|
|
| The Medicinal Value of Marijuana |
|
Posted by CN Staff on May 12, 2002 at 22:00:17 PT By Rob Kampia, Executive Director, MPP Source: Washington Post 
As the proposer of a law that would remove criminal penalties for seriously ill patients in the District who use and grow marijuana with the approval of their physicians, I object to John Walters's characterization of the issue [op-ed, May 1].The administration's spokesman alleged that such an initiative is a "cynical" ploy that will somehow lead to "drug legalization." But the contradictions between rhetoric and reality on medical marijuana are piling up: • In 1997, drug czar Barry McCaffrey claimed that science, not politics, should determine whether marijuana has medical value, and he had the National Academy of Sciences review the scientific literature. The academy concluded that marijuana should be made available on a case-by-case basis for patients suffering from AIDS, cancer and chronic pain. Mr. McCaffrey dismissed the report and took no action on the recommendations. • Since 1978 the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have been providing government-grown marijuana cigarettes to a small group of patients each month. A study found that medical marijuana provided "effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms and intraocular pressure elevations." Despite Mr. Walters's vague claims of brain damage, researchers found no sign of neurological harm in patients using large quantities of marijuana for as long as 20 years. • Federal drug warriors say it is impossible to make marijuana available medically but have it remain illegal for recreational purposes, but if doctors can prescribe morphine and cocaine, surely they could prescribe marijuana, too. We will continue to fight to remove criminal penalties against the medical use of marijuana in the District and in the states until the federal government changes the law to make marijuana medically available nationwide. ROB KAMPIA Source: Washington Post (DC) Related Articles & Web Site: Medical Marijuana Information Links Another Round of 'Reefer Madness' The Problem Is Pot Prohibition The Myth of 'Harmless' Marijuana Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #20 posted by p4me on May 14, 2002 at 00:12:41 PT |
| The in your face question of the day is how can 73% of Americans be for medical marijuana and the government does not recognize the people's voice. This is in response to comment 19 and the 73% figure comes from comment 19. I know people are busy but it just seems so appropriate to read the first part of the Declaration of Independence. Please read this and think about our political situation and tyranny. The opening lines of the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. VAAI [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #19 posted by FoM on May 13, 2002 at 21:07:08 PT |
National Day of Direct Action June 6th
Push back the DEAs expanding war on Americans!
Americans for Safe Access Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is an aggressive grassroots campaign designed to push the Bush Administration to grant states the right to choose their own medical marijuana laws. We serve as a catalyst for committed grassroots activists to work effectively with drug policy reform groups and supportive local officials and to unify medical marijuana advocates patients, and caregivers around a focused national strategy. We aim to draw national media attention to our struggle and build a nationwide network of local activists committed to pushing back destructive DEA policies through action. If you are unable to participate in the actions, sign our pledge and lobby your government representatives. What is it? It's a nation-wide day of action to push back DEA attempts to re-criminalize medical cannabis! On or after June 6th, 2002 the DEA will attempt to shut down dispensaries now legally providing medical cannabis to patients in California. To respond, activists in cities across the nation will use creative, non-violent tactics to disrupt DEA offices and post their own "cease and desist" orders at DEA outposts. Through this action, we will build an "emergency response" network of committed activists to escalate our resistance to the Federal Government's expanding war on democracy and patients in need of safe access to medical marijuana. Why do it? As part of the 73 percent of Americans who support the legalization of medical marijuana, we have taken all of the legal steps available to us. We know that medical marijuana is the most effective treatment available for many with chronic pain and other illness. We passed state laws through popular referendums. We took our cases to court. We sought negotiations with the federal government. And despite all the evidence and overwhelming public support, our democratic will is still pushed aside by the Federal Government. It's time to show that we won't back down. We will escalate our tactics to demand effective policy reform on this important issue. We have zero tolerance for the harassment of medical marijuana patients and dispensaries, and we will put our bodies on the line to prove it. What Can I Do? Website: Americans for Safe Access -- http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #18 posted by masscrusader on May 13, 2002 at 13:40:06 PT |
| There is a law concerning fake drugs. If you have the time to spend in court and can come up with a reason why you do it, you will probably win, even if you represent yourself [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #17 posted by FoM on May 13, 2002 at 11:32:33 PT |
| Please don't laugh but when I was in my late teens I went to Albright College and heard her sing. It was a good day. That was long before I discovered The Moody Blues though. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #16 posted by The GCW on May 13, 2002 at 11:14:31 PT |
| Baby [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #15 posted by The GCW on May 13, 2002 at 11:13:16 PT |
| Maybe she will speak out! Friends, should speak out. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by FoM on May 13, 2002 at 10:56:25 PT |
| I heard on the news that one of her friends said she used Cannabis to treat Glycoma (sp) Haven't found an article and sure hope there will be one. http://europe.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/News/05/12/warwick.arrest/index.html [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by SpaceCat on May 13, 2002 at 10:40:01 PT |
| Though qqqq was being facetious, there is a law about fake drugs that will get you in just as much trouble as having the real thing. I'm not sure how easy it would be to prove that your bags of Oregano were meant for sale as imitation Marijuana, but you would be harrassed for sure, and probably arrested. It's all Fed at the airports, don't forget. I agree it is relatively safe domestically and outbound to carry a little personal stash (I even got frisked on the way to San Fran by a guard who surely gave me a pass, because I could smell it despite triple-bagging and his nose was about an inch away from it). Just got back from the 'Dam (it's all true) and other places, and even little ol' Minneapolis had the dogs out to give us a once-over. (And I'm amazed they didn't hit just from the residue on my pants!). [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on May 13, 2002 at 09:07:43 PT:
|
| The Continued Failure of the Drug War by By Keiler Hook
http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=266&mode=thread&order=0 From the article: There are the new television ads accusing drug users of collaborating with the terrorists. Most of our presidential candidates did illegal drug use when they were younger. Terrorism was around then, so did George Bush aid terrorists? How about Mayor Bloomberg of New York City shown all over the subways expressing the pleasure of smoking pot? Is he aiding terrorism? Presently Afghanistan is harvesting opium crops; are Afghani farmers terrorists? There are marijuana crops all over the United States; are these growers terrorists? Such an accusation misses the mark completely because of its deception and generalization. Here is what David R. Henderson, research fellow at the Hoover Institution (not exactly a left wing, drug-using, hip place), says, "A more informative ad line from the U.S. government would be: 'When you support the drug war, you’re supporting terrorists.’ "
[ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by goneposthole on May 13, 2002 at 07:47:22 PT |
| Flying is for the birds. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by qqqq on May 13, 2002 at 07:20:58 PT |
| ..was prior to 9/11...I flew to Central America to work....I brought a hefty,yet prudent stash with me,,but on the return trip,,I made sure I had nothing,because when you fly into LAX from such locations,,you are required to walk,,single file down "the Hall of DOGS!".....no kidding,,everyone has to go down this long narrow corridor, where there are DEA/customs agents with Labs,,Beagles,,Shepards,,and everyone must submit to being sniffed by canine nostrils...You can rarely fool a dog...they have x-ray noses...plus,,I believe they can sense when a person is nervous about themselves. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by TroutMask on May 13, 2002 at 07:03:32 PT |
| Caution: I have a friend who was busted for a small quantity of MJ in an airport since 9/11. For those interested, country-wide public meetings concerning Canadian drug laws in general and marijuana laws in particular begin today in Canada. If you'd like to watcht things as they develop or read the very interesting (and encouraging) Canadian Senate transcripts to date, here is a link: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Committee_SenHome.asp?Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=1&comm_id=85 I see that this morning's meeting includes a representative from NORML. Hopefully things continue to go as well as they did in the previous hearings. -TM [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by Patrick on May 13, 2002 at 07:02:57 PT |
| Should you see dogs near the metal detectors baggage screeners, hit the airport bathroom and drop your stash in the trash. It's no fun to loose a bag of primo but look at the hassle of getting busted. Think of that lost bag as a freedom insurance premium. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by Patrick on May 13, 2002 at 06:54:46 PT |
| Well it is safe to fly with your stash after 9/11. Personal experience, just don't carry knives bombs etc now. In fact, they were extra-checking the people who looked like normal every day people. I traveled with a beard and camouflage jacket looking more like bin laden than most and I was waved through every gate and checkpoint! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by qqqq on May 13, 2002 at 06:43:43 PT |
| ...Yea Patrick,,in the shorts is indeed much safer than a make-up kit,,but in a post 9/11 world,,even hiding shit inserted in ones ass isnt safe!...Next time I fly,,I think I'll carry a bunch of baggies of parsley and oregano with me,,as if they were "packaged for sales",,,,maybe even a bunch of grams of baby powder,,and some little baggies of crackadamia nuts...I'll bet you that there is a law that makes it illegal to pretend to have drugs..."Conspiracy to fake out an officer of the law",or something. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by goneposthole on May 13, 2002 at 06:37:40 PT |
| know why they're putting down people who smoke cannabis or even arresting them. They're good people, too, you know. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Patrick on May 13, 2002 at 06:25:20 PT |
| I feel for Dionne getting arrested. Been there done that. But I have been sending out psychic vibrations for well over 20 years now that say explicitly… WHEN TRAVELING BY DOMESTIC AIR PUT YOUR POT IN A PLASTIC BAG AND INSERT IT DOWN YOUR SHORTS!!! They have to strip search you to find it. Storing it in a fake lip stick holder, lead lined pouch or a fake Dr. Pepper can is not going to work in a post 9/11 environment. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by qqqq on May 13, 2002 at 06:05:48 PT |
| ..I'll bet Dionne Warwick is not very happy today...She's 61 years old,and she got busted in Florida for having some joints on her when she was boarding a plane to LA........It sorta reminds me of a few years back,,when Oprah Winfrey got busted after they found 52 pounds of crack stuffed up the back of her dress!..turns out,,it wasnt the illegal type of crack,,it was her butt! [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 13, 2002 at 06:03:38 PT:
|
| "A study found that medical marijuana provided "effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms and intraocular pressure elevations." Despite Mr. Walters's vague claims of brain damage, researchers found no sign of neurological harm in patients using large quantities of marijuana for as long as 20 years." That's directly from the Chronic Use Study: http://www.montananorml.org/docs/ChronicCannabisUseStudy.pdf I hope that some bureaucrats read it. Why not forward the URL to your legislators today? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by p4me on May 12, 2002 at 23:09:51 PT |
| Boy, you should try to control yourself. The next thing you might find yourself saying is that Walters is a national disgrace and guilty of fraud for this bogus WOSD. Man you were about one sentence away of calling Busch, Ashcroft, and Hutchinson traitors. Smoke a fat one and chill out. VAAI [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |