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| Pushing Drug Myths With Our Taxes |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 22, 2002 at 09:09:30 PT By Clarence Page Source: Chicago Tribune 
Our nation's drug czar is annoyed. If proponents have their way, the District of Columbia will vote later this year to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes for the second time.John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, took some potshots at the issue in a recent Washington Post piece that has been reprinted across the country. Unfortunately, he brings more smoke than light. "After years of giggling at quaintly outdated marijuana scare stories like the 1936 movie `Reefer Madness'," he writes, "we've become almost conditioned to think that any warning about the true dangers of marijuana are overblown." He then proceeds with unintended irony to give an overblown warning of his own about "The Myth of `Harmless' Marijuana." He warns Baby-Boomer parents that "today's marijuana is different from that of a generation ago, with potency levels 10 to 20 times stronger than the marijuana with which they were familiar." He doesn't say where he gets that whopper and that's too bad, since it conflicts with a federally funded investigation of marijuana samples confiscated by law enforcement over the past two decades. Published in the January 2000 Journal of Forensic Science, that study found the THC content (that's the active ingredient that gets you high) had only doubled to 4.2 percent from about 2 percent from 1980 to 1997. Those are not undesirable potency levels when you are using it to relieve illness. Thousands of patients suffering from HIV, glaucoma, chemotherapy, migraines, multiple sclerosis or other similarly painful or nauseating conditions could benefit from legalized marijuana use, according to the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project. Yes, marijuana is dangerous. So are cigarettes, liquor and prescription drugs. The question that Walters fails to address is why marijuana should be treated differently from the drugs mentioned above? We allow adults to buy cigarettes and alcohol, even though both are highly addictive and kill thousands every year. Experts may disagree, depending on definitions, over whether marijuana smoke is "addictive" or merely "habit-forming" but both sides are hard-pressed to find anyone who has died of a marijuana overdose. Doctors treat the ill with numerous prescription drugs that are more dangerous and addictive than marijuana. But physicians are not allowed to treat the ill with marijuana. Instead, thousands of Americans unnecessarily have become criminals by purchasing marijuana for their ill loved ones rather than see them suffer. Yet Walters lambastes what he calls the "cynical campaign under way" in the District of Columbia and elsewhere "to proclaim the virtues of `medical' marijuana." In fact, those "cynical" campaigners include the American Public Health Association, the New England Journal of Medicine and almost 80 other state and national health-care organizations that support legalizing patient access to marijuana for medicinal treatment. So far, eight states have legalized medical use of marijuana by ballot initiative or legislation. District of Columbia voters also passed a referendum in 1998, but it has been blocked by Congress. Where referendums have been held, they have passed. But, alas, Walters dismisses those initiatives as "based on pseudo-science." Maybe he did not read the 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences. It confirmed the effectiveness of marijuana's active components in treating pain, nausea and the anorexic-wasting syndrome associated with AIDS. Walters says we should wait for more information. He praises a study now under way at the University of California's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. But if that study doesn't come out his way either, you have to wonder, will he ignore that one, too? "By now most Americans realize that the push to `normalize' marijuana for medical use is part of the drug legalization agenda," Walters says, mentioning financier George Soros and others who have contributed to the legalization cause. Walters does not mention the billions of tax dollars that he, as drug czar, has at his disposal to push marijuana myths--with our tax money! Instead, he arouses our passions by recounting the lawlessness of violent marijuana-dealing street gangs in the district. If anything, pot gangs offer us another good reason to legalize marijuana. After all, when a drug is outlawed, only outlaws will have the drug. Newshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch II -- http://www.norml.org/ Related Articles & Web Site: Marijuana Policy Project The Myth of 'Harmless' Marijuana Medical Marijuana Ban Overturned in D.C. Ruling May Put Marijuana Measure on Ballot Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 24, 2002 at 12:44:03 PT |
| Yes my satellite is installed. I had to call and they changed some configurations and it is great. I watched the Kubby's on Pot TV last night and it was wonderful. I will watch the program all the time now. I tried to get POT TV and it would disconnect before. DirecWay has radio with a psychodelic screen showing when I listen to classic rock! Cool! LOL! My email isn't configured right but I'll get it soon. There was a series of 4 articles from Willamette Week and I archived and connected 3 articles to the cover article about Governor Johnson and it wasn't hard to do at all. I think this is a great contraption this satellite I'd say! LOL!
What's He Smokin'? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by dddd on May 24, 2002 at 12:31:49 PT |
| ...FoM....relax.....If anyone is upset about a minor glitch like this,,,and they accuse you of some sort of wrongdoing ,,,then send them my email address,and I will be in charge of the complaint department.... ..I assume your spanish sattelite installation technician was successful in upgrading your system...? ............LoL.................dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 24, 2002 at 11:49:15 PT |
| I tried really hard to fix this thread but the only way was to remove Jose's post. I really tried but it is best not to use too much coding and then problems shouldn't happen. I'm really sorry but just post the link and I know that will work. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #7 posted by SoberStoner on May 22, 2002 at 23:49:41 PT:
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| Thats cool..i'll have to have my fiancee pick one of those up..she works in DC, so i'm sure she has seen em around.. I cant believe this article was actually posted in the Trib too.. Maybe there is hope for Mass media yet..of course, newspaper exposure isnt nearly as important as the television news..americans dont care what it says, they just wanna know what it looks like..package it up nice enough and americans will eat poo and smile..Any one think we'll see Dan Rather read this on the news?:) Bush is evil..or stupid...most likely both..either way, he's still dangerous..Whether he's calling the shots himself or just a puppet following the commands of Daddy's friends it doesnt matter. The american people are NOT in control and more and more people are rapidly waking up that fact..time magazine running the Bush 9-11 coverup as front cover is big.. i cant believe bush will be re-elected..if Gary Johnson runs in 04, or ventura, or BOTH, they will not be given the treatment Nader was and the people will hear a different voice than the one the republicrats speak with..Jesse Ventura is a PUBLIC FIGURE in America..That is very important status. Look at Reagan. Actor, Governor, President. Ventura has Military (HUGE voting block), Instant Recognizability (He's been plastered everywhere, for his mistakes AND his ability to do his job) , he was a Wrestler (basically an actor with athletic capability), a governor, and (future?) president..As much as i like Gary Johnson, I think Ventura would stand a LOT better chance against Bush and whatever puppet they find for the democraps..Ventura will tell it like he sees it. You dont have to agree with him, but you should at least listen to him. I dont agree with some of the things he says, but there ARE things that he makes a lot of sense on..people are tired of being lied too..whether you like what he says or not, he makes it sound like his version of the truth..and in this day and age, they are willing to believe any kind of truth, just to get away from the party platform lies we are being fed every day..I wonder which paper will be the first to suggest Johnson or Ventura will run..maybe they'll force an answer from them? They've both said they wont run..maybe they're hoping they dont have too..like i've heard before, "any man that wants the presidency, shouldnt be allowed to have it?" These two dont say they want it and they're the two best candidates around...what cant the debate be Johnson vs Ventura for the presidency..no bush, no democrat idiot either..just the two men most QUALIFIED for the job...the two party crap is just that, crap..A majority of americans are not being heard by their 'representatives' and 'appointed officials' who are actually running the country..A new voice will be heard..either through Political means or more radical manner, like the wild pipebomber (who by the way, they caught in NO time..where did all that anthrax come from again...who sent it?? oh right...we dont know that) America..why do i feel like a stranger in my own land? SS [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 22, 2002 at 16:32:02 PT |
| test [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by Robbie on May 22, 2002 at 12:06:00 PT |
| Make sure the good folks at MAP know that you got one published. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on May 22, 2002 at 10:11:35 PT:
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| With the exception of Dan Forbes, Mr. Page is the amongst the shockingly few in the media to have the cojones to point out - publicly, mind you - the sad fact that the antis have been wasting "billions and billions" (sorry, Carl, I just couldn't resist) of our money purveying lies. What's even more noteworthy? He's pointed out the glaring disparity of funding that the Reform organizations receive...as opposed to what the government propaganda pigs have had access to: ""By now most Americans realize that the push to `normalize' marijuana for medical use is part of the drug legalization agenda," Walters says, mentioning financier George Soros and others who have contributed to the legalization cause. Walters does not mention the billions of tax dollars that he, as drug czar, has at his disposal to push marijuana myths--with our tax money!" (Emphasis mine -k.) I've alluded to the analogy of the fat man (Uncle's tax dollar gorging DrugWarriors) telling the public that the anorexic (Reformers) needs to go on a financial diet. The comparison is obvious...yet few media people make the painfully obvious linkage between public pronouncements and reality. Mr. Page has done so...and pulled aside the DrugWar funding curtain. The precedent has been set. If any anti dares to spout off about the Reformers receiving money from the Three Wise Men, they risk having Mr. Page's (published!) words hurled in their teeth. Only the dimmest bulb in the DrugWarrior box will mouth those words now. Of course, some will...and as an anti who tried to debate Kevin Zeese last year on C-SPAN on precisely the same subject learned, they'll find that having a new anus installed can be singularly painful. Thank you, Mr. Page! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by dddd on May 22, 2002 at 10:02:36 PT |
| ...an excellent article................. ..." Walters does not mention the billions of tax dollars that he, as drug czar, has at his disposal to push marijuana myths--with our tax money!" ....indeed,,,this is one of the most disturbing aspects of the war on drugs/Freedom!.......<>br> ..I think we're starting to see a stronger,more outspoken feeling of dissatisfaction with the government in the press recently......dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by The GCW on May 22, 2002 at 09:42:45 PT |
| Clarence Page, crushes a chunk of wall and proceeds to administer it in the prohibitionists out chute. Prohibitionists will be treated like the filth they are. Prohibitionists are the problem, not cannabis. What we are seeing is a successful move toward exposing prohibitionist as dirt suckers, mired in grotesqe greedy driven evil of the worst kind, unable to see Truth. Prohibitionist are actually going to be viewed as rapist, murderers, and filth, as they are. More and more, the media is working! Today, there are Clarence Page's everywhere, and they are sticking it to the blood and urine sucking ignoids. Bush has a urine mustache. Got urine? Devil wad! Bush is on a race to reem. He knows more than his father knew, he aint comin back. Diaper scrap. [ Post Comment ] |
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