should the government have authority to prevent states from legalizing maruana use for medical purposes?

Tricky.

Marijuana was originally outlawed too destroy the hemp producers who were competing with the cotton producers. The cotton plantations had so much political favor that they got a law passed to destroy their competition. Later, health concerns were discovered that made the matter come under drug regulation. The constitution used to allow states a great deal of leeway with their laws but after the civil war, much of the states rights were quashed. The federal government has authority over drug regulation and they have defined marijuana as a drug. The argument that it has health benefits only reinforces the governments opinion that it is a drug. If it is a drug then the authority to legalize its use rest with the FDA which is a government agency. So by our laws the answer is yes, the states lack the authority to legalize it for medical purposes.

Your question is confusing. What government are you talking about? The federal government? The federal government cannot prevent any state from legalizing marijuana for medical purposes under STATE law.

What the federal government has been doing is to arrest people distributing and possessing marijuana for medical purposes under FEDERAL law and prosecuting them in federal court. The US Supreme Court has ruled on this recently and said that federal government does have the authority to do this. However, many people believe that the federal government should stop doing this. Congress has voted several time on various bills to stop the federal government from doing this, but unfortunately, this bills have not gained enough votes to pass.

Yes, the Federal Government funds the states health policy. As such for things that are proven unhealthy, adicitive and with strong possibilities of later life problems from use they should have a big say. There are many other drugs (legal) on the market which allow for the same medical effects.

No -- The Central Government Should not have a say. It should be determined by the State.

No, The government should allow the states to have more power.

are you talking about federal agents busting medical marijuana stores in California? well yes unfortunately that is constitutional and i agree with the federal government doing that. however i most definitely do not agree with them outlawing marijuana in the first place.

oh and by the way for the guy above me: why on earth would you have to legalize all drugs if marijuana were? alcohol is a drug you idiot

Just my opinion -and I think the opinion of the founders- the federal gov. was intended to protect and defend; period. The supreme court was to insure that no laws are put into place that conflicts with the bill of rights.

Today, the government seems to think it is their place to tell the states what they will accept into law and the constitution is now called "a living document". What a load of------.

My personal opinion, it should not be legalized. From what I have heard about the substance and if you legalize maruana you will have to legalize all drugs.This will ruin society. We will have a lot of crack heads running around. People luting in the streets. The whole federal government will collapse. People will begin to worry about the President signing retarded treaties, because he/she is to busy being focused on putting that needle in his arm.

No!!!! Although I doubt the legitimacy of the use of medicinal marijuana I believe it should be up to the states. I believe my fellow Republicans do themselves a disservice by eroding states rights for such a menial problem.

I believe medicinal pot is merely a back door attempt at legalization.

No , The feds should legalize Majiuana and the states should have the right to decide whether or not to make it illegal in their state.