On July 24th, the Federal Government decided to stage a massive raid on medical dispensaries in Washington State. “Agents came in with guns drawn and seized business records and about $2,500 worth of marijuana intended for cancer patients” Casey Lee, who works at one of the clinics, told an NBC station. These dispensaries were operating legally in a state where the harmless, yet profoundly beneficial cannabis plant, has been decriminalized. A tactically armed invasion does not seem like the appropriate response to close down nonviolent organizations who’s only desire is to help those in need. These are scare tactics plain and simple. These are not criminals secretly operating with intentions of evading the authorities. These are average Americans, working within the law, trying to make their way. When asked by a DEA agent why they continue to work in this business, Mr. Lee responded, “it’s because we just enjoy helping people.”
One can understand the Feds not wanting to be seen as weak, or simply trying to enforce what they still see as the law, even if it is archaic and flat-out wrong. This however, does not justify taking needed medicine out of the hands of cancer patients. Medicine that has been proven to dramatically diminish cancer as well as a plethora of other ailments. It is no longer okay to pretend that cannabis has no medical use. This is an amazingly childish approach by our government to side step an extremely important topic of debate. They cannot close their eyes to the truth, especially when it stands to change the lives, and in many cases save the lives, of literally half the population of the United States. For the government to stand in front of the governed and announce something they know to be false, is immoral; but to forcefully invade a peaceful medical facility to perpetuate that falsity is simply inhuman when considering those that suffer as a result.
The government being afraid to admit that their earlier co-conspirators, as well as themselves, have been wrong all along is one thing. The true deterrent for ending prohibition is the fear of the public knowing the truth of this historical hypocrisy called the War on Drugs. That they were aware of the misinformation and wrong doing from the start and chose selfish deceit and personal gain over the health of a nation. No matter how many times they raid the dispensaries, they will always reopen. With every fleeting effort to save their drug war and its foundation of lies, they reveal their true intention within the unnecessary force that is used. The truth is a powerful ally of which the marijuana movement is riding beside. To stand against a seemingly insurmountable force can be disheartening when alone, but when united, the people have the power.
