Paul Ryan Talks Medical Marijuana Legalization: ‘Let the States Decide’

The Blaze ^ | 9/8/2012 | Jason Howerton

[Lexington Green]

The issue of legalizing medical marijuana is not high on the priority list for the Romney/Ryan ticket. However, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan on Thursday told Colorado station KRDO-TV that legalizing medical marijuana is a decision that should be made by individual states.

“My personal position on these issues has been let the states decide what they want to do with these things,” he said. “This is something that is not a high priority of ours.”

Colorado is currently mulling whether to legalize marijuana and residents will vote on the issue in November with “Amendment 64” on the ballot.

But Ryan told KRDO-TV not to mistake his position as support for medical marijuana, saying he “doesn’t believe” in the initiative but still fells it is an issue best resolved by the states.

“I personally don’t agree with it, but this is something Coloradans have to decide for themselves,” he added.

[TigersEye]

Colorado is currently mulling whether to legalize marijuana and residents will vote on the issue in November with “Amendment 64” on the ballot.

Really? Excellent! I didn't know that. MM is a farce and pot should be treated the same as any vegetable/herb/weed by the law.

[tacticalogic]

Anything that fosters an examination of the original intent of the Commerce Clause vs how it’s being used by Congress is a good thing.

[Ohioan]

Of course this is a State issue. The basic principle, which explains why the Constitution granted no power to actually meddle with the social values of the several States, was that the Police powers--the powers to deal with the health, safety & morals, of their peoples--remained with the States.

It is good to see that Paul Ryan understands this, just as he understands fiscal policy.

See, for further development on the separation of powers (and function), Constitutional Overview.

William Flax

[GunsAndBibles]

why it isn’t subject to the laws of other prescription drugs

Why didn't the Choom Gang Pres legalize it? Follow the money...

Apparently, the USDA has patented synthetic cannibis for medical purposes. Big Pharma companies have purchased this patent and don't want any competition from home growers. I learned this from an Eco-Hippie-Anarchist free newspaper I picked up on my travels. Always good to know what your opposition is thinking.

[vet7279]

“In the early days of the Republic, it would have been unthinkable that Congress could prohibit the local cultivation, possession, and consumption of marijuana.” Justice Clarence Thomas
The same holds true of tobacco and alcohol and we stepped all over those!

[escapefromboston]

I agree with Ryan it’s a state issue and really isn’t as important as some pot heads make it out to be. I’ve never smoked a joint in my life and I doubt I’d start now, I am against medical marijuana though. Why should people with fake medical problems be allowed to smoke but no one else???

[tumblindice]

http://www.lawnix.com/cases/wickard-filburn.html

This gift from the Roosevelt statist era was never good law or public policy. It’s none of their damned business.
Ryan recognizes this and good for him and Romney. Ryan has said federal nib-nosing on this issue “won’t be a priority under a Romney administration”.
Let’s hope they’ll leave Arizona alone as well. If they won’t, like busses there’s always another election to straighten out the Beltway masters of men.
The federal government under Obama and Holder has forgotten who the parents are: the 57 states.
The mouse in my pocket and I will remind them in 58 days.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

As long as WE have thought it through and have a plan to keep it out of kids hands and not used on the job, using equipment etc

Same plan as is currently in place for painkillers and other abusable medications. Or do you think those should be banned?

[JustSayNoToNannies]

I want to know why it isn’t subject to the laws of other prescription drugs.

Because the feds have said they'll revoke permission to write prescriptions from any doctor that "prescribes" marijuana. That's why medical marijuana is "recommended" rather than prescribed.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

I am against medical marijuana though. Why should people with fake medical problems be allowed to smoke but no one else???

Marijuana has well-established medical value.

[vet7279]

Well, we thought Goldman Sacs was too big to fail, Fannie/Freddie were solvent, NoDoc Loans were a good thing, $3 trillion in bailouts/stimulus was a good thing. I just hope we learn from this and do a much better job of looking at the big picture and not just reacting. Prescription drug trafficking/abuse is a huge problem in our schools today. How do we make sure this does not get away from us given the “image” MJ has? Do we simply regulate/tax it like we do tobacco? Does this mean that RJR can now legally grow, package and distribute it? How do we “control” who/where/how it is grown/packaged and distributed? Simply saying “it does not harm” is not good enough.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

Prescription drug trafficking/abuse is a huge problem in our schools today.

So should we ban them? If not, why is that the right answer for medical marijuana?

Simply saying “it does not harm”

Where did I say that?

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

“Follow the Money”

http://www.nationalcenter.org/ObamacareLobbying.pdf

Hospitals, Private Insurers, Doctors, and Patients All wound up holding the s**t end of the stick with Obamacare.

Only the drug companies and the Democrat place holders stand to benefit from it.

Now the Trick as it were, is to keep MM from becoming a Govt. monopoly/additional revenue stream if it ever becomes legalized.