WaPo: Pot is “mainstream”

Things have changed since this poster was distributed by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1935. (Wikipedia)

Check out this lede from the Washington Post’s current top story (Page A1 on a Sunday, that’s pretty big!):

With little notice and even less controversy, marijuana is now available as a medical treatment in California to almost anyone who tells a willing physician he would feel better if he smoked.

And, since pot became a drug pretty much because it makes people feel better when they smoke it, I would say that pretty much means anyone.

The story goes on to note that since the DEA will no longer raid retail marijuana stores (legal under California law), applications to run such stores have “surged.” The problem now, says the story, isn’t that people are smoking marijuana — or even growing it. The problem now is that the state is struggling with an industry that’s booming out of control. Neighbours are complaining that there are too many pot dispensaries, and the farms are expanding willy-nilly.

What’s interesting is that the trend towards decriminalization seems to be driven not by drug acceptance, but by a growing alternative-medicine culture. In this light, pot is more like acupuncture than heroin.

“We refer to it as a gateway herb,” said JoAnna LaForce, a trained pharmacist.

What kind of makes me sad is that Canada had a chance — not that long ago — to take the lead on this. Back in 2002, the Senate said that marijuana should be treated like alcohol, and pot criminal records should be wiped clean. Now I think the States will get there first.