GOVERNOR RESPONDS TO SMOKING

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to medical marijuana, those laws are superseded by federal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.