There have been efforts for state legalization process for medical marijuana since the 1970s. In that amount of time, though, medical marijuana has been made a reality in only these few states.
One might wonder, "Why not forget a single state legalization process for medical marijuana, and try to legalize medical marijuana for the whole country?" The reason for this is that the states themselves make their own regulations. Each state has its own rules for how a law is made and how it is carried out.
Some important progress has been made, though, in that President Obama has changed policy on the Federal level. In October, 2009, he advised Federal Prosecutors to stop targeting people involved in the sale or use of medical marijuana complying with state law.
This is a total reversal from the way the Drug Enforcement Administration, a federal organization, was used under the George W. Bush administration. Federal prosecutors were encouraged, under Bush, to prosecute those involved with medical marijuana, even if they were living where the state legalization process for medical marijuana were already in place.
In the state legalization process for medical marijuana in New York State, for instance, it has been slow going. Manhattan assemblyman Richard Gottfried has tried for years to initiate the state legalization process for medical marijuana. With a Quinnapiac survey showing approval ratings of 71%, the New York State Health Commission has finally lent their support for the state legalization process for medical marijuana. Now it is up to the State Assembly.
The lawmakers in Colorado, however. are moving forward with medical marijuana progress. They have indicated that they are willing for dispensaries to advertise and operate for profit, as long as tabs can be kept on the source of the marijuana.
Hopefully, the citizens of the other thirty six states without legal, safe medical marijuana will soon possess this important human right.
