Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Memo - Essay Example This will determine and provide them of an informed decision regarding the Bartkowicz case. The federal government through the comprehensive Drug Abuse and Prevention and Control Act of 1970 banned the import, cultivation and distribution of illicit drugs and placed marijuana together with heroine in schedule I as non acceptable for medical use but potential for abuse according to the federal bureau of justice statistics(1992). On the other hand, the state of Colorado through an amendment in November 2000 passed a legislation that legalized medical use of marijuana in treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, severe nausea and other diseases though with restrictions (Department of public health and environment, 2010). This piece of legislation contravenes the federal law which does not acknowledge marijuana as useful medication. In Colorado, patients and caregivers enroll in state medical marijuana registry and are issued with registry identification card by the state health agency in order to be allowed to use marijuana. But they can possess no more than two ounces of usable form marijuana and not more than six marijuana plants per patient. Bartkowicz had 12 patients’ certificates and cultivated more than 200 plants which clearly mean a violation of the state law as well as federal law prohibiting possession of more than 100 plants. Besides, the patient certificates are confidential and are kept by the state health agency. Furthermore, the article quotes him as having bragged about his profits and ability to operate a grow house without detection. Thus, he was not cultivating marijuana for medical purposes but sells it for a profit. Clearly contravening the law through drug trafficking. Operating within 1000 ft of a school or playground is also among the provisions punishable by federal law. Concurrently, the Colorado law prohibits use of marijuana in a place open to general