After Legalizing Medical Marijuana, Puerto Rico Bans Smoking It

By John Vibes

Politicians in Puerto Rico have decided that although they will allow medical marijuana to become legal, they will still be imposing legal penalties on people who are caught smoking the plant, even if they have a prescription.

While it is true that ingesting cannabis orally is far more healthy than smoking it, people should have the free choice to decide what they want to do with their own body, whether they have a prescription or not.

“Smoking marijuana is not being contemplated as part of a medical treatment,” Justice Secretary Cesar Miranda told The Associated Press this week.

However, many drug rights activists have pointed out that this is an oppressive policy.

“A lot of patients prefer to inhale the cannabis than take it orally. If they have to take it only through a pill, it can be very difficult to tell what the right dose is… It’s pretty short-sighted to take away that method that most patients rely on to figure out how cannabis affects them,” Amanda Reiman of the Drug Policy Alliance said.

This recent policy in Puerto Rico shows just how ridiculous politicians are getting when it comes to the legalization of marijuana. They are attempting to do everything they can to keep as many regulations on the plant as possible, so they can continue to make money on legal penalties.

Even today’s supposedly legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco are still under regulations so strict that they are not far from being prohibited either.

John Vibes writes for TheAntiMedia.org, where this first appeared. Follow on Facebook and Twitter to receive their latest articles.

John Vibes is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war. In addition to his writing and activist work he organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference, which features top caliber speakers and whistle-blowers from all over the world. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can find his 65 chapter Book entitled “Alchemy of the Timeless Renaissance” at bookpatch.com.