Ten Reasons to Get High About Marijuana in 2009

[Peikko 1,575]

It should be de criminalized, yes.

[Jasman0717 9]

It should be de criminalized, yes.

I still believe they should let the tabacco companies start growing it and tax the hell out of it. Geeze, its a damn weed, grows like wildfire.

[SingleCharles 0]

God created marijuana

Man created beer

god also made uranium, but i don't see people in a rush to go smoke that.

I keep some handy in my pocket. Not only does it keep me warm but it also acts as a natural contraceptive!

[yogib37 3]

One GOOD reason not to take a puff or two!

Yeah just a "harmless" puff or two!!! WRONG BIGTIME!

COURTS CONTINUE TO UPHOLD LIFETIME BAN FOR ADMITTING DRUG USE TO DOCTORS AT ST. LUKE'S

by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.

Dear Atty. Gurfinkel:

I am a U.S. citizen, and petitioned my husband in the Philippines. When he went to St. Luke's for his medical exam, the doctors asked him if he had ever smoked marijuana in his life. Although he is now in his mid-40s, he told the doctor that back when he was 18, he smoked marijuana a couple of times, but that was it.

When he went for his visa interview, the Consul told him he was banned for life, because he admitted that he had used drugs. Is there any hope that my husband can join me and our children in America?

Very truly yours,

RH

Dear RH:

Unfortunately, if a person admits to ever having taken drugs, even smoking marijuana decades ago, they could be banned for life. Unless and until there are changes in U.S. immigration laws, admitting drug use, even to the doctors at St. Luke's, could result in a lifetime ban.

Just recently, there was an unpublished decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (which is one court lower than the U.S. Supreme Court) dealing with drug use. In that case, a Filipino had gone to St. Luke's for his medical exam, and told the doctors that he had used marijuana about seven times in his life. Although the visa was issued, DHS later put him in removal/deportation, when he arrived in the U.S. After the Immigration Judge and BIA upheld his removal, he filed a petition for review with the Ninth Circuit. But the Ninth Circuit relied on its earlier 2002 decision of Pazcoguin v. Radcliffe , which had held that an alien's admitted use of marijuana constituted the essential elements of a controlled substance violation under Philippine law, and therefore he was banned for life. In other words, you do not need to be charged or convicted of any drug crime; merely admitting , you used drugs would result in a lifetime ban.

In this most recent case, the alien tried to distinguish his situation from the earlier Pazcoguin case by stating that Mr. Pazcoguin was a habitual user, but he had only use marijuana seven times. The Ninth Circuit said it makes no difference whether a person is a habitual user (or addict), or had only used marijuana a few times. Any use (as prohibited by the Philippine drugs law) results in a lifetime ban.

The alien next argued that he was forced (or coerced) by the doctor's at St. Luke's into admitting his past drug use. When questioned how he was forced to confess, he replied, "They kept asking me." The Ninth Circuit found that there was no evidence to support the person's argument that he was coerced or forced into admitting prior drug use.

I personally think that this law is extremely harsh and should be changed. If you think about it, both Presidents Clinton and Bush "admitted" that they had smoked marijuana (although Clinton said he never inhaled). If they were Filipinos applying for visas at the U.S. Embassy, they would be banned for life! This is because they "admitted" using or smoking marijuana.

Obama was a user of Cocaine as well, should we allow for this too?

SO did George W Bush. And he was a drunk and he has brain damage from his drinking and snorting...