cannabisnews.com: Ann Arbor Debates New Pot Law Ann Arbor Debates New Pot Law Posted by CN Staff on July 06, 2004 at 09:02:39 PT By Tracy Davis, News Staff Reporter Source: Ann Arbor News When Chuck Ream first began suffering severe stomach pains in 1968, doctors gave him antacids. As the pain grew worse - endoscopies would later reveal gastritis, ulcers and lack of a proper membrane in the duodenum - he was prescribed barbiturates, tranquilizers and more antacids. They worked, sort of, at first. But when the pain worsened again, a friend suggested he try smoking marijuana. "I tried it, and my stomach untightened, and I could breathe a little bit," he said. "It didn't solve all my problems, but it allowed me to function and return to school." Ream, a Scio Township trustee, is among an increasingly vocal contingent of people nationwide who tout the medicinal benefits of marijuana. Those who support legalizing it say it can ease and even prevent nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, lessen the pain of cancer patients, reduce the spasms of diseases like multiple sclerosis, reduce pressure in the eyes of people suffering glaucoma and induce appetite in wasted AIDS patients. Though federal law still bans it, nine states and a few municipalities have laws permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Ann Arbor could become one of those places this November when voters decide whether to amend the city charter to instruct local law enforcement not to arrest or charge those with a health care provider's recommendation to use the drug. Currently possession of marijuana in Ann Arbor is a $25 fine. Similar drives by the Washtenaw Coalition for Compassionate Care are planned in Saline and Yspilanti and possibly, the state of Michigan. Casting aside social concerns about legalizing medical use of the long-banned plant, however, many who are opposed say there are plenty of other safe, legitimate, FDA-approved drugs to treat nausea, pain and other things advocates want to use marijuana for. When California became the first state to pass a medical marijuana law in 1996, then-director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Gen. Barry McCaffrey commissioned a comprehensive government study of marijuana's medical viability. A group of 12 independent experts from the prestigious Institute of Medicine compiled all literature to date and studied it. The group then held public hearings attended by everyone from 80-year-old grandmothers using marijuana to prevent the pain and nausea of breast cancer treatment to staunch opponents of marijuana to those who seemed to be advocating marijuana for everyday stress. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/arbor.htmSource: Ann Arbor News (MI)Author: Tracy Davis, News Staff Reporter Published: Tuesday, July 6, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Ann Arbor NewsContact: letters annarbornews.comWebsite: http://www.mlive.com/aanews/index.ssfRelated Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmMedical Marijuana Lands Spot on Ballot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19035.shtmlInitiative Legalizing MMJ May Be on Nov. Ballothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18828.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by ekim on July 06, 2004 at 18:15:57 PT Book Howard Wooldridge Leap speaker in MI Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Media Director, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) Dallas, Texas Howard J. Wooldridge 8412 Moorcroft Dallas, TX 75228 817-975-1110 wooldridge leap.ccWill be in MI for two weeks July19to 29 for the upcoming vote in Detroit on Med Cannabis on Aug 3. If you have suggestions for events or know someone who would like to interview Howard please send him a note. ON July 19 he will be interviewed by WIDR 89.1 fm on WMU in Kalamazoo from 12 noon to 1pm. At 7pm to 8pm Howard will be the guest on Amos in the Evening a live call in Cable Access Show on Ch 19 in Kalamazoo, Howard will also be at the following events.www.leap.cc/events Jul 20 04 Williamston Sunrise Rotary 07:30 AM Howard Wooldridge Williamston Michigan USA The Williamston Sunrise Rotary welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge to discuss viable alternatives to the failure of drug prohibition.Jul 21 04 Flint Sunrise Rotary 07:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Flint Michigan USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge is "In Like Flint" when he meets with members of the Flint Sunrise Rotary to discuss issues related to the failed war on drugs.Jul 22 04 Lansing-DeWitt Sunrise Rotary 07:30 AM Howard Wooldridge Lansing Michigan USA Rise and shine with Board Member Howard Wooldridge as he breakfasts with members of the Lansing-DeWitt Sunrise Rotary and discusses issues related to the failed war on drugs.Jul 22 04 Garden City (Detroit) Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Garden City Michigan USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge grows tall and drops seeds of common sense when he meets with members of the Garden City (Detroit) Rotary to discuss issues related to drug prohibition.Jul 26 04 Canton Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Canton Michigan USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge lunches with members of the Canton Rotary to discuss the social and financial impact of the failed war on drugs.Jul 27 04 Dearborn Fairlane Rotary 07:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Dearborn Michigan USA After cruising into town, Board Member Howard Wooldridge breakfasts with memebers of the Dearborn Fairlane Rotary to discuss the financial and social impact of the failed war on drugs.Jul 27 04 Delta-Waverly Rotary Club 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Lansing Michigan USA Members of the Delta-Waverly Rotary Club lunch with Board Member Howard Wooldridge to discuss alternatives to the failed war on drugs.Jul 28 04 Woodhaven Rotary 07:30 AM Howard Wooldridge Woodhaven Michigan USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge breakfasts with members of the Woodhaven Rotary to explore viable alternatives to the failed war on drugs.Jul 28 04 Dearborn Heights Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Dearborn Heights Michigan USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge meets with members of the Dearborn Heights Rotary to discuss viable alternatives to the failed war on drugs.Jul 29 04 Lincoln Park (Metro Detroit) Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Lincoln Park Michigan USA Honest Abe would be proud of Board Member Howard Wooldridge as he tells the truth about the failed war on drugs to members of the Lincoln Park (Metro Detroit) Rotary. http://www.mmdetroit.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 06, 2004 at 10:44:16 PT Congress to Vote on Medical Marijuana Raids Bipartisan Amendment to Protect Patients Could be Offered WednesdayJuly 6, 2004WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the issue of medical marijuana again headed to the U.S. Supreme Court (Ashcroft v. Raich, granted cert on June 28), Congress will have an opportunity this week to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's raids on seriously ill medical marijuana patients in states that allow medical use of marijuana. U.S. Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) are expected to offer an amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill during consideration of the bill on the House floor, possibly as early as Wednesday, July 7. The amendment's wording is expected to be similar to a version proposed last year, which listed the states with medical marijuana laws and specified that no funds made available to the U.S. Department of Justice may be used to prevent these states "from implementing State laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana in those States." Last week, television talk show host Montel Williams -- who uses medical marijuana to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis -- addressed approximately 175 congressional staffers at a luncheon held to raise awareness of the proposal. Vermont recently became the ninth state to allow medical use of marijuana, joining Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. "Last year, the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment got 152 votes on the House floor -- more than any proposal in support of medical marijuana has ever received, but still shockingly low considering the strong public support for medical marijuana," said Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. Fox noted that national and state polls consistently show that 70 to 80 percent of voters support laws protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest. "Even in conservative Alabama, a Mobile Register poll published on July 4 showed 75 percent public support for legal access to medical marijuana -- virtually identical to poll results from California," Fox said. "The fact is that support for protecting medical marijuana patients cuts across every region, party affiliation and political ideology. There is no constituency in this country for arresting and jailing cancer, MS or AIDS patients who are simply trying to relieve some of their suffering." With more than 15,000 members and 103,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment. For more information, please visit: http://www.MarijuanaPolicy.org/http://mpp.org/releases/nr070604.html The Debate: Hinchey- Rohrabacher MMJ Amendment [ Post Comment ] Post Comment