Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Paul Rios Editorial cartoon by Paul Rios. [Click to enlarge]

Paul Rios

Say what you will about his policies, but we have a pretty interesting governor. While most states suffer with their stodgy career politicians, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a unique character, one who is unafraid of making controversial statements. We've gotten used to it, frankly.

Maybe that's why there was little public backlash concerning Schwarzenegger's recent comments to the British edition of "GQ." In an interview, Schwarzenegger told the magazine that "marijuana is not drug."

"It's a leaf," he said. "My drug was pumping iron."

Schwarzenegger's head-scratching response was prompted by questions about his own well-documented marijuana use. But if the media were quick to pick up on the story, there has been only a little comment on his statements, which are especially relevant lately.

Admittedly, there's little to be said about Schwarzenegger's personal stance that hasn't already been said, since his take on marijuana isn't precisely news. Schwarzenegger once bragged about hashish use (and wild bodybuilder orgies) in a 1977 interview with "Oui" magazine, a French equivalent of "Playboy." He also appeared on the cover of "High Times" in his Conan regalia and flat out told a Los Angeles Times reporter in 1989 that he used to smoke "once or twice a week."

It's easy to write these comments off as ancient history. He's got a family-man image to maintain now, which means no more weed-fueled orgies. But Schwarzenegger's support of the kind bud hasn't changed dramatically. After all, he told Sean Hannity that he was in favor of the legalization of medical marijuana during his 2003 recall election campaign.

It all amounts to little in terms of action, though. The governor has strong opinions and makes little effort to hide his opinions about a lot of things, no matter how inane. But even he can't maneuver the political hurdles and controversy that would accompany any attempt to further relax California's marijuana laws.

The key challenge faced by supporters of legalization initiatives is the fact that under federal law, marijuana use is illegal in all cases. Though California already boasts progressive laws in respect to medical marijuana, those laws are superseded by federal restrictions. So even if Schwarzenegger were to enact changes to the state's already liberal statutes, they wouldn't do a whole lot.

But the subject is anything but closed for debate. California's Supreme Court has had to decide several conflicts between federal and state law. The latest is the case of Gary Ross, a man who lost his job after failing a drug test for marijuana. Though he acquired his schwag legally (at least according to state laws) through a doctor's recommendation, the Sacramento man was fired 11 days after he was hired.

Ross, who suffers from chronic back pain, received support from disability and medical advocacy groups. The court has yet to reach a decision, but Ross' case has already been shot down in two lower courts and also by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005.

There are a whole lot of contradictory studies out there; some which support marijuana as a healing agent, some which decry the dangers of use. Few conclusive reports exist, though. Advocates from the American Medical Association argue that until more definitive research is available, marijuana should not be legalized. But it's hard to justify the drug's illegal status on those grounds when many legal, well-researched prescription drugs can prove to be just as addictive and potentially harmful. It seems uncertainty is almost part and parcel when medicine is concerned.

If there's one thing certain though, it's that plenty of people are willing to do whatever they can to get relief. Obviously, that includes overstepping the bounds of legality.

Paul Rios can be reached at prios@statehornet.com.

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