, the governor dashed the hopes of many people who thought they would finally be able to legally use a natural and affordable substance proven to ease pain for some, cure nausea in others.
Widely available despite outmoded laws that are an affront to freedom-loving Americans, marijuana will continue to be used by those who have found it effective in easing their maladies. But instead of them using marijuana as law-abiding citizens, those same people will now still know themselves branded as criminals in the eyes of the law.
Land of the free? Not.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that attorneys general representing the federal Department of Justice would announce that they would enforce the laws of the land. That's the job they pledge to do. This eventuality should have been anticipated months ago and steps initiated to address the issue.
So what do responsible people do in a democratic land governed by the rule of law when laws conflict with their sense of justice and right? They work to change the law.
Delaware's governor and General Assembly worked hard to craft prudent legislation that would provide for a responsible medical marijuana program in line with current science. They believed in the work they did. The legislation passed, and Markell signed it into law.
Now that the federal government has said no, Delaware should not just roll over.
The General Assembly should urge the governor to join other states that have petitioned the Department of Justice to reclassify marijuana into the category of drugs such as morphine known to have medicinal value. This reclassification would decriminalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Then the state wouldn't place federal attorneys general in the awkward position of having to enforce laws conflicting with state views.
