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| The Wonder Drug |
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Posted by CN Staff on March 05, 2007 at 21:00:32 PT By Dallie Howerton, Press Columnist Source: Carthage Press 
Missouri -- As a person who has diabetes and arthritis for which I am prescribed pain killers, an article in the Boston Globe this week peaked my interest. Written by Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard Medical School, it's titled "Marijuana As Wonder Drug."The article focused on a new study in the Journal of Neurology being hailed as unassailable proof that marijuana is a valuable medicine saying, "It is a sad commentary on the state of modern medicine--and US drug policy--that we still need 'proof' of something that medicine has known for 5,000 years." The recorded use of this medicine goes back to ancient times and became a well established Western medicine whose versatility and safety were unquestioned--safer than most medicines prescribed every day. If marijuana were a new discovery rather than carrying so much cultural and political baggage, it would be hailed as a wonder drug. In the study, marijuana was found to be effective at relieving extreme pain. Neuropathic pain is notoriously resistant to treatment with conventional pain drugs. Even powerful and addictive narcotics like morphine often provide little relief. This study leaves no doubt that marijuana can safely ease the pain of millions of Americans suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and arthritis. It is also very effective at relieving nausea and vomiting, as well as other debilitating illnesses. Because all marijuana research in the US must be done using government-supplied marijuana of very poor quality, the potential benefits are probably underestimated. This got me to thinking--What's behind the U.S. drug policy anyway? So I decided to do a little research on the history of this "wonder plant" and wouldn't you know...like most everything else today, all you have to do is "Follow the Money." But before I delve into the history of marijuana saga, I have to mention a tragedy that occurred last week. A very sad commentary on the state of healthcare in this country, or the lack thereof. If this is not the best argument in favor of universal healthcare, I don't know what is. Last week a 12-year-old boy in Maryland died of a toothache. A routine, $80 tooth extraction would have saved him. That is if his family could have afforded it, or if his family had been insured, or if his family had not lost Medicaid coverage due to budget cuts. By the time he got any attention, in the emergency room, the bacteria from the abscess had spread to his brain. After two operations and six weeks in the hospital the boy died. The cost of his care exceeds $250,000. Unfortunately, those without any insurance coverage are forced to use the emergency room as their primary source of medical care. If society is going to end up paying the tab anyway, what makes more sense, preventive care, or crisis care? You do the math. Now back to the wonder drug known worldwide as "cannabis or hemp," until the 1930s when it became known as marijuana. Between 1850 and 1937, cannabis (marijuana) was widely used throughout United States as a medicinal drug and could easily be purchased in pharmacies and general stores. Powerful Cannabis Extractum (hash oil) was widely known as a non-toxic, non-addicting medicine. It had been the second most commonly prescribed medication between the 1820s and the 1890s for everything from baby's teething pains to Gramma's hot flashes without a single documented case of addiction or fatal overdose. The American Medical Association opposed the prohibition of cannabis as a medicine, but in 1936, just before they enacted marijuana prohibition, the US Congress was lied to and was told that the AMA backed the prohibition. Most Americans had no idea that marijuana and cannabis were the same drug. Through its association with minorities in the newspapers, cannabis, a perfectly acceptable drug, was renamed "marijuana," taken from the Mexican-Spanish word "marihuana." A previously unheard of drug being used by evil, violent non-whites to lure our women and children. In opposition to the "Marijuana Tax Act of 1937," the American Medical Association wrote, "There is no evidence that the medicinal use of cannabis and its derivatives has caused or is causing cannabis addiction. The prevention of the use for medicinal purposes can accomplish no good end whatsoever. The obvious purpose of this bill is to impose so many restrictions on their use as to prevent such use altogether." The pharmaceutical industry is scrambling to create a synthetic version that could be produced in pill or serum form. Any rational person would simply ask, "Why bother when it already exists in plant form? Of course the answer is...medical marijuana is a threat to pharmaceutical profiteering. Big Pharma pumps millions of dollars into campaign coffers to ensure marijuana remains illegal and demonized. The USDA approved a new drug called "Tysabri" for the treatment of multiple sclerosis that affects 350,000 Americans. The cost of the drug is guesstimated to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 per year. Hmmm...300 million more reasons to keep medical marijuana illegal. Many researchers agree that marijuana's illegal status has a direct connection to the "gateway theory." Not because of the drug itself, but because, in order to acquire it they are more likely to become acquainted with people who sell other, more dangerous drugs. Some contend that legalization would substantially reduce the use of more dangerous drugs by taking the distribution of marijuana out of the hands of criminals, and regulating it in a similar manner to alcohol or tobacco. As Paul Harvey says, stay tuned next week for "the rest of the story." Just some food for thought. Source: Carthage Press, The (MO) Related Articles & Web Site: Dr. Lester Grinspoon Marijuana as Wonder Drug Feds Still Ostriches On Medical Marijuana Truth and Medical Marijuana Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 06, 2007 at 09:37:39 PT |
| Isn't a great feeling? I am confident we are on our way to a better tomorrow. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Toker00 on March 06, 2007 at 09:31:47 PT |
| Is making it's way all over the web. Sites that normally shun drug talk and sensor topics have this article posted. A friend of mine started reading the article from one of her sites when she was visiting so I asked what site it was, and she just said it was an esoteric site where, normally, drug links or articles are not posted. I think the audience we have been preaching to have now graduated and become the Preachers. People are talking and realizing w/acknowledgement, from the widest cross-sections of society, that Cannabis is GOOD. Phenomenal. Drug War is over if you want it. What's that creaking sound? Is that the Drug War collapsing from it's own waste/weight? Jerry may be home sooner than later. Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by doc james on March 06, 2007 at 06:47:31 PT |
| to end and the truth be told, for the sake of the children...and the planet. The FDA would approve a bullet for a headache as long as they could regulate it. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Toker00 on March 06, 2007 at 03:57:54 PT |
| Notice how the government uses middle men to poison or kill us? It's ok to eat poison if it goes through a cow, or a plant, or the atmosphere, or a drink, or through medicine. It's Safe that way. Just ask the FDA. They could just send us envelopes of Toxins to take each month through the mail, but that would be suspect. So, CORPORATIONS or middle men do it for them. Flawlessly now that you can't sue the Corporations. Poison, Prison, Prohibited, Propagandized, Polluted, Planet. Toke.
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| Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on March 06, 2007 at 03:36:34 PT |
| Let’s show what PDAers can do! Today (Tuesday) is our day to lead in the unified phone campaign to get Congress to finally stand against Bush’s unending war in Iraq. In the last few hours, we’ve learned of a possible amendment to Bush’s supplemental Appropriation request for $93 billion more for Iraq. The amendment, written by our allies, would call for a fully-funded withdrawal of U.S. troops within a set timetable. This would mean that a vote for the appropriation would be a vote against the war. This is an exciting development – a longshot, but worth fighting for. So when we call our Congress members today, ask them to support a “fully-funded withdrawal with timetable” amendment to the Iraq supplemental. But if such an amendment is NOT adopted, insist that our Representatives vote NO on the supplemental. Our special toll-free number into Congress is 1-888-851-1879. Mobilize all PDA members and supporters to phone their Congressional offices today. Don’t stop after calling your own Representative. To ensure that a “fully-funded withdrawal” amendment comes to the floor for a vote, contact one or two members of the Democratic leadership: Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY), Chair, Rules Committee (which decides whether amendments get to the floor); Speaker Nancy Pelosi; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD); Rep. Rahm Emanuel (IL); Rep. James Clybourn (SC). Make your call(s) toll-free l-888-851-1879 -- or call 202-224-3121. Each day until March 13, different national groups in our alliance are coordinating phone calls to Congress. Today, Tues., March 6 is PDA’s day. (March 7 -- CodePink/Global Exchange; March 8 – GSFP; March 9 - Peace Action; March 12 – UFPJ; March 13 - All groups together!) *** After you’ve done your phone calls, please listen to the new podcast: Rep. Lynn Woolsey Talks to PDA. This was recorded last week. Congresswoman and PDA Advisory Board member Lynn Woolsey discusses the key role PDA is playing on Capitol Hill and across the country -- and the need to say “No” to the Iraq Supplemental. Woolsey also tells Tony Trupiano about the short term future of HR 508, end-the-war legislation. Please share this Podcast with other activists. If you don’t think PDA is making a difference, listen to Rep. Woolsey. Please take a minute to share with us how things went with your call! Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: Extend the victory of Nov. 2006 into a permanent, progressive majority. PDA’s advisory board includes six members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Cindy Sheehan, Medea Benjamin and Rev. Lennox Yearwood. More info: http://pdamerica.org Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by observer on March 05, 2007 at 22:12:03 PT |
| Anyone see this item? UK: Grandmother who 'cooked with cannabis' denies possession Tom Moran, prosecuting, told Carlisle Crown Court: "Mrs Tabram is somebody who passionately believes in the use of cannabis as a way of relieving pain.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CSO5IPBQRZ4H1QFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2007/03/05/ncannabis105.xml That's a big lie the Crown prosecutor, Tom Moran, tells there. English common law stipulates that juries are free to convict or acquit for whatever reason they choose, and they are accountable to no one. Jurors may vote to convict or acquit and jurors need not explain their vote to anyone. Apparently, however, government judges and prosecutors are free to lie to gullible jurors any old time they choose. Par for the course. see: http://www.google.com/search?q=fully+informed+jurors+UK http://fija.org etc. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on March 05, 2007 at 21:16:50 PT |
| FDA poised to approve antibiotic for cattle By Washinton Post | March 5, 2007 WASHINGTON -- The government is on track to approve a new antibiotic to treat a pneumonia-like disease in cattle, despite warnings from health groups and a majority of the Food and Drug Administration's scientific advisers that the decision will be dangerous for people. [ Post Comment ] |
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