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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Health Care Marijuana is good medicine

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 10:52 AM

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I'd been meaning to mention the growing politicization of the secretary of state's office review of proposed ballot measures. Secretary of State Mark Martin showed again this week — in hinting that he'll personally oppose certification of the medical marijuana initiative as lacking substantively — that he's prepared to move well past simply reviewing petitions for valid signatures. In this case, he'd jump on the side of the fundamentalist religio/political Family Council lobby, where Martin staff attorney Martha Adcock once worked. It's suing to block the law. Others note with some skepticism that Martin has employed the same accounting firm to review signatures that does all the heavy paperwork lifting for Republican political figures and organizations. I doubt that's any sort of a professional conflict, but you do get the idea that Martin is wholly infected by partisanship in office duties, from elections to ballot issues.

Opposition to pot is not necessarily a political winner. Polls over the years have shown a strong libertarian flavor to Arkansans' view of medical use of marijuana — generally favorable, though some recent polling has suggested the latest proposal will have a hard time if it reaches the ballot.

But it's a good time, if nothing else, to talk a little bit about science and medical marijuana (Daily Beast):

Mounting evidence shows ‘cannabinoids’ in marijuana slow cancer growth, inhibit formation of new blood cells that feed a tumor, and help manage pain, fatigue, nausea, and other side effects.

Tough. Take an aspirin and a shot of legal bourbon and hope for the best, including that the religious lobby doesn't come after your booze, too.

Tags: medical marijuana, Secretary of State Mark Martin

        
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Speaking of Medical Marijuana, Secretary Of State Mark Martin

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More by Max Brantley

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Health Care Marijuana is good medicine

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 10:52 AM

Speaking of Medical Marijuana, Secretary Of State Mark Martin

Blue Hog Report expands on a mention here yesterday of Secretary of State Mark Martin's use of the attorney general's office for an opinion on when legislation takes effect (90 days after a session ends for non-emergency bills, as always). /more/

I made my annual trek to Boys State today so the 400 or so at UCA could see what a real, live liberal looks like. /more/

Gov. Mike Beebe cleared his desk of pending legislation today, signing all but thyree bills by Sen. Bryan King to put more power over election oversight in the office of secretary of state, now held by Republican Mark Martin. /more/

The line is open. Closing out: * MEDICAL MARIJUANA: Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has rejected yet another effort to formulate a medical marijuana ballot intitiative on account of what he says are some ambiguous references in the text. /more/

Comments (6)

More by Max Brantley

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