cannabisnews.com: ‘Mary Jane for Pain’ Student Pot Project Gets OK





‘Mary Jane for Pain’ Student Pot Project Gets OK
Posted by FoM on February 20, 2002 at 07:02:19 PT
By Donna Jones, Sentinel Staff Writer
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel 
Mission Hill Junior High School officials will allow a seventh-grader to display her medical marijuana project when the school science fair opens today. School officials had questioned whether "Mary Jane For Pain," a project that included marijuana-laced props when the 13-year-old, who asked not to be identified, turned it in last Thursday, fit science fair guidelines.But after reviewing the girl’s research during the weekend, school officials concluded the project — sans the marijuana-laced muffin and rubbing alcohol initially presented as props — fits fair criteria under the category of social science.
"She had some good questions, and she did what she wanted to in terms of a project," Principal Cathy Stefanki-Iglesias said. "The value is in what the student learned from the scientific process."Stefanki-Iglesias said the report, which includes the results from a survey the student conducted with five local women who use marijuana to combat symptoms of illnesses, was "well written" and brings people up to date on the issue.The girl’s father, Joe Morris, said he was pleased with the decision. He had been concerned after Stefanki-Iglesias said last week that the project might not be admissible.His daughter was embarrassed by the negative reaction at school last week and didn’t want to be interviewed, Morris said. But she worked hard on the project. In addition to the surveys, which she analyzed and graphed, she researched the history of medicinal marijuana through articles and books, some of which were specially ordered from the library. He questioned whether her free speech rights would be violated if the project was ruled unfit."I’m hoping to get off work tomorrow to go down and see it," Morris said Tuesday.A substitute teacher gave the 13-year-old permission to pursue the issue about four months ago. The girl’s regular teacher, who recently returned from maternity leave, discovered the topic Thursday.The girl’s interest was sparked by her aunt’s volunteer work. The aunt serves as a caregiver for a family friend, who is seriously ill with cancer, and she produces a weekly batch of marijuana muffins for the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a Santa Cruz group that provides pot to patients with prescriptions.Morris said his daughter’s project didn’t condone recreational use of the drug.He acknowledged, however, that he made a "bad call" when he allowed his daughter to bring the contraband props to school. He said he was grateful school officials returned the items to him rather than calling police.He said his daughter used the props to show that medical marijuana wasn’t about smoking pot, and that she might bake a parsley muffin to replace the illegal prop.The project has garnered national attention since an article about it appeared in Saturday’s Sentinel. Morris said he received nearly 50 calls from media during the weekend. Stefanki-Iglesias said she has fielded calls from television stations and from The New York Times.This isn’t the first time medical marijuana has provoked controversy. The state’s voters approved the drug for medicinal use when they passed Proposition 215 in 1996. But California officials, trying to implement their will, have clashed repeatedly with federal authorities, who maintain U.S. laws against the substance supersede the state initiative."I’m surprised at how many people are interested in this topic," Stefanki-Iglesias said. "It’s on a lot of people’s minds at the moment."The science fair is open to the public from 7-8:30 p.m. today in the Mission Hill auditorium, 425 King St., Santa Cruz.Complete Title: ‘Mary Jane for Pain’ Student Pot Project Gets School’s OK Source: Santa Cruz County Sentinel (CA)Author: Donna Jones, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: February 20, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Santa Cruz County Sentinel Publishers Co. Contact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmScience-Fair Pot Project Causes Consternation http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12028.shtmlSchool Not High on Santa Cruz Teen-Ager's Projecthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12027.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by Shishaldin on February 20, 2002 at 12:47:34 PT
That's why I live in Santa Cruz...
Yes Dan B-The people and their progressive thinking (plus the waves and the redwoods) is what drew me here and what keeps me here. Yes, we have THE most expensive real estate in the US by per capita income, public transportation is pretty sad, and Highway 1 between 3:30pm and 6:30pm rivals any freeway in LA or San Jose for congestion, but progressive and diverse thought thrives here. I can think of a half a dozen radio stations that I can get here (that AREN'T NPR) that have *independent* news and cultural programming. We have the Santa Cruz Comic News that puts out the best of the week's political cartoons, along with great social/political/environmental reports and commentary. Sadly, our own Santa Cruz Senile, er...Sentinel is mostly a weak rag, but they did break THIS story.It's quite a joy to live across from a local sheriff with a STOPTHEDRUGWAR.ORG bumper sticker on my car and it never being an issue with him or any other local LEO. I can't say that in other locales I feel the same "comfort level".I had my son read this story, and afterword I told him that it sometimes takes the honesty of a child to wake the adults up. He got it. I'm glad he gets to grow up in a place like this where most minds are open...Peace and Strength,Shishaldin
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Comment #3 posted by Dan B on February 20, 2002 at 11:58:56 PT:
Historically Speaking . . .
. . . Santa Cruz is often the first city in the United States to push forward progressive legislation. Once it goes through there, it's only a matter of time before it spreads--first to other cities, then to other states, and then to the federal level. San Francisco is another such city; both are historically progressive.The reason why the raids have taken place in San Francisco is that the feds know that is the starting place for many progressive ideas, and they are trying to stem the tide. It's actually a sign of progress. Yes, it will likely get darker, but there is alight at the end of the darkness--thanks in large part to communities like Santa Cruz and San Francisco.Dan B
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 20, 2002 at 09:32:44 PT
This is Good News
I wish I could see her science project. Anyone that can go really should.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on February 20, 2002 at 09:28:52 PT
That wall, that's coming down
is now going to be chipped away by this little girl. Perhaps more high school students will take this same innitiative. They all seem to be obligated to turn in science projects.
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