AP says another Ballot Measure explanation is under fire

The Associated Press is reporting this morning that another ballot measure explanation is threatened with a lawsuit because of what the AG has to say about it:
A woman who said she smokes marijuana to ease symptoms of her exposure to nerve gas while serving as a U.S. Army medic in Iraq said Tuesday she will sue the state attorney general because of his warning on a ballot measure seeking to legalize medicinal marijuana use in South Dakota. The measure was approved for the Nov. 7 ballot after supporters gathered more than the necessary 16,728 valid signatures.

and...

But Attorney General Larry Long has written a ballot explanation that says even if the measure is passed, those who possess, use or distribute marijuana for medical reasons can still be prosecuted by federal authorities. The warning adds that doctors may be subject to losing their federal licenses to prescribe legal drugs if they certify that people with debilitating health problems would benefit from marijuana use.

"I struggle with what will actually be accomplished," Long told The Associated Press. "Even if you vote in favor of the measure, it's still going to be a crime under federal law to possess or use marijuana."

Valerie Hannah of Deerfield said exposure to the nerve gas sarin forced her to retire from the military after 10 years. She will file a lawsuit soon seeking to toss out Long's explanation of the ballot measure because it would hamper chances of passage.
Read it here in the Rapid City Journal.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Are you going to provide any coverage of the Herseth / Whalen poll showing Herseth leading by some 34 points?

Will this coverage be as negative for the challenger as your coverage of the Rounds / Billion poll showing Billion down by less than 30? Or will you talk about how Whalen has a real shot at the upset?

Just curious.
Anonymous said…
Maybe Valerie Hannah should quit smoking the ganja and see a medical doctor. We appreciate her past service to the USA, but we'd like to see her adhere to the laws of the land.
Brock said…
I wonder when Valerie files her lawsuit if she'll issue a statement to the Attorney General's office saying "Put that in your pipe and smoke it."
Anonymous said…
AG Long is obviously trying to steer voters away from approval on this issue. Medical marijuana is approved in 11 states. In not a single one of them has a doctor lost his license to dispense prescription drugs because he or she recommended medical marijuana to a qualified patient. Moreover, the feds aren't prosecuting any patients in the states it's been approved in. They're going after the growers and distributors, not the bona fide patients.

Long should be ashamed. His duty is to enforce the laws passed by the legislature and the people, not to try to set policy that fits his particular agenda.
Anonymous said…
Have a little compassion for these people. If Initiated Measure 4 (medical marijuana) is approved, there will be like 100 people who qualify. You have to be really sick to qualify.

The proposed SD law mirrors the medical marijuana law in MT, which was approved by over 60% of the voters. In MT, there are only a couple hundred qualified patients. It will be even less in SD.

These people are in rough shape. Most of them are coming toward the end of their lives. If smoking pot makes them feel better as they're dying, let them have it. Show some compassion, SD voters.
Anonymous said…
Hey, wait a minute...everyone knows there weren't any WMD's found in Iraq....
Anonymous said…
Moreover, the feds aren't prosecuting any patients in the states it's been approved in. They're going after the growers and distributors, not the bona fide patients.


That the Feds, as a matter of policy, have chosen not to prosecute patients does not mean that they cannot or will not.

The AG's right
Anonymous said…
You can't blame the average person for being apprehensive about leagalizing marajuana. They have been fed a lie for nearly 80 years.
Medical use of marajuana is proven to be more effective than some of the strongest opiates, and with less side effects. The United States Government own studies confirm this.
I have a rare disease that induces trauma to the spinal cord. The pain is from nerve damage and is irreversable. The pain is there every minute of every day. Just the intensity varies. And it only gets worse with time. There is no cure and no real lasting effective treatment.
I take antidepressents, morphine, muscle relaxers, and a host of other things to counter the side effects of these drugs.
It is criminal for me to use a pinch of marijuana to improve the quality of my life. You have no idea how gradifying it can be to be able to relax, without harsh side effects, if only for an hour or two before bed.
It is crimial to deny me that medical treatment with a natural drug that produces positive results without any dangerous side effects.
Anonymous said…
And I should not have to fear for my and my wifes security for revealing my name.
But I do.
I am a 58 year old grandfather of 7. Never missed a paycheck until this happened.
Please. Help those that suffer form this and other disease that induce chronic disabling nerve pain.
Anonymous said…
I recently voted on an absentee ballot. I consider myself pretty well informed and had decided on most issues how I would vote. However, I found the AG's "explanation" to be so biased and in some cases contradictory to what I thought the initiative said that I actually downloaded the text of the initiatives before casting my ballot. People at the polls won't have that oppotunity. I would encourage voters to do this-especially on the judicial responsibility amendment and the property tax amendment. The AG's comments are more of a slanted political ad than an explanation.
Anonymous said…
if pot can be a source of releif to those who suffer? who are the american people to stand in the way, pot can help sick people feel better , i know ,i am one of them , even medical doctors will tell you its full of antioxadents

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