However, rather than implying a swift liberalisation of illicit drugs, Sefatian suggested another direction: re-introducing the
cultivation of plants such as poppy and cannabis
under state supervision; legalisation of cannabis and opium use
under specific circumstances outlined by ad hoc
laws, for instance, only in private places and for opium — as he told me — only for people above a certain age.
This whole medicinal pot issue is a little thorny, since marijuana is illegal
under federal
law — period, end of story, even in
states that have passed legislation or ballot initiatives making the drug legal for use by people who are sick, those individuals are still subject to arrest by federal officials for possession or
cultivation.