The more the media writes about current drug laws the less sense they make to average folks. Such stories are a hard pill (no pun intended) for the mainstream press as they are afraid of being accused of being "soft on crime," and/or "pro-drugs." Yet they have no problem running liquor commercials. More discussion of this issue in the mainstream press would go a long way to helping our leaders find a sensible way out of this corner they've painted themselves into over the years -- a corner that's filled with people in jail who should not be there and whose only crime was bucking this new prohibition.

Murders to hero,s? Only the bush admin. could accomplish this feat. Author states that to young islamists these men will become martyrs executed for their faith instead of their crimes. A public trial would have exposed these men for what they are. A military comm will make them martyrs

It opens with some gratuitous swipes at the GOP, but then gets into a well sourced and well reasoned look at the Federal anti-Medical Marijuana Laws. The GOP should take notice. Just as 70 to 80% of all Americans support gun rights, so do similar or greater numbers support Medical Marijuana. I think both parties miss the fact that the US is a basically libertarian (leave us alone) country.

No one pays much attention to this issue -- which actually should be broadened to decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for ANY reason. The amount of money and other resources we spend on this -- when the effects are no more or less destructive than alcohol, in my opinion -- is a crime, and racially skewed. So, I'm glad to see this piece. I just wishe Zaitchick had had the courage to take on the whole issue.

It's good journalism because it deals relatively objectively with a subject usually ignored by the mainstream press until someone prominent gets busted. It also ignores the history of our last war on controlled substances - namely liquor, which got as far as a constitutional amendment which then had to be repealed, and which led to gang warfare, smuggling, and 'criminal' behavior by a lot of middle class people. It also ignores the possibility of legalizing and taxing marijuana, as we do liquor. Do that and you eliminate a lot of social problems - and a lot of governmental deficits.

I was expecting a somewhat less pragmatic report. it was informative & well balanced, It would be nice to see this in more venues.

The author provides a good outline of the issue and some motions coming to the fore regarding legislation. The article works as it is intended to provide a brief of an on-going issue.

The pharmacutical company's wont like this...! less money for them as people on "over" presribed med's trade them in for a bowl.. what I need is another liqour commercial that says "drink responsibly"...

A good overview of the legislative status of marijauna legalization, with a commentary on the upcoming election.

good article, well written. Important subject to millions of Americans.