# Colorado's "medical refugees" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262 "2016-03-08T06:33:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/21 "2016-03-09T01:57:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If this stuff works as advertised, then it should undergo medical testing and receive FDA approval just like any other drug that’s intended to treat a disease. > > Alternately, Congress should act to change marijuana’s status as a controlled substance. > > For the state legislature to contravene federal law and declare a product to be medicine is unconstitutional and improper and I do not support it. Ever had a seizure? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/22 "2016-03-09T02:05:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Ever had a seizure? Just curious, have you tried cannabis to control yours? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/23 "2016-03-09T02:07:02Z")
Note: I’m not saying marijauna is a miracle cure, or that it shouldn’t be regulated as any other medicine, or substance, like alcohol. And yes, I think the FDA should be working on this. > [@Smapti](#): > > It means that the state is telling its citizens that it’s OK to violate a federal law, and in my state at least, it’s created a regulatory/taxation scheme where the state is directly profiting from the sale of goods the federal government deems to be illegal. > > That’s a problem, and it’s not something that passes Constitutional muster. I honestly cannot condemn a desparate parent for seeking something to help one’s child with a debilitating illness, ESPECIALLY if you have never experienced anything like this. If you’re against it because you fear there are dangerous side effects, or it might harm the child, that’s one thing. But simply saying, “but they’re breaking the LAW!” is disgusting. Walk a mile in their shoes. I can’t imagine what that family is going through. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/24 "2016-03-09T02:23:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It means that the state is telling its citizens that it’s OK to violate a federal law, and in my state at least, it’s created a regulatory/taxation scheme where the state is directly profiting from the sale of goods the federal government deems to be illegal. > > That’s a problem, and it’s not something that passes Constitutional muster. As far as I know, states cannot pass laws that contravene federal law, but they also can’t be compelled to enforce federal law or pass any particular law favored by the federal government. Of course, there is a legal limbo where the Feds might get you for something that the state wouldn’t. You’re right about that. But it’s not any more a Constitutional issue than than the fact that Colorado won’t go after you for selling nuclear secrets to the Commies. If the feds decide sparking up a joint is that big a deal, then let them enforce it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/25 "2016-03-09T02:33:48Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Just curious, have you tried cannabis to control yours? No. But I’m finding **Smapti** ’s argument fairly cold – rather than worrying about chasing phony “alternative medicine”, he seems more concerned about the fact that “someone’s breaking the law!” I’ve heard arguments from both sides – some people have said to be helped by marijuana, while some have found it made their seizures worse. It’s worth being examined by the FDA. But the whole, “IT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!” is not the issue. The Constitution has jackshit to do with this. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/26 "2016-03-09T02:37:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > No. But I’m finding **Smapti** ’s argument fairly cold – rather than worrying about chasing phony “alternative medicine”, he seems more concerned about the fact that “someone’s breaking the law!” > > I’ve heard arguments from both sides – some people have said to be helped by marijuana, while some have found it made their seizures worse. It’s worth being examined by the FDA. But the whole, “IT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!” is not the issue. The Constitution has jackshit to do with this. I totally agree. As I said, I was just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/27 "2016-03-09T02:47:12Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I totally agree. As I said, I was just curious. Fair enough. I’m fortunate that mine can be controlled by meds. The case mentioned in the OP is a rarer, much more severe form. (Wouldn’t she be eligible for surgery?) And yes, I remember our good friend **JKander**. That was an, um, “interesting” thread. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/28 "2016-03-09T03:00:10Z")
Honestly the most urgent reason the Feds need to legalize is so that nobody has to pay a hundred bucks to an MLM scamster to find out that industrial hemp byproducts have maybe a 10% of helping their child get better. That’s really what galls me about this whole CBD deal. Some very shady people are lining their pockets just because of the synergy of desperation and bad law. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/29 "2016-03-09T10:45:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > No. But I’m finding **Smapti** ’s argument fairly cold – rather than worrying about chasing phony “alternative medicine”, he seems more concerned about the fact that “someone’s breaking the law!” Smapti has a long, long history of putting compliance with the letter of the law above all other considerations, including basic humanity. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262/30 "2016-03-09T16:07:34Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Honestly the most urgent reason the Feds need to legalize is so that nobody has to pay a hundred bucks to an MLM scamster to find out that industrial hemp byproducts have maybe a 10% of helping their child get better. That’s really what galls me about this whole CBD deal. Some very shady people are lining their pockets just because of the synergy of desperation and bad law. Exactly. I can totally understand why desperate parents might try something like that, and am not at all faulting them for that. But… I think the Federal government needs to lighten up and allow the FDA to evaluate things like this independent of any 1930s-era drug laws, for the same reason **HMS Irruncible** mentions- so that it cuts down on hucksters and scammers selling pot resin “medicines” that don’t really do much good, except for their own wallets. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-medical-refugees/748262.md?page=1)