Vermont Legalizes Medical Use Defense

Congratulations to the Vermont legislature, which approved a plan last week to allow those with cancer, AIDS, and other debilitating illnesses to use medical use as a defense against marijuana possession and use charges. Governor Jim Douglas, though opposed to the plan, says he will allow it to pass into law without his signature. Good for him.

During the hearings last year and earlier, a number of eloquent people spoke about how marijuana is helping them do battle against their illnesses. It's nice to see a positive result. It's also good to see that the state is adopting a new attitude toward drugs, with more of an emphasis on treatment for addicts rather than stiff sentencing.

Of course, however, US AG John Ashcroft will target the state for prosecution of cases on the federal level as they have elsewhere. But I'm still proud of my chosen state for recognizing the social implications and acting upon them.