I must say I am like 100x over proud of my state. I’ve learned a lot about Missouri law in the last two years that has not so much surprised me but rather just plain made me proud! I guess what has been surprising is how on top of things our state is. A while ago I was considering making ethanol for our car in part of my obsession with living “green” in my research I found that it was not cost effective, nor very green to make ethanol at home. What I did learn though was that it is VERY cost effective to make your own wine at home. I also learned that Missouri has laws in place that allow anyone of legal drinking age to make beer or wine at home without any permits, or registration. I’ve since enjoyed making my own varieties of wine (mostly sugar cane).

The next thing I learned that made me doubly proud was during the SB1070 scandals and fights that the Obama administration was having with Arizona. It’s a law that gives police the right and ability to check a persons legal status when they are pulled over. I stood by Arizona as the federal government tried to stop them from passing the much needed law. Soon after many other states followed passing their own SB1070 type laws… I hoped that one would be passed on Missouri… only it didn’t need to be passed because Missouri has had a similar law for years.

Earlier this year I heard about a law in Florida exercising their 10th amendment rights blocking the federal government health care mandates at their borders. I was proud of Florida and wanted to see it happen in Missouri soon too… only Missouri passed a similar law before the close of 2010. I also learned that it has not passed or been made a law yet in Florida (though I do support them in their efforts) it has only passed in their state house of representatives and is going through their senate now.

And then my favorite, another exercise of the 10th amendment rights. Is a proposed bill allowing medical marijuana within the borders of Missouri. I truly hope this one makes it through without a hitch. My mom is a physical therapist, most of her patients are elderly with a variety of issues and disorders. Most of the issues that they have are very painful. The only thing most doctors do is pump them full of a consistent stream of very dangerous, highly addictive pain killers. Most of those pain killers don’t effectively do their job either. I can speak from experience as I’ve had them all from various accidents I even had morphine once when I crashed my bicycle and slid down 30+ feet of road on my bare back. Even morphine the supposed pinnacle of pain relief drugs didn’t take the pain away… it simply made me care a little bit less that I was in pain. Anyways, several of my moms patients live in fear because they have to buy marijuana illegally as it is the only thing that relieves the pain for them. Most of them must suffer for extended periods of time in pain also as it is illegal they’re not able to use in every circumstance when they are in pain. We’re talking about 80 year old men and women who have to hide from their nurses, doctors, and family because the only way they can live pain free is sneaking off to purchase pot and light up a dooby. That is a sad system… and while I have never smoked marijuana before, nor does it interest me to at any point in the future I support not only the legalization of medical marijuana but I support the full legalization of marijuana as it being illegal only causes violence, and it’s far less dangerous than even Alcohol.