cannabisnews.com: Montel Williams Tosses Gov Pot Potato Montel Williams Tosses Gov Pot Potato Posted by CN Staff on September 17, 2004 at 10:19:10 PT By Michael Starr Source: New York Post Montel Williams, who's in Year Five of his battle against multiple sclerosis, has moved his now-trademark campaign for legal, medicinal pot to Albany. The talk show host — who uses marijuana daily to curtail pain — met this week with Gov. Pataki in hopes he could change the governor's mind about state laws that (technically, at least) make a lawbreaker of Montel every night. "Gov. Pataki asked a lot of questions," Williams said. "He stated unequivocally that he's going to take a very serious look at the issue and . . . legislation." "Our talk was scheduled for 15 minutes and ended up being an hour," Williams said. (The two met earlier this year, along with several other lawmakers, for the same purpose.) A spokesman for Pataki yesterday said the meeting had been "informative" but said the governor has not yet been won over. "Nothing should be done to encourage illicit drug use," the spokesman said. "But we have asked Health Department professionals to continue to look at this issue." Even if Montel did not walk away with the endorsement he's hoped for, the meeting was another milestone in the cause that has begun to consume him. On Tuesday, Montel had set up an on-air debate on his daily show (9 a.m./Ch. 5) between opponents and advocates of medical marijuana. "One of the myths surrounding marijuana since 1937 is that it has no redeemable efficacy as a medicinal agent — and that's a bold lie," he said. "The government has known for over 25 years that this isn't true. "On Tuesday's show you're going to meet a [chronically ill] man from Florida named Irvin who's been receiving cannisters of pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes from the government every single month for 20 years." Williams said the marijuana has been sent to people suffering from AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. "The marijuana is grown in a government program at the University of Mississippi and was being shipped to 12 people, five of whom have passed away," he said. "This is the same government that claims marijuana doesn't work medicinally — yet has done a 25-year study and continues to deliver [marijuana] to these patients. "The government obviously believes it has some benefit." Nine states — not including New York — have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. But it is a legal gray area since federal law still prohibits the cultivation and consumption of pot.. "We claim to be a compassionate society — we should at least try to allow those of us suffering in pain to be pain-free," Williams said. Source: New York Post (NY)Author: Michael StarrPublished: September 17, 2004Copyright: 2004 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.Contact: letters nypost.comWebsite: http://www.nypost.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Montel Williams Showhttp://www.montelshow.com/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMontel Williams Pushes Pot -- for Medical Reliefhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18797.shtmlPatient Praises Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18540.shtmlTranscript: Montel Williams on Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18288.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by FoM on September 18, 2004 at 15:09:59 PT DeVoHawk Thank you. I'd rather not talk about this subject. Canadian issues aren't really important down here particularly when there is bad blood between some folks. I don't care one way or the other. I do canadian news that I feel is important but I pass on most articles. Our country is in a fight like we have never seen before and that's hard enough to deal with for most of us. I hope you understand. I'm going to try to watch Farm-Aid if it connects and not worry about anything tonight since there isn't really anymore news to post but I'll keep looking even if I get connected to Farm-Aid. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by DeVoHawk on September 18, 2004 at 14:57:37 PT I am saying thank you and readers should donate I am saying thank you for making cannabis news a wonderful site and that people should respect your wishes not to mention john turmel if you think we should refrain.You have posted articles with john turmel in them so I assume you read them so I was implying that you do read about turmel but perhaps I assume too much and should have not mentioned it at all.What I mean by your ass is on the line is that those who speak up in the USA are often confronted by the powers that be, such as loretta nall, marc emery, MLK jr. and on and on.Keep up the good work and I agree that yahoo is a fine place for any discussion of Turmel. I did not want to mention his name so I referred to him as The Engineer and he who should not be mentioned. I have total respect for the work you do and hope that you continue until the cannabis prohibition falls. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on September 18, 2004 at 14:50:36 PT DeVoHawk I found the link for you. I wanted to make sure it was public after I said I thought it was. Here's the link. http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=medpot [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on September 18, 2004 at 14:40:38 PT DeVoHawk I'm not sure I understand what you mean but you go to a medpot group on yahoo and you can read about him. I think it's an open forum. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by DeVoHawk on September 18, 2004 at 14:35:08 PT FOM-I am thankful yet perplexed You have posted articles that have The Engineer in them and cannabis culture has run an article on he who should not be mentioned.I am glad that you are up front with your beliefs and do not try to hide them. As your ass is the one on the line by producing this site I believe that your wishes should be honored but it makes me want to learn more about he who shalln't be mentioned.Anyway, thanks for dedicated work on the cannabis issues. I am guilty of needing to donate and perhaps if more of us did we could mention The Engineer in the future. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on September 18, 2004 at 08:04:49 PT Virgil I really must mention this publically. I don't read anything about Turmel. I stay out of it. Actually we haven't had much of an interest in Canadian issues from the stats. If you value CNews it is very important to understand that the people that pay for CNews to be online don't appreciate him. I could care less but you can get this web site in trouble. If you don't care about us here keep talking and one day we might not be here anymore. That's how serious I take this problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Virgil on September 18, 2004 at 05:51:13 PT ron-Being critical There is nothing wrong with being critical when it unveils a flaw that needs correcting. I can be critical of Marc Emery for not doing a piece on John Turmel in Cannabis Culture. Here is the guy that is an engineer by education acting as a guerilla lawyer free of charge for Terry Parker that ended the possession laws in Canada on August 1, 2001. He walked up the steps of the national Parliament with 6 pounds of pot to pass out to the legislatures, in a show he meant to reach as many people as possible that the laws were dead. He was charged with trafficking which could mean a life sentence for him which he is still defending with his claim that cannabis is no longer on the schedule of controlled substances. Parker defeated possession in 4.1 of the CDSA. Kreiger defeated cultivation in 4.7 of the CDSA. The only thing left was trafficking in 4.5 of the CDSA, which Turmel took to task by his act on the steps of Parliament.Turmel is banned from the BCMarijuanaParty website, which shows there is some bad blood between Emery and Turmel. Turmel is not nasty towards Emery really. He is just critical of his efforts to accomplish what he says he wants to accomplish. There is no need to analyse their relationship as the prize of an announced surrender on the part of the courts for possession and cultivation is at hand. That is where I am critical of Emery and Cannabis Culture magazine. Turmel has earned a day in the sun with his efforts and what he says is more than newsworty in the cannabis culture, it is worthy on an International level, much less Canadaian.I am witness to what Marc Emery has done for freeing cannabis, but that does not mean I do not regard this as a failure on his part. I have no ax to grind with Emery, but there is a big hole in the coverage by Cannabis Culture by not interviewing Turmel. I think if Playboy knew who Turmel was he would stand a good chance of being the centerpiece interview. Turmel is in no way mean-spirited as he is driven more by intellectual pursuits than any malice. He is highly colorful and could give the world a lesson in dealing with rejection. But please do not think I want any soap opera involved. We have enough of that with all of our elections. The issue is issues and the issue is the death of the possession and cultivation laws in Canada. Turmel says they are dead and I believe him. There surely is the opposing viewpoint and it is widely held because the other viewpoint is not being heard. Cannabis Culture could change that and should. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by ron on September 18, 2004 at 01:40:07 PT Can't believe I hadn't heard of Turmel till you mentioned him, Virgil. I don't have Lexus Nexis resources, but I think you're right about a Canadian media ban. Our sweet government persecutes the Kubby's by intimidating insurance companies. In October they plan to introduce a new fifty dollar bill to the citizens. Emily Murphy, our Harry Anslinger, will be on our currency.When I read in CNews of the madness and insanity that Americans have to put up with from thought herding persecutors, I feel happy I don't have to fear such arbitrary, capricious vindictiveness. But when I think of how badly newspapers have served us - eg. blacking out the Turmel's completely credible claims, I fear for us as much as you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Virgil on September 17, 2004 at 21:53:44 PT Seige-comment4 This is a highly important subject to discuss concerning Canada. What Turmel is saying is that in the Hitzig case the judge had a paragraph in his judgement explaining that the MMAR and the CDSA had been fixed. That is just the reasoning that leads up to his Order. In the Order itself, there is no resurrection. The case is very sound that the laws are still dead.The reason we need to mention all of this, is that Turmel will prepare the paperwork and submit an appeal in the next week. This will be to the Canadian Supreme Court. For this to be accepted on this fast track, it needs to be of national importance. That is why we need to mention and amplify the situation. It somehow needs to reach people with cases coming up in Canada that they should take the POLCOA defense and ask for postponement until the courts can rule on the Neilson Appeal to the Supreme Court.There never has been an order by a Canadian Court to Resurrect the dead laws. They are still quite dead and there is just a deception going on. People need to tie there cases to the Neilson Appeal so that the Supreme Court will deem it worthy of a fast track on grounds of national importance.I can tell you this. If I lived in Canada, I would be growing cannabis until new laws are enacted. If it were spring I would plant them in the front yard. The laws were declared dead and only reference to a paragraph of a judges decision and not even an Order is the thread holding the facade of prohibition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by DeVoHawk on September 17, 2004 at 17:49:28 PT Translation "informative" but said the governor has not yet been won over. I might be voted out of office and that is the most important agenda [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by ron on September 17, 2004 at 13:54:55 PT siege - "a 1 page Order that read...." The suspense was killing me so I followed your link, and here is what the judge's order said:"the prohibition in s.4(1) is invalid." So that's why Turmel is blaming lawyers for pleading clients guilty. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 17, 2004 at 12:44:48 PT Montel Williams Show on Medical Cannabis DPFCA: SEPT. 21: Montel Williams Show on Medical Cannabis Hello Everyone,September 21, 2004The Montel Williams Show --- Topic: Medical Cannabis -- A full hour of mmj. In the CA Bay Area it Airs on Channel 2 at 10:00am or at 5:00pmThe Montel Williams Show airs on Channel 2 at 10:00am and at 5:00pm. I am not sure which time it will air, my guess is the 5:00pm showing.The Montel William Show will be airing it's first medical cannbis show. Montel is a MS patient who uses medical cannabis. The entire hour will be focused around medical cannbis. Guest on the show include: Angel McClary Raich who has a case pending before the US Supreme Court, Irv Rosenfeld who is one of the federal governments IND patients, Rob Kampia from Marijuana Policy Project, Donald Abrams, M.D. who does medical cannabis research, Debbie Jeffery's and her mother spoke about Debbie son Jeffery who used cannabis, and other guests along with Andrea Barthwell who was Deputy Director at the Office of National Drug Control Policy.See Montel chew Andrea apart! This will be a good show! Compassion and Justice, Angel McClary Raich angel raich-v-ashcroft.com 510-764-1499Download the major pleadings from our litigation (Raich v. Ashcroft) at: http://raich-v-ashcroft.com and http://angeljustice.org or http://angeljustice.comhttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 17, 2004 at 12:13:46 PT Related Articles from Big News Network.com Montel Williams Urges N.Y. to Legalize Pot Big News Network.com Saturday 18th September, 2004 Talk show host and multiple sclerosis victim Montel Williams is urging New York's governor to decriminalize marijuana.Williams, who smokes marijuana daily to relieve symptoms of his disease, said Gov. George Pataki seemed attentive during their 15-minute talk this week and promised to look into decriminalizing marijuana, the New York Post reported Friday.Gov. Pataki asked a lot of questions, Williams said. He stated unequivocally that he's going to take a very serious look at the issue and ... legislation. Pataki stopped short, though, of endorsing the full legalization of the substance, a spokesman for the governor said.Nothing should be done to encourage illicit drug use, the spokesman said. But we have asked health department professionals to continue to look at this issue.Copyright: 2004 Big News Network.com http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=070b91e8be286113 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by siege on September 17, 2004 at 12:03:09 PT TURMEL: Justice Doherty won't sign Resurrection Order by bc726 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Turmel) Sep 17, 2004 at 06:38 PMJCT: A judgment includes all the reasons for the final decision. An Order is what it all boils down to. For instance, in Parker's 2000 Declaration of Invalidity, it had a judgment of over 100 pages and a 1 page Order that read: http://www.talkaboutpeople.com/group/alt.fan.john-turmel/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 17, 2004 at 11:50:28 PT Off Topic: Book Review Drug War Crimes: The Consequences of Prohibitionhttp://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2004/09-17/legalize.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Max Flowers on September 17, 2004 at 11:49:46 PT Discourage with information, not JAIL - "Nothing should be done to encourage illicit drug use," the spokesman said. - I agree. But not encouraging it is a whole hell of a lot different from throwing people in jail for it!I would also tell that spokesman that A PLANT IS NOT A DRUG [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 17, 2004 at 10:20:12 PT Way To Go Montel! I sure hope the show will be on the satellite! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment