Oregon Governor Now Supports Marijuana Legalization

Nothing like a little vindication for men like Dr. Phil Leveque who staked his career on the benefits of marijuana legalization. There are the pioneers and then there are the rest...

I spoke with Dr. Phil Leveque about this earlier today. He helped Oregon establish its medical marijuana law many years ago, and paid a heavy price for his advocacy.

Dr. Phil Leveque and the late great, Jack Herer
Photo by Austin King Salem-News.com

The Oregonian itself (which now things pot is OK) dubbed Dr. Leveque, "The most dangerous doctor in Oregon." I guess we can presently conclude that Kitz is the second most doctor. Phil Leveque wears the title like a badge of honor, and as a WWII war hero, he knows a bit about that.

I said this morning, "Doc I can't believe this turn of events, it is amazing, it has taken so long."

That certainly gave me pause. For most of us the laws against marijuana and our associated advocacy has meant taking a small risk. For Dr. Leveque, who trained the first western doctors in both Tanzania and Uganda, who worked for the University of London as a Medical Professor... it was a career destroyer.

Oregon's Medical Board attacked the one man in this state who was, simultaneously, a Professor of Pharmacology, Forensic Toxicologist, and an Osteopathic Physician. Oregon trashed his career because he wanted to legalize weed, and he only wanted to do it because it helps so many people, particularly military vets with PTSD.

Their attack was shoddy and stupid, you should read about it. Oregon's Medical Board took Doc's license to practice over a tiny infraction and they were determined to harm him at all costs. They, like the rest of these creepy cretins in media and government, are nothing more than a pack of wankers, and some of us will always remember that. (Oregon Medical Board and Medical Marijuana Permits and Their Foolish, Illogical Requirements )

Someday, when we are telling our grandkids how the marijuana plant itself was for years, "illegal".

Of course there are a number of people in the Salem area who will tell you John Kitzhaber has smoked his share of marijuana at local parties, only he has hidden behind a political smoke screen that kept his personal involvement out of view. Men like Dr. Phil Leveque and Paul Standford of The THC Clinics, have staked their lives behind this, and now, finally, after all of the years of harassment from police and media groups like The Oregonian, a page is turned and things will never be the like they were.

Kitzhaber really deserves credit, as does Barack Obama, because they have both "come out" within the last week or so, changing long-standing positions with regard to this natural plant. That is what everybody seems to lose sight of; marijuana grows out of the ground. It is not a substance that undergoes a chemical process before it can be used. Now there are many derivatives starting with hashish that are products of the plant, but most connoisseurs simply want a manicured and dried version of the plant's flower or bud and they are good, once you throw in a pipe or rolling paper and a flame.

Kitzhaber apparently made his statements, "Speaking at a meeting with Oregon newspaper editors at the state Capitol." Isn't that nice that a media group receives preferential treatment? Nothing surprising there, the paper is in line with its political expectations. All past history aside, the state will soon see a new day and the prejudice and misinformation that accompanies most mainstream pot scoops will probably change greatly in the future.

I think it is important to note that this is not taking place because people like Kitzhaber and Obama suddenly realized this herb is actually good for people, saving lives of cancer patients and so many others; it is not about that, it is about the money baby. There is no money trail in this story, it is more like a money autobahn. Some people are just slow in realizing such obvious things. I will always believe this could have happened much sooner, but it takes a politician having the huevos to challenge public opinion. The president and Oregon governor have not been quick to the draw on this one, but they did finally draw and it will probably lead to more good things in the future of this economically broken state than we can even count.

I'll leave you with the following paragraph published by The Oregonian on 27 January 2014:

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

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Brian Kelly February 1, 2014 10:08 pm (Pacific time)

The "War on Marijuana" has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful "War on Drugs" that has cost our country over a trillion dollars.

Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our tax dollars fighting a never ending "War on Marijuana", lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. It's a no brainer.

The Prohibition of Marijuana has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?

Marijuana is much safer, and healthier to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?

Let's end this hypocrisy now!

The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less "crimes" because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.

Marijuana Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that's approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!

Legalize Nationwide! Support Each and Every Marijuana Legalization Initiative!

Anonymous January 31, 2014 4:06 pm (Pacific time)

Kitzhaber, the phoney, is only doing this to get certain votes, because the smart voters know this baby boomer draft dodger is absolutely incompetent.

Seeking Justice January 31, 2014 12:23 pm (Pacific time)

Awesome news! Salem-news.com has been on the front line of this fight for years! Thank you!

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