cannabisnews.com: Supreme Court Overlooks Facts About Marijuana





Supreme Court Overlooks Facts About Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on June 22, 2005 at 14:37:57 PT
By Isaac Ardoin 
Source: Oklahoma Daily
Oklahoma -- A little more than two weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled federal drug laws supersede state laws that legalize medicinal marijuana. The 6-3 ruling is not only an example of the federal government interfering with the states’ autonomy, but it goes against much of the scientific evidence the federal government itself has collected.As of today, 11 states have legalized medicinal marijuana, and 10 states have an established system in place to provide it to patients.
Since the 1970s, when scientists began studying the health effects of marijuana, a wide variety of medicinal uses have been discovered. Marijuana can be used to help patients suffering from AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and chronic pain. Marijuana can also help patients by providing relief from nausea and appetite loss, reducing pressure within the eye, reducing muscle spasms and general chronic pain.Despite all of these benefits (many of which were discovered in government institutions), “grass” is still illegal under federal law because of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This was passed before the medicinal benefits were discovered, but it remains basically unchanged. The CSA created a list of drugs and other regulated substances, and then separated the list into five “Schedules.”Schedule 1 drugs are considered the most dangerous and have no medical use. There are three main Schedule 1 drugs: LSD, heroin and marijuana. The categories continue down from there, with Schedule 5 containing the least dangerous drugs like cough medicine with codeine, or diarrhea medications with small amounts of opium. That seems fine at first, but look at the Schedule 2 drugs: cocaine, opium, morphine, PCP, methamphetamine and amphetamine. Is it reasonable to believe that marijuana is more dangerous than cocaine or PCP, or more addictive than morphine? According to our government it is.So now, how can we get “weed” to be assigned into an appropriate category? The most plausible way would be to pass a bill in Congress, but few politicians will support the idea for fear of appearing “soft on drugs.”People have tried to get the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule marijuana many times, but every attempt has been shot down. The DEA doesn’t want marijuana to be rescheduled because it spends a lot of time and taxpayers’ money “fighting” the war on pot. If marijuana were legalized, even for medicinal use only, the DEA’s funding could be cut drastically, and it wouldn’t want that.Other groups that have opposed legalizing marijuana are the alcohol and liquor producers. The reasoning for this is pretty obvious: if “weed” became legal, alcohol sales would drop, which would be bad for the stockholders.But the fact remains that most people have a hard time accepting the use of marijuana as a medicine. It seems unlikely that the substance hippies used to get “high” could help cancer or AIDS patients.One way to help people accept the idea is to read about the patients who use medicinal marijuana. Have you heard about Angel Raich, the California woman suffering from an inoperable brain tumor, a seizure disorder and chronic pain? She claims marijuana is the only thing keeping her alive. Television host Montel Williams uses marijuana to ease the pain from multiple sclerosis.If you want to find out more about marijuana, I would suggest reading “Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts,” by Lynn Zimmer, Ph. D., and John Morgan, M.D. I read this book in a class last fall and it changed my perspective. You can also watch “Grass: A History of Marijuana,” an entertaining and informative documentary.The most important thing to keep in mind when researching marijuana is the author of the material. If the author has something to gain or lose if marijuana were to be legalized, be wary. Make sure they are backing their information with facts, and then check those facts for accuracy.Meanwhile, I hope our government can recognize the benefits of marijuana. I hope we don’t let these patients die slow, painful deaths because of the bad reputation of “grass.” And I hope that in the future, our laws will be based on scientific evidence instead of keeping up appearances.Isaac Ardoin is a professional writing sophomore. His column appears every other week. Complete Title: Supreme Court Ruling Overlooks Facts About MarijuanaSource: Oklahoma Daily, The (U of Oklahoma, OK Edu)Author: Isaac Ardoin Published: June 22, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Oklahoma DailyContact: opinion ou.eduWebsite: http://www.oudaily.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information http://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htm A Court Beneath Contempt http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20886.shtmlSmoke and Mirrors: Watched Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20884.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by mayan on June 23, 2005 at 03:25:04 PT
Taylor121
Thanks for the info. The article FoM posted after this one says this...The House Health, Education and Welfare Committee was expected later Wednesday to take the Senate bill and conform it with the version passed by the House, said House spokesman Larry Berman. That bill would then return to both chambers.So both the House and Senate have to pass it again? They sure can make something very simple seem very complicated!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 22, 2005 at 20:07:05 PT
Another AP Article on Rhode Island
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20890.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by Taylor121 on June 22, 2005 at 19:48:22 PT
Correction, Not same author same name
Both bills are named after House sponsor Thomas Slater (D-Providence), who suffers from cancer, and Senate sponsor Rhoda Perry's (D-Providence) nephew, Edward Hawkins, who died of complications related to AIDS last year.
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Comment #7 posted by Taylor121 on June 22, 2005 at 19:47:17 PT
I cross referenced with MPP's site check it out
"Are you sure? Every article I've read says it's the same bill. You're probably correct as you have more credibility than the msm! Anyway..."The reason why it's so confusing is because there are two bills by the same author. Check out MPP's Rhode Island page.This evening, the Rhode Island House voted 52-10 to stop the criminalization of medical marijuana patients. On June 7, the Senate voted 34-2 to pass a similar medical marijuana bill, and it is expected to approve H.B. 6052 in the very near future, sending the bill to Gov. Donald Carcieri's (R) desk.With Rhode Island nearing the brink of becoming the 11th medical marijuana state, we need your help today. Gov. Carcieri has pledged to veto the bill. Please e-mail the governor now to urge him to listen to the state medical society, the state nurses association, the vast majority of the public, and to compassion and common sense.Rhode Island's medical marijuana bills -- H.B. 6052 and S.B. 710 -- would finally change this. Both bills are named after House sponsor Thomas Slater (D-Providence), who suffers from cancer, and Senate sponsor Rhoda Perry's (D-Providence)http://www.mpp.org/RI/The key to MPP's page to make the distinction that they were separate bills is 
[the senate is]"expected to approve H.B. 6052 in the very near future" which made me come to the conclusion that the medical marijuana bill the Senate approved of was the similar bill dubbed S.B. 710. 
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Comment #6 posted by mayan on June 22, 2005 at 18:19:49 PT
Taylor121
Are you sure? Every article I've read says it's the same bill. You're probably correct as you have more credibility than the msm! Anyway...34-2 in the Senate.52-10 in the House.I'd say they have sent a message that is veto proof!THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Sibel Edmonds – An Appeal to the Internet Community:
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m12860&l=i&size=1&hd=0"Secret" Air Base for Iraq War started prior 9/11:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/6/21/11741/6199RISE - 9/11 Flash Presentation:
http://bushflash.com/swf/wtc.swfRecruitment note for "Academics for 9/11 Truth":
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20050622152235274
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 22, 2005 at 18:11:34 PT
Taylor
I'm glad you understand this because I sure don't.
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Comment #4 posted by Taylor121 on June 22, 2005 at 17:55:06 PT
Still Goes Back to Senate
Since this wasn't the same version the senate passed, it will now go back to the Senate for another vote before it goes to the governor. Of course it is expected to pass the Senate again easily.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 22, 2005 at 17:20:41 PT
Taylor Here It Is
House Passes Medical Marijuana Bill Wednesday, June 22, 2005
 The Associated Press
 PROVIDENCE - House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill today that would allow patients with certain serious diseases to smoke and grow marijuana. The measure passed 52-10 after debate on the House floor. Patients with diseases including cancer and AIDS would be shielded from arrest and prosecution under the bill. Their doctors and physicians also would be protected. Rhode Island would become the 11th state to authorize the medical use of marijuana, according to the legislation. If approved, the bill could put the state at odds with the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled earlier this month that medical marijuana users could be prosecuted under federal law even if their home states allow use of the drug. Patients would be able to possess up to 12 marijuana plants or two and a half ounces of usable marijuana. Governor Carcieri has threatened to veto medical marijuana legislation. The Senate passed the bill, 34-2, two weeks ago. 
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Comment #2 posted by Taylor121 on June 22, 2005 at 17:12:01 PT
Rhode Island House Passes Medical Marijuana
"House passes medical marijuana bill
Providence Journal (subscription), RI - 11 minutes ago
PROVIDENCE - House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill today that would allow patients with certain serious diseases to smoke and grow marijuana. ... "I don't have a subscription for the article. I want to see if it is veto proof.
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Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on June 22, 2005 at 14:55:06 PT
Oklahoma
According to a local well-qualified criminal lawyer that I know, the drug war is as stupid and venal as we here know it to be.I asked him if he had noticed a positive shift in the tone of the local newspaper about Medical Cannabis and he said that he did.I claimed credit for the shift due to years of pressure from me. But wait ... it turns out that the Newspaper Editor has a relative that was pained, literally, by the removal of Vioxx a while back.Seems that Vioxx worked for her and she wanted it back, but did without for a while."Hey," I said to him, that sounds familiar ... oh yeah ... Angel Raich says the same thing about Cannabis and the feds arrested her.Backing up to take a better view of the situation I now stop patting myself on the back so much and realize that pressure for change is even permeating the air here in Oklahoma to a degree.Now this story ... wonderful to see it in print in Oklahoma.We're waiting to hear if the Interim Study on Medical Cannabis is going to happen ... so we wait ...Peace to all who educate ...
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