cannabisnews.com: Pot Pioneer 





Pot Pioneer 
Posted by CN Staff on June 06, 2002 at 10:18:18 PT
By Pete Brady
Source: Cannabis Culture
In the 1990's, Dr Ethan Russo spent two months in Peru's remote Manu National Park, researching use of medicinal plants by members of the Machiguenga tribes."Indigenous people have interesting methods of administering psychoactive and medicinal plants," Russo explained one afternoon after he and his teenage son mounted the chains on a recalcitrant tractor and coaxed it into the garage at Russo's rural Montana homestead. "Sometimes they crush leaves or flowers which they drip into their eyes to treat migraine or enhance their hunting prowess."
The energetic doctor has worked on a number of books based on his ethnobotanical studies. An unpublished manuscript titled An Ocelot for a Pillow: Researching Headaches, Hallucinogens, and Hunting Magic Among the Machiguenga of Manu describes his work in Peru. Russo's first fiction book, just published by Haworth Press, is called The Last Sorcerer: Echoes of the Rainforest. It's the story of an American physician who confronts a clash of cultures in the Amazon while searching for herbal remedies. Russo is also planning to write a fictional prequel to The Last Sorcerer, entitled Purnululu: A Young Woman's Odyssey into the Dreamtime, that will be set in the Australian Outback.Russo jokingly calls himself a "renaissance dilettante" because he is an expert participant in an eclectic variety of scientific and sociocultural endeavors. Aside from being an ethnobotanist who has just written a book about the medicinal uses of psychotropic herbs, Russo attended medical school in France and the United States, and now has two decades experience as a pioneering neurologist helping children and adult patients in Missoula, Montana. He specializes in child neurology, migraines and chronic pain.Russo is an admirable example of a person who combines social conscience with a zest for living life to the fullest. He's served as director or boardmember of various social service organizations such as Head Start and the Western Montana Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic, and is also a college professor, community activist, certified organic farmer, classical guitarist, sea kayaker, Nordic skier, and a devoted husband who has fathered two outstanding teenagers.Lest anyone think Russo only assists his own species, the highly-lauded doctor is also a member of leading international, national, and regional environmental organizations, including Montana groups dedicated to preserving rivers, native plants and animals, and open space. He owns and protects 20 acres of pristine riverfront land on the Blackfoot River, and also advises a local winery in organic viticulture techniques.When he's not busy writing, teaching, farming, parenting, activating, healing people, and cavorting in rainforests with herbal trippers, Russo is traveling to international conferences that focus on cannabis therapeutics. He's also planning to go to Morocco next year to collaborate with Abderrahmane Merzouki, a researcher who is studying the effects of cannabis on night vision in native fishermen.Russo's work never ends. After legendary pot doc Lester Grinspoon told him that cannabis researchers needed a professional publication featuring the latest marijuana information, Russo created the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, first published last year by Haworth Press.The Journal has two regular and one double-theme issue a year, and is the most scholarly, comprehensive and timely compendium of cannabis research available, containing scientific, historical and interpretive reports on medical marijuana, cannabis lore, legal issues, cannabis literature, and sociocultural aspects of cannabis use and regulation.Although most of the Journal's articles are written by top scientists and medical professionals, its content possesses sufficient clarity and explanations so that even an "average" high school student stoner can use Russo's publication to find relevant, fascinating information.The same clarity and relevance is found in Russo's new book, the Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs, which is an entertaining and practical analysis of plant remedies for conditions including depression, insomnia, anxiety, memory loss, impotence, dementia, pain, head injury and other afflictions.Russo wrote the handbook after conducting an exhaustive review of centuries of published historical and scientific information about plant medicines.The "fruits" of Russo's labor are tasty indeed; his handbook is a great read filled with surprising revelations about nature's botanical gifts.Dr Ethan Russo: `Cannabis is the most useful plant on earth.` http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/er.jpgOf course, Cannabis Culture readers will be most interested in the book's extensive coverage of nature's kindest herb. Russo offers a concise, revelatory and comprehensive history of cannabis, providing a detailed but lyrical explanation of how the plant has been used through the ages as a pain reliever, antibiotic, relaxant, eyesight enhancer, anti-oxidant, and as a euphoria-inducing, mind-expanding antidote for life's ups and downs.Russo has long been interested in cannabis use in all its manifestations, and is becoming an increasingly bright star in the relatively small universe of statured, credentialed professionals who are discovering and publicizing the amazing usefulness and complexity of cannabis.Although the doctor's home state of Montana is not one of the nine that have legalized medical marijuana, Russo has risked personal and professional harm by discussing medical marijuana with patients where he thinks it pertinent."My opinion about the efficacy and relative safety of cannabis is widely known, since I've made no secret of my feelings the last few years," says Russo, whose upbeat demeanor gives him a disarming charm and charisma. "It hasn't hurt me too much, but I suspect that a few doctors won't refer patients to me anymore because of my views. There was one incoherent letter to the editor in the Missoulian newspaper that attacked me. Other than that, I have been able to discuss cannabis with patients from 17 to 75 years old, and I haven't had any of them walk out on me. My peers, my community and the medical licensing board generally respect me. I may have lost a few clinical cannabis patients, but only because they moved to one of the states where voters made it legal!"Last year, Russo teamed up with med-pot advocate and registered nurse Mary Lynn Mathre and other researchers to study four of the seven remaining Americans who receive medical marijuana grown and provided by the US federal government's "Investigational New Drug" (IND) program, which has been supplying pre-rolled joints to a handful of patients since the 1970's."If the government had really cared to document the long term effects and medical usefulness of cannabis, it could have been closely monitoring the IND patients, and we would have a wealth of available information," explains Russo. "Instead, NIDA provided low-grade material in a form that was not medically optimized, and it made no attempt to document how cannabis was working for these people. The government didn't want to find out how good cannabis might be for chronic conditions where other medicines have failed. They have made no effort at harm reduction by investigating vaporizers, medical extracts or other modes of drug delivery."Russo's team examined "all possible parameters for harm and benefits" caused by marijuana in the IND patients, and found only minor pulmonary effects in two of the four patients and mild cognitive effects on immediate attention and concentration."We see similar alterations in patients with chronic pain who do not smoke cannabis," explained Russo. "Overall, important aspects of higher cognitive functions were preserved. All things considered, they are functioning well despite having serious chronic diseases. Most of them feel cannabis is the only reason they are still alive, and we found that in our brain imaging, chest x-rays, and blood test studies, these patients were in the normal range. In all four patients, we found that use of cannabis was very positive for them, allowing better function, and allowing enhanced and extended health and longevity. Two of the four previously used intravenous narcotics for pain relief, and now use only cannabis."Ironically, the negative pulmonary effects seen in two IND patients likely result from the government's decision to provide stale, weak, harsh marijuana, which forced the patients to smoke more material than they would have if the government had provided higher potency material."The government is giving them cannabis that is low-grade and poorly manicured, and therefore irritating to the respiratory system. The government's cannabis contains seeds and stems, and has low cannabinoid content," Russo laments. "The government has stronger material available, but say they can't give it to patients because it is too sticky and interferes with their rolling machines. Recently in California, a study protocol that requested seven percent THC material was rejected by NIDA as 'too strong.' The people making these decisions seem not to understand or acknowledge that patients titrate their intake if they get stronger cannabis, and can use less, thus reducing pulmonary risk. I showed pictures of the NIDA material at the International Cannabinoid Research Society conference in Spain; people gasped when they saw the low quality material that is provided to patients."Russo is cheerful by nature, but he finds it hard to be magnanimous about US government marijuana policies and regulations."We look at countries like Holland and England, where the government acknowledges the undeniable evidence that cannabis is an effective medicine with few significant side effects, then we look at the United States where my FDA-approved study on cannabis' ability to reduce migraine was stone-walled because NIDA holds a monopoly on the legal supply of cannabis for research, and they refused to provide it for my study. As a doctor and a citizen, knowing that researchers in other countries are researching and confirming new medical uses for cannabis all the time, such as its ability to protect the brain after head trauma or stroke, I am dismayed by policies that prevent us from fully utilizing the healing potential of this plant and prevent people from using the best medicine for their condition," he said.Russo considers himself fortunate to be a scientific advisor to the world's premier cannabis research and products company – GW Pharmaceuticals."I greatly appreciate that they are using whole cannabis extracts for their unique delivery systems. They recognize the synergistic potential of cannabis components, and provide them in a safe, reliable, and reproducible pharmaceutical form," Russo said.In an accompanying article, you'll read about the revolutionary cannabis research being conducted at GW's United Kingdom cannabis cultivation laboratory. Russo and GW scientist-physician Dr John McPartland recently published an extensive report in the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics on cannabinoids and other physiologically active cannabis constituents, such as its essential oils and flavonoids."Cannabis is the single most versatile herbal remedy, and the most useful plant on Earth," Russo says with a smile. "No other single plant contains as wide a range of medically active herbal constituents. I like to think of it as Nature's highest expression of unrequited female botanical passion!"Unfortunately for Russo, who says he himself has "three medical conditions that would benefit from clinical cannabis," the continuing specter of politically-motivated persecution means that one of the world's most knowledgeable experts can't use the plant he so admires."Let's be honest," Russo says, "I smoked cannabis in college, and I inhaled frequently, deeply and with malice aforethought. I enjoyed it. It didn't prevent me from studying and learning. I have not smoked marijuana for many years, however, because of my family and professional responsibilities. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make at this time: I abstain from using a good medicine so that one day, perhaps, everybody can use the good medicine."Note: Dr Ethan Russo explores the frontiers of ethnobotany and cannabis consciousness.• Haworth Press: http://www.haworthpressinc.com • Ethan Russo: email:  erusso blackfoot.net• GW Pharmaceuticals: http://www.gwpharm.com Source: Cannabis Culture Author: Pete BradyPublished: June 5, 2002Copyright: 2002 Cannabis CultureEmail: ccmag cannabisculture.com Website: http://www.cannabisculture.com/ DL: http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2302.htmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:Hemp for Headacheshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hh.pdf Chronic Cannabis Use in PDF Format http://freedomtoexhale.com/ccu.pdfCannabinoids in Pain Managementhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/drr.htmHandbook of Psychotropic Herbshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/ermd.htmMarijuana Praised Despite Legal Issues http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13056.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtmlJournal of Cannabis Therapeuticshttp://cannabis-med.org/science-international/JCANT.htm
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Comment #29 posted by Zero_G on June 06, 2002 at 22:53:34 PT
Los Angeles
There were about 50 people out at the Federal Blding, carrying signs and getting cars to honk in evening rush hour. A small contingent of Feds watched from a short distance, very peaceful. We left around 6:30, maybe more folks showed up after we left.On a happy note, I spoke with Jack Herrer, who is able to speak again, still recovering from a stroke.
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Comment #28 posted by paul peterson on June 06, 2002 at 22:03:39 PT:
FROM CHICAGO, FEDERAL PLAZA 6-6-02
 ILLINOIS-NORML had a well organized protest and gathering right across from the federal building, on the post office plaza today. Windy City Hemp Development Board assisted in making a display of persons "MIA" (incarcerated) through the drug war, which always has good visual affect to the passersby. As always, a few Chicago Police Officers were assigned to the detail, but here in Chicago, the police department is always too cordial and cooperative to provoke any heated or violent confrontation (sort of like a Republican Party convention or something).I, for one, as a medical marijuana activist and outspoken supporter and crusader for use of the Illinois "Research on Cannabis Act" (720 ILCS 550, section 11), the country's BEST KNOWN MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW ON THE BOOKS, BEST SINCE 1979, no less!, have found that the police officers and other law enforcement people I have spoken with on this issue (some 400 so far), in Illinois, have always been guardedly supportive and noncombative on the issue. These people in blue in this state almost seem to want something to happen to change the drug war, as they all know that marijuana usage does not cause people to get violent, but they also are desperately concerned to not let this "drug" fall into the hands of kids, and to cause kids to cascade into the life of crime that is associated with the harsher drugs, or the drug trade.I have come to appreciate every contact that I can have with local police officers, all of whom (so far) have been receptive to talking about these issues. Of course, I have never been a trafficer or a "king pin" and they all wish to concentrate their efforts towards interdicting those types of individuals (appropriately enough). When I started my own advocacy efforts a year ago, no one in this City or State even knew we had such a quality statute. Recently, thanks to Steve Young, writer of "Maximizing Harm-Losers and Winners in the Drug War", I have a letter from a state senator stating that, in fact, Illinois does have a medical marijuana law! I would like to think that thanks to the efforts of Illinois-Norml, Windy City & myself, this message is finally getting to the people of this state.We all await the 9th Circuit's decision regarding the DEA's threats of licensure seizure where doctors even discuss these things with their patients. The recent federal judge's opinion (from Oregon) that John Ashcroft cannot impede the physician-patient relationship to abrogate the assisted suicide law of Oregon is a major plus for this anticipated ruling! Once that comes down, I will redouble my efforts to enlist local doctors to join my class action lawsuit against the state of Illinois to force them to set up a program mandated by our 30 year old law (NEVER BEEN TESTED IN COURT!). Then, of course, I may even get my law license back, which the Illinois Supreme Court took away due to the FALSE PLEADINGS FILED BY THE LOCAL LAWYER POLICE! Please visit my web site to read some of the articles I have published and distributed to various law enforcement agencies, etc. I will give updates with my own situation from time to time, etc. Ethan Russo, well done in your research, advocacy, leadership and compassion.  PAUL PETERSON 
http://ILLINOIS-MMI.org
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 20:46:21 PT
Lehder
I didn't know you were from Ohio. Very cool.
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Comment #26 posted by qqqq on June 06, 2002 at 20:35:25 PT
masscrusader
...concerning Lake Tahoe,,,I've been there several times....If you've never been out west,,Lake Tahoe is a nice place to start.....I dont think I could define it in terms of "conservative or liberal",because it is both.The lake itself is beautiful,and as you may know,Lake Tahoe lies on the California/Nevada border,so as you drive around the lake,you go across state lines...Of course,the Nevada side has many casinos...It will be an interesting experience for you.
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Comment #25 posted by p4me on June 06, 2002 at 16:48:40 PT
Kevin Zeese speaking at pot-tv
http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-1351.htmlAsa Hutchinson and Kevin Zeese both spoke at the James A. BakerIII Institute for Public Policy at Rice University on April 10-11 of this year. Kevin said the clinical model for heroin as practiced in Switzerland for the last ten years needs to be extended to test programs in the US and are proven to work. The needle exchange program could reduce AIDS by 50% and should be funded. He said the 1982 National Academy of Science called for legalization. He cited history of the decriminalization of one third of the population from state laws up until 1978 and said that marijuana use actually went down. And of course he said that the medical marijuana policy was completely wrong. He wanted to address the issue of children and drugs and in doing so he said sending policeman to schools was wrong and that drug abuse should be addressed as a health issue and not a criminal justice issue.This was the first time I ever heard Asa Hutchinson speak. He is not that impressive and what Kevin Zeese said made much more sense.ICBS, VAAI, POW
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Comment #24 posted by Lehder on June 06, 2002 at 15:52:52 PT
cleveland
What a nice writeup about you, Ethan. Best wishes.The thousands of seriously ill in Ohio were represented by about twenty of us, chit-chatting and displaying signs, from NORML, Ohio Cannabis Society, Libertarian Party and Ohio Patient Network ( http://www.ohiopatient.net ). One city cop kept his distance. The federal government sent forth no representatives, its position being indefensible, and the DEA agents evidently preferred to use some back door. One can hardly blame them, so shameful is their policy. Many passersby honked in approval, more ignored us, no one jeered or quarreled with the cause, the sky displayed its typical gray. We await tomorrow's ruling from California.
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 15:19:18 PT
Thanks Sam
I went ahead and put the pictures on my What's New page! Thank you!
What's New in Drug Policy Reform
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Comment #22 posted by Sam Adams on June 06, 2002 at 14:44:43 PT
update
Here are pics from the MPP website:http://www.mpp.org/june6.htmlThose DC cops are pretty savvy, notice how they have a black woman carrying the guy. We're not fooled!
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 14:01:19 PT
Richard
Thank you!
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Comment #20 posted by Richard Lake on June 06, 2002 at 13:33:54 PT:
Why I Put Myself At Risk for Medical Marijuana
PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELYWhy I Put Myself At Risk for Medical MarijuanaBy Kevin ZeeseOn June 6 reform activists organized demonstrations in 55 cities at DEA offices across the United States to protest their continued prosecution of community-based marijuana dispensaries, growers and patients.The DEA continues its prosecution even though research proves medical marijuana is the most effective treatment available for many people with chronic pain and other serious illness. They ignore seven statewide referenda where the public voted overwhelmingly for medical marijuana. They ignore court decisions that demonstrated that marijuana should be available as a medicine. They’ve ignored efforts to negotiate to resolve the matter and ensure safe access for the seriously ill. Despite all the evidence and overwhelming public support, our democratic will is still pushed aside by the Federal Government.These are some of the reasons why I joined ten other reform leaders in Washington, D.C. in closing down the employee’s entrance to the Department of Justice. We decided to take direct action, even if it meant risking arrest ­ even though my organization Common Sense for Drug Policy does not advocate illegal activity nor does it encourage its staff to engage in illegal activity. The federal government is closing all alternatives to resolving this matter. As individuals we must challenge them.A religious reform leader recently posted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail to a group of reform advocates. When Dr. King’s explanation for when direct action is appropriate was applied to medical marijuana it was evident that we had no choice but to be civilly disobedient and stand up against the injustice of federal government attacks on medical marijuana patients and their dispensaries. Their refusal to follow votes, research, needs of patients and court rulings left us no choice. Direct action against the perpetrators of this injustice was necessary.Medical marijuana providers in states that have voted for allowing medical use are heroes who are risking serious criminal charges for providing medicine to the seriously ill. Reformers across the country need to stand up and say no more ­ we need zero tolerance for medical marijuana injustice.The medical marijuana issue is not a new one for me. In 1978 when I first became involved in reform I worked on NORML’s lawsuit in the US Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. We challenged the DEA’s refusal to allow medical access to marijuana. During this litigation, and others where I represented patients being prosecuted for marijuana offenses, I received scores of phone calls from doctors and patients who told similar stories about how incredibly useful marijuana was to very seriously ill people who would suffer needlessly without marijuana ­ but with marijuana they were criminals.After we won in the court of appeals and forced the DEA to hold an administrative law hearing on medical marijuana I worked with the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, a group of patients and their advocates, to develop the evidence supporting medical marijuana. In doing so we not only compiled the testimony of dozens of patients, doctors, nurses and researchers but we also compiled the published research in medical journals and by state departments of health that unequivocally showed that marijuana is a safe and effective medicine. The DEA also put forward their best case and in hearings across the United States we cross-examined these witnesses. The case continues to be the largest compilation of information on medical marijuana in any court proceeding.Our case was overwhelming. Indeed, the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the DEA, Francis L. Young, ended up ruling strongly in our favor. Judge Young rejected as “specious” the most common argument of the DEA ­ allowing medical use will send the wrong message saying: “The fear of sending such a signal cannot be permitted to override the legitimate need . . . of countless suffers for the relief marijuana can provide . . . .” Judge Young ruled:“The evidence in the record clearly shows that marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving the distress of great numbers of very ill people, and doing so with safety . . . It would be unreasoning, arbitrary and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefit of this substance . . ..”That was 14 years ago and the DEA has only escalated its efforts to block the seriously ill from getting much needed medicine.Unfortunately, Judge Young’s ruling was a recommendation to the politically appointed head of the DEA. The DEA, predictably, rejected his ruling. Of course we appealed. Surprisingly we won, surprising because administrative law strongly favors the administrative agency. The court sent it back to the DEA for reconsideration. The DEA again ruled against medical access. We appealed and won again. But the DEA remained obstinate and on our final appeal we lost ­ not because of the facts but because a basic tenet of administrative law is the courts defer to the agency.In the late-1980s research on medical marijuana was in the final phase of a three-step research process. Two states ­ New York and California ­ were conducting large-patient population research studies that when completed would finish the final research phase and make marijuana available as a medicine. By this time 34 states had passed laws allowing the use of marijuana in research programs. At this critical moment the First Bush Administration halted all research on medical marijuana. There was no opportunity for public comment, no hearings ­ just an internal agency decision that ignored state law, court decisions, research findings and the urgent need of patients.This frustrated medical marijuana patients ­ like a kettle covered while boiling the pressure was building. Activists in San Francisco put a medical marijuana referendum on the ballot in the mid 1990s ­ Proposition P ­ it passed overwhelmingly. In 1996 California passed proposition 215 ­ a series of states followed ­ Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Maine and Washington, DC. Every state that considered the issue voted in favor of medical marijuana. Then Hawaii became the first legislature to pass a medical marijuana bill, other states began moving in that direction.Local governments began to implement the laws. Some put in place a patient ID card system run by their Health Department or the prosecutor investigated the medical dispensaries to ensure they were lawful. Local medical associations began to educate their colleagues about medical use of marijuana. Some cities began to find ways to make the new laws work ­ in the midst of the federal government’s war on marijuana where the FBI estimates 735,000 were arrested last year.The feds reacted with threats to doctors, arrests of growers, patients and dispensaries. They put out false information ­ saying there was no research supporting medical use ­ even after a million dollar National Academy of Sciences research project they commissioned concluded marijuana had medical value for some patients. Federal drug officials escalated scares about marijuana’s dangers by making exaggerated claims of harm. In my hometown, Washington, DC, they were successful in blocking the counting of the ballots on medical marijuana for one year after the vote occurred. In the end, when a court forced the count we won by a landslide but the Congress blocked implementation of the will of the people.The feds have done everything they can to block the seriously ill from getting their medicine.We still hope the federal government will come to its senses ­ stop punishing the seriously ill in order to prop up their failed drug war ­ allow safe access to medical marijuana so that the will of the people can become reality. But, today we needed to make a statement ­ we will not go away ­ we will no longer tolerate any more injustice ­ we will stand together against their denial of medicine ­ and in the end, we will prevail.
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Comment #19 posted by Richard Lake on June 06, 2002 at 13:32:24 PT:
Kevin re June 6th Actions (+ D.C. Arrests)
Message from Kevin re June 6th Actions (+ D.C. Arrests)Good Afternoon All,Kevin asked me to send to the list this op-ed, below, which he asks people to circulate widely. Kevin's currently indisposed and can't send it himself, he participated in the medical marijuana protest at the Dept. of Justice building here in Washington, DC, today, and was one of 10 individuals who were arrested for blocking the entrance. AROvians joining Kevin in lockup today include: Bruce Mirken, Marijuana Policy Project; Ron Crickenberger, Libertarian Party; Mark Brandl, Libertarian Party; Adam Eisinger, Mintwood Media; Shawn Heller, Students for Sensible Drug Policy; Darrell Rogers, SSDP; and David Guard, DRCNet. Two students from the University of Maryland's SSDP chapter were also arrested. There are people, led by Alexis Baden-Mayer, Rob Kampia and Eric Sterling, going to the jail to bail all these folks out as soon as they're processed.A fuller description of today's action is forthcoming. Meanwhile, briefly: The event was peaceful and orderly. The police presence was excessive, particularly the blacksuited SWAT team. A number of different media were in attendance, including two of the three local network affiliates. Video and still photos will be posted to the web soon, I'll email as soon as I know the URL. Have a great day,
DougOPED posted next.
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Comment #18 posted by VitaminT on June 06, 2002 at 13:03:21 PT
We had 25 or 30
   The D.E.A. sure has a crappy office location in Houston. There were plenty of people whizzing by on the feeder road but few opportunities to directly engage the public. There were rousing speeches delivered by Al Robison, Jerry Epstien and Dean Becker(I missed that one) The organizations I saw represented were Drug Policy Forum Of Texas and Houston NORML.
   The event was covered by CBS affiliate KHOU channel 11. A few activists and I think at least 1 patient were interviewed.
   There was 1 DEAth agent on hand who behaved in a civil manner after the organizers were informed that cameras pointed in the direction of the building would be confiscated.
   The saddest part for me is the chilling effect that DEAth infiltration tactics have on such gatherings. If you are'nt recognized as one of the "usual suspects" you're either bombarded with pointed and prying questions like: What brings you out? or How come I've never seen you before? duh! Sorry if seem overly sensitive, but I'm here to exercise my constitutional rights to free speech and free association. The circumstances of my life prevent me from making Drug policy reform my prime mode of social interaction so it feels bad when I am able to attend a function because If you're not recognized you're probably a narc. 
   So, DEA go fuck yourself and leave the people of the herb in peace!
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 12:58:57 PT
Medicine Man
I love this scene in Medicine Man..SC says: Here drink this. She said: What is it? He said: It is used by the natives and will help you feel better. She said: It takes yucky! He said: Drink up. Then she starts dancing and chanting yoko yoko and said what's in this stuff? She said we should patent and market it in the states but they probably wouldn't let us and then she slid off a cliff. I've watched that movie more then once and loved it each time.Not exact words but I hope you all got my point.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 12:51:29 PT
idbsne1
Oh No! I guess we all watch SNL! LOL!Dr. Russo, I know you are only like the Medicine Man Sean Connery! LOL!
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Comment #15 posted by idbsne1 on June 06, 2002 at 12:48:44 PT
"I'll take....
The-rapists for $200, Alex"....LOL!!!!idbsne1
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Comment #14 posted by Ethan Russo MD on June 06, 2002 at 12:42:13 PT:
Thanks
Thanks to all of you, but I am just part of the process. Perhaps I have the biggest mouth!
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Comment #13 posted by Sam Adams on June 06, 2002 at 12:33:55 PT
Wow!
I can't believe Dr. Russo finds any time to post here at CNews! Glad to have you aboard Dr. Russo! When we win and the laws are rolled back, there will be no question which physician led the way in the US!!
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 12:26:12 PT
el_toonces 
Now I'm laughing too!
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Comment #11 posted by el_toonces on June 06, 2002 at 12:23:40 PT:
Sean Connery, Ethan Russo, Darrell Hammond & FoM..
FoM --I have been thinking about your comment, #1 infra, for about ten minutes and just started laughing my head off when in mind's eye I pictured the SNL version of "Celebrity Jeopardy" wherein Darrell Hammond plays an ignorant and foul-mouthed Sean Connery, and trying to imagine someone like Ethan in that character. I just can't do it -- erudite humor just wouldn't work on TV:).Thanks for the chuckle.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 12:21:11 PT
el_toonces 
Thank you for the update. I looked in Michigan papers quick and didn't find an article so far. It might be this evening until we see press because of the west coast events. Did you have a newspaper there?
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Comment #9 posted by el_toonces on June 06, 2002 at 12:09:15 PT:
Protest here sedate.....
Here in Detroit, only about seven or eight 'protestors' -- including two dressed most attractively as 'nurses' to attract the media eye -- were there. But, it felt more like being an educator than protestor as most people, even those working in the federal building, were very sympathtetic and nice. They were glad to accept information about this topic and more than a few said "I hope it's around when I need it," as I mentally noted nobody said "if" I need it.......Now if we can only get the state court of appeals to rule soon to put our medical use initiative on the municipal ballot, we'll maybe gain some momentum. Should know by Monday or Tuesday if the Court wants any oral argument.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 11:36:44 PT
It is a great article
I really respect Dr. Weil. He answered a couple of questions I had in an msnbc and cnn chat years ago.
We Must Stop the War on Medical Marijuana
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13053.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by p4me on June 06, 2002 at 11:35:45 PT
I better take a nap
The article REEFERed to in comment 5 and 6 is by Dr. Anrew Weil. I saw Dr. Weil on Opray and on PBS and his website is the very first listing on my Personal folder in my Bookmarks. His book "Eight Weeks to Optimum Health" was the number one book sold week in and week out at Amazon.com after he was on Oprah about two years ago. It is Dr. Weill that preaches against the partially hydroginated? fats that are not natural. In the world of health food I regard these manmade fats as the strongest thing to avoid in my diet.So, I should have really said in my earlier comments that Dr. Weill has a tremendous following and the importance of him speaking out is hard to underestimate. From the top of my Personal Favorites Folder: http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cda.phpI better take a nap.ICBS, VAAI, POW
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Comment #6 posted by p4me on June 06, 2002 at 11:22:58 PT
Good grief
I copy links with 2 windows open and somehow I messed up the commondreams link on the article "Stop the Federal War on Marijuana" http://commondreams.org/views02/0606-03.htm
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Comment #5 posted by p4me on June 06, 2002 at 11:20:07 PT
Commondreams on June 6th
The article at this link is a June 6th article titled "Stop the Federal War on Marijuana." http://www.PetitionOnline.com/cgi-htdig/htsearch?restrict=petitiononline.com;config=htdig;method=and;format=builtin-long;sort=score;words=impeach+george+w+bushLehder turned me on to Commondreams. Thanks.
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Comment #4 posted by Zero_G on June 06, 2002 at 11:09:33 PT
Demonstrations today - Los Angeles
I will be at the Federal Building, in Westwood, Los Angeles - between 4:30 - 7:30 PM today.Smokin' marijuana is more fun than drinkin' beer,
but a friend of our was captured and they gave him 30 years.
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why?
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're way to high.And I'm sure it wouldn't interest, anybody, outside of a small circle of friends... I WILL BE THERE. 
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 10:53:27 PT
masscrusader
I haven't found anything yet but hopefully as the day goes on news articles will become available. I haven't seen anything on the Network News so far. 
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Comment #2 posted by masscrusader on June 06, 2002 at 10:43:49 PT
any updates?
Does anyone know how those protests going (safeaccessnow.org)? I did not hear about anything planned around the Boston area, but western Mass has something working. The west coast must be buzzing. I have never been out west, but in July I will be staying in Lake Tahoe. Anyone familiar with the "social scene" in Lake Tahoe? Is it Conservative, Liberal, or more like Boston or Hollywood?
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 06, 2002 at 10:27:05 PT
Dr. Russo
All I could think of while I was preparing the article from Cannabis Culture to post was gosh Dr. Russo it's like having our own Sean Connery from the movie The Medicine Man right here on C News. The more I learn about you the more remarkable you become to me. Bless You Dr. Russo.
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