P
cannabisnews.com: Patients Seeking Pot Relief Blocked by Dopey Law










  Patients Seeking Pot Relief Blocked by Dopey Law

Posted by CN Staff on July 09, 2007 at 11:21:35 PT
By Dave Shiflett 
Source: Bloomberg.com 

USA -- Reefer madness can still be hazardous to your health. That's the message of ``In Pot We Trust,'' a Showtime documentary airing tonight at 8:30 p.m. New York time. The show makes a persuasive case that marijuana provides some patients a degree of relief they can't get from standard medications and should be legally available.
Yet many patients continue to face prosecution and even jail for smoking the palliative weed. The show presents several compelling witnesses: a mother with severe palsy, a stockbroker with bone tumors, a churchgoing woman suffering from multiple sclerosis, and a man whose post- traumatic stress problems began when his father took the family to a restaurant and shot his mother, whose ``head ended up all over me and my sister.'' All insist marijuana relieves their pain and allows them to be productive citizens. Sadly for them, some people in high places fervently disagree. The hero of the show is Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that backs medical-marijuana legislation at the state and federal levels. While a small number of Americans participate in strictly regulated weed-providing programs, millions more risk legal sanction for using pot.  Lobbying Houston has short hair, wears a conservative business suit and kisses his kids goodbye before heading to Capitol Hill to lobby for his cause. Anyone wondering how lobbyists operate will benefit from watching Houston dog various congressmen, some of whom react as if they'd been approached by a representative from a child- molesting ring. Houston is used to rejection and clearly comfortable with political combat, describing one opponent as ``foaming at the mouth.'' He also notes that his organization, in finest Washington tradition, dispenses campaign donations to ``the good guys.'' The show gives plenty of face time to opponents, including former Health, Education and Welfare chief Joseph A. Califano, now head of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. There are also various drug czars and law enforcement officials, one of whom insists that ``society can perish'' if drugs are decriminalized.  Police RaidThen there's Steve Reed, a pony-tailed sheriff's deputy in San Diego who runs the ``marijuana eradication program.'' He leads a dawn raid on a marijuana garden containing, by his count, 10,000 plants. Reed has a missionary zeal -- ``this is a drug war so we're out there to win it,'' he says -- though his concern seems to be in keeping marijuana away from young people, not ailing patients. The documentary -- written, produced and directed by Star Price -- doesn't overlook the negative effects of toking. One memorable segment, featuring pro-legalization marchers chanting ``We smoke pot and we like it a lot,'' includes an enthusiast who loses his train of thought in mid-sentence. Such lapses, to be sure, aren't confined to stoners. We see snippets of congressional debate over medical marijuana legislation that makes you wonder what they're smoking on Capitol Hill. One sputtering pol rails that clerks at his grocery store have turned into dimwits from smoking marijuana, though as Houston points out such arguments have nothing to do with medical marijuana. The show is sympathetic to the view expressed by writer Christopher Hitchens, who calls current drug policies ``insane.'' He brands the war on drugs as ``the last dying smell from the Nixon administration.'' The war certainly isn't over. Reed brags that his raid ``hurt somebody today.'' Houston, however, has the last word: ``We're going to win eventually.'' Dave Shiflett is a critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.Showtime: In Pot We Trust: http://www.sho.com/site/announcements/20070611inpot.do Source: Bloomberg.com (USA)Author: Dave ShiflettPublished: July 9, 2007Copyright: 2007 Bloomberg L.P. Contact: dshifl aol.com Website: http://www.bloomberg.com/Related Article & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/ Smoked Outhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23164.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #60 posted by Hope on July 11, 2007 at 20:24:04 PT
Women go crazy bout a sharp dressed man...
Just couldn't resist it.Quotation marks would be desirable on that statement...but the subject line doesn't like quotes at the end of something that long.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #59 posted by whig on July 11, 2007 at 20:11:16 PT
FoM
I think most normal people don't wear suits and while it's one thing for politicians to do so, there is no reason cannabis advocates should be expected to wear a tie.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #58 posted by Hope on July 11, 2007 at 15:50:21 PT
Dang!
I must have put that last comment on the wrong page. It was to Brother Ray Green.Was going to send it in an email and saw something was wrong. Dang. I was in too big a hurry!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #57 posted by FoM on July 11, 2007 at 08:34:36 PT
LaGuardia 
I wanted to comment on your comment 21. Isn't it time that people from NORML and MPP get off their high horse about hippies or whatever upsets them and move on up to the real world we live in now and forget old ancient opinions and include all the people who care about reforming marijuana laws? That is what I mean by not looking to history for our future. We can learn from ancient history but the history of politics since the 60s is a non issue anymore. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #56 posted by Hope on July 11, 2007 at 07:21:33 PT
George and Barbara McMahon
I miss knowing that they aren't here in Texas anymore. I love them both and I do wish George would join us here at C-News. I've tried to get him to before. Maybe this evening, I'll drop them a line and try again, mentioning your name, Bro. Ray.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #55 posted by RevRayGreen on July 10, 2007 at 21:47:24 PT
George's profile in the movie
ended up on the cutting floor :(, except if you remember at the beginning, they were talking about Government IND patients, with a close up of a man lighting a joint, that was George McMahon, I hope he comes to this board...there are some concerns over this film, I won't cut and paste his email, but from my reply you might get the tone of conversation......."I knew that was you lighting the joint when they showed the closeup, I was waiting for at least some kind of profile of you and Barbara right after, but they wasted a half-hour of footage with a profile on a DEA eradicator flying around spotting fields in the canyons around San Diego,footage like that has been aired 1000 times over.For Jackie, she is getting much love over at www.cannabisnews.com , I really with I could have helped her with meds when she was down in KC.Irv was good, but yes,a film produced that would put all the emphasis on the patients,double standards in law and medicine, rather than even air the pigs biased opinions would raise more awareness....Ray "
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #54 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 13:52:21 PT
Lunch
I went out for Indian food. I was craving saffron I guess. I think that will be the next herb I study in depth.Anyhow, I had a point here. I now order my food spicy when I go there, because I really enjoy the sensation of the different spices and the heat is not too much. This is something like what I mean about pain being communication, though. A little spice can be painful at first, but essential and well tolerated with some experience.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #53 posted by FoM on July 10, 2007 at 12:39:27 PT
whig
I understand what you mean. Whether it is physical pain or emotional pain I have had more intense thoughts and ideas during those times in my life. I don't know why though. Thank you for telling me about what you have.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #52 posted by FoM on July 10, 2007 at 12:36:03 PT
whig
Maybe it will become available online. They changed the programming on PBS so I didn't get to see Standing Silent Nation. As far as In Pot We Trust it was good. I didn't like the PAC and Lobbying and fund raising or award gala whatever it was because I believe that is what has corrupted our government but the two women that they featured were so very good at what they were saying. The lady with Cerebral Palsy has lived with almost a Tourettes Syndrome effect and cannabis stopped her from losing control of her speech. It was truly amazing to see.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #51 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 12:32:21 PT
Strange ways of feeling...
Pain is a way of communicating with your body, and so one thing that I think I do is use pain to feel what I need and it helps me. Does that seem strange?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #50 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 12:30:14 PT
FoM
Yes, I have Gaucher.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #49 posted by FoM on July 10, 2007 at 12:29:00 PT
whig
Every night I take 3 capsules of Valarian Root. It helps me sleep. Sleep has never come easy for me. That's why I got messed up on prescription drugs. I'm really glad those days are over.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #48 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 12:28:54 PT
FoM
I never saw that. Maybe it's online somewhere.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #47 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 12:22:16 PT
Physical effect in Gaucher pain
I would say in my case the physical effect of cannabis can be to increase pain sensation along with mental ability to manage pain. Over time, pain may reduce with regular use. But not every day is better than the day before, and sleep is still not as easy as I'd like.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #46 posted by FoM on July 10, 2007 at 12:19:03 PT
whig
Is Gaucher's disease what you have? Did you see In Pot We Trust?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #45 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 12:15:21 PT
Gaucher's
I think cannabis treats some effects. I believe there are cerebral effects of Gaucher's disease. One effect seems to be heightened intelligence in some metrics, and cannabis seems to elevate this further. But I also have headaches and pain throughout my bones, so it's a tradeoff there.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #44 posted by whig on July 10, 2007 at 12:10:52 PT
FoM
One of the commenters there wrote:If you drink water there is a 50/50 chance that you will experiment with marijuana. Therefore if we eliminate people who drink water we can eliminate that 50% chance of people using marijuana. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #43 posted by FoM on July 10, 2007 at 11:09:03 PT
Giuliani Speaks Against Medical Marijuana
July 10, 2007CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani told New Hampshire voters this morning that efforts to legalize marijuana for medical use are misguided. Speaking in Concord, Giuliani said other pain medication is far more effective. And he said using marijuana for medical purposes leads to using other drugs. Giuliani commented in a question and answer session at a Town Hall type meeting at New Hampshire Techincal Institute in Concord.Copyright: 2007 Associated Presshttp://www.hightimes.com/ht/news/content.php?bid=1267&aid=24
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #42 posted by Hope on July 10, 2007 at 07:49:15 PT
It sounds like it was made with reason
and sanity. Wow!Thanks for the highlights.Let's hope it does some good.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #41 posted by FoM on July 10, 2007 at 06:26:22 PT
josephlacerenza 
The lady with Cerebral Palsy really impressed me and the lady with MS that took her ex-mother-in-law to buy a pipe and then smoked a little and laughed and only felt warmth in her legs rather then the burning pain she had before. Since it helped the lady with CP I believe it would help a person with Tourette's Syndrome too.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourette_syndrome
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #40 posted by josephlacerenza on July 10, 2007 at 06:13:58 PT:
Hope
I have to say one of the most convinsing argument for medical marijuana was of the lady with severe palsy. She went,in front of the camera, from not being able to form sentences to forming coherent speach!!! I have seen a friend who used it for muscle spasms. They pit film of a DEA agent ripping out marijuana and the amazing turn around of the severe palsy patient. I also loved seeing a patient smoke Fed pot on "Lary King Live!!!!!!!" You do not see that everyday!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #39 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on July 10, 2007 at 04:37:39 PT
I don't have Showtime....but I do have Google, lol
and Yahoo! -Canadians among highest in world pot use, says UNhttp://tinyurl.com/3a6j8cCanada leads in marijuana smokinghttp://tinyurl.com/2s7hhjChina executes ex-food and drug chiefhttp://tinyurl.com/3858ldThat last one made me think wistfully of the execution of John Walters. Got to give the commies some credit for knowing the best way to deal with lazy, lying bureaucrats who hurt people.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #38 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 21:35:08 PT
Hope
I am watching it again. My sister called with a computer problem and I missed some of it the first time. I wanted to thank Dr. Grinspoon for talking about his son and showing pictures of his son and how he is telling everyone how much Cannabis helped him until he finally died from his cancer. We have such heroes and some are gone now but we will win this someday.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #37 posted by Hope on July 09, 2007 at 21:27:12 PT
I didn't see it...
So I'd like to hear more details about what made it so exciting.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #36 posted by josephlacerenza on July 09, 2007 at 21:22:52 PT:
It is as good as one can believe hope!!
This is one of the most informative programs I've seen!!!!!!!I apperciate your feed back. Thanks!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #35 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 21:18:04 PT
Another Thought
They always say how pot growing contaminants the ground and then they show good, old, sold in every store, Miracle Grow fertilizer. If Miracle Grow contaminates the ground then why don't they make it illegal for mass consumers for their flowers? I wish the spin would just stop.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #34 posted by Hope on July 09, 2007 at 20:57:06 PT
Josephlacerenza 
Lol!Must have been good.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #33 posted by josephlacerenza on July 09, 2007 at 20:54:15 PT:
Is anyone else watching this?
The progran on Showtime right now!!! The monster is in. We are the only ones who can save the future!!! Let us join the cause!!!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #32 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 20:39:30 PT
RevRayGreen
I was impressed with her. What a difficult handicap and one that is helped by cannabis. I have a few opinions about the whole documentary. I find the part about the Police and pulling out plants wasn't interesting. It's been seen so many times on the news over the years it isn't even a shock. I get a cold feeling when they were showing lobbying and talking about money and for some unknown reason to me paying attention to Republicans more then Democrats. Vote the Republicans out and then talk to the Democrats. I didn't like Nadelmann's old negative comment about hippies and how it is now. Why would he even bring to the cameras attention about people not liking smoke? I say who cares what people think if a person smokes or not. That could be used to push for pharmaceutical cannabis and that's not going to help anymone except pharmaceutical companies again. He seems stuck somewhere in his talking points. I appreciate his work but getting some fresh perspectives would help. Making the gap (culture war) even bigger then it is doesn't help either.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #31 posted by RevRayGreen on July 09, 2007 at 20:18:16 PT
That lady
is also known to me as Medical MaryJane,who can be found on my myspace. Jackie came to a conference we had in Iowa
last summer, and speaking to a small crowd scatterd acrossed a modest auditorium, brought tears to my eyes,
and they did tonight. I never got a chance to share any medicine with her,because I gladly would've, just happened to be a shortage of medicine all over town. 
Medical MaryJane
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #30 posted by ekim on July 09, 2007 at 19:32:24 PT
Hemp Plants for Biofuels--not DEA GravyTrain
http://www.miagbiz.org/index.aspx?ascxid=fpQfStory&fpsid=29039&fpstid=1Using what they call a "giant tea bag," inventors say they have devised a way to make biodiesel cheaper, faster and better without the support of government subsidies. The method is the brainchild of an Iowa State University professor who developed his idea with backing from a California venture capital firm. http://www.miagbiz.org/index.aspx?ascxid=fpQfStory&fpsid=29062&fpstid=1The International Energy Agency Monday forecast global biofuel output will double from 2006 levels to 1.75 million barrels a day in 2012. In its medium-term oil market report through to 2012, the agency, the energy security watchdog for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, included its second annual report on biofuels. http://www.miagbiz.org/index.aspx?ascxid=fpQfStory&fpsid=29026&fpstid=2MSU will partner with the University of Wisconsin-Madison in establishing the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. It was one of three new DOE bioenergy research centers planned to be built. The centers are established and operated to accelerate basic research on the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. The other two research centers are in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and near Berkeley, Calif. 
http://www.thehia.org
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #29 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 19:07:27 PT
LaGuardia 
I don't understand all the things you are talking about because I am not into history. I only look forward. I look forward towards a progressive and better world. That's what keeps me going.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #28 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 19:04:03 PT
First Thought 
What an amazing documentary. I loved the lady from Rhode Island when she smoked and she was smiling and she felt better almost instantly and the other lady who had trouble speaking and after she smoked she could form her words. I laughed and I cried with them.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #27 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 09, 2007 at 18:54:49 PT
RevRayGreen 
The point is it support$ a prohibition indu$try. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #26 posted by RevRayGreen on July 09, 2007 at 18:37:05 PT
Just caught the first hour
at my neighbors......the DEA eradication in San Diego story, what was the point ? oh, that it really doesn't stop anything and it's a waste of tax dollars.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by josephlacerenza on July 09, 2007 at 18:35:17 PT:
I am going to watch with bated breath
I am not going to get to watsch until 9:30 pm Mountain time. I cann't wait to see how they address the fact that more American's are for medical marijuana than do not. Power to the people!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #24 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 09, 2007 at 18:14:45 PT
The dark side of the force
Watching it now....the storm troopers are on the move.They will never stop nature, human or plant!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by Dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 18:07:06 PT
or ACT UP ...
don't know about Stonewall, liked Act Up ...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by LaGuardia on July 09, 2007 at 17:43:13 PT:
FoM
Please! I certainly was not insulting gays, and neither was the speaker whom I was referencing (I think that it was Nadine Strossen of the ACLU but it has been so long that I am not sure). If you have studied the history of the gay rights movement, you know that before Stonewall, the gay rights movement went through a long period where it attempted to portray LGBT people as ordinary, respectable citizens because the mainstream media demonized gay people. The point that Ms. Strossen (or whomever it was) was trying to make was that marijuana users have been similarly demonized in the media and by society, and therefore we are in a similar predicament to the gay rights movement of the 1960's. She predicted that it would take twenty or thirty years from 2000 in order to achieve rights similar to those that gay activists had achieved between the 1960s and 1990s.I hope that it does not take that long for marijuana users but I believe that the analogy is fitting because the extreme prejudice against marijuana users is analogous to the 1960's mainstream attitude towards LGBT people. I am sorry that I was not clearer; my brother is gay and I do not believe that LGBT people are "sexual deviants" in any way.What we need to do is make it to the point where we are ripe for our own Stonewall.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by LaGuardia on July 09, 2007 at 17:28:03 PT:
Re: Appearence
I didn't mean to slam hippies. I am pro-hippy and I agree that it is one's message and how you convey it that matters most. I just wanted to make the point that many of the people whom we need to win over to being at least "neutral" on taxing and regulating pot have deep-seeded stereotypes based on appearance. That is why guys at MPP and NORML wear suits and have short hair; you have to in order to make an impact in DC because it plays against policy makers' stereotypes. Outside DC . . . appearance is less of an issue but it is still a factor.Peace to all.
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 17:24:59 PT

RevRayGreen 
Great picture. When I see a person with long hair I automatically pay attention. Long hair means to me that a person won't walk to the beat of a drum they don't believe in.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #19 posted by RevRayGreen on July 09, 2007 at 17:19:10 PT

Picture of George and Me 5/5/07
on this day, of all the marijuana ever smoked at Greenwood Park over the lat 40+years,he was the only one ever to legally smoke it there........close up........
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/RevGreen/120-2019_IMGcloseup2.jpg
George McMahon exercising his legal right
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #18 posted by mayan on July 09, 2007 at 17:15:04 PT

Moore,Blitzer,CNN
That was wonderful!Blitzer and CNN are nothing but tools of the fascist neo-cons. We must expose them before they attack us again...Red Alert: Has Santorum Let the Cat Out of the Bag?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mac_mcki_070708_red_alert_3a_has_santo.htm
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 17:07:46 PT

LaGuardia
I just re-read your comment and you aren't insulting Gays I hope? That isn't progressive and understanding. I hope you were quoting someone.Didn't Nixon say that Pot Smokers, Gays and Jews would run everything or something like that? Well it's true he was right on at least one thing.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 17:03:37 PT

Dankhank
All I can say is go Michael Moore! He read Wolf Blitzer the riot act. Yippie!!! I'm sorry I should stay more reserved! LOL! It's was fantastic.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #15 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 16:40:54 PT

Dankhank
Thanks Again! I am watching the movie now and didn't know what to do. I love having too many good things to watch at one time. I will watch Michael Moore on Alternet when the movie is over. 
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #14 posted by mayan on July 09, 2007 at 16:31:51 PT

Appearance
Most folks these days would probably have more trust in a hippy than someone in a business suit. It's not what you look like, it's how you carry yourself and convey your message. THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Santorum Suggest New Terror Attacks Will Change View Of War:
http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=22845"It may well be that the key to bolstering Western resolve is another terrorist attack like 9/11 or the London transit bombings":
http://911blogger.com/node/9874Protest outside of Giuliani's $5,000 a plate luncheon:
http://911blogger.com/node/9862Scooter Libby's Pardon and 9/11: 
http://realhistoryarchives.blogspot.com/2007/07/scooter-libbys-pardon-and-911.htmlChannel 4 News: Quarrel over Sarkozy appointment:
http://911blogger.com/node/9865Hotel bans 9/11 truther:
http://slackerwire.com/?p=669/11 Truthers Kicked Out Of Live Earth For Carrying Inside Job Banner (viedo): 
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/july2007/090707_a_kickedout.htm911 Bldg 7 NIST Evidence of Controlled Demolition: 
http://freedomisforeverybody.blogspot.com/2007/07/911-bldg-7-nist-evidence-of-controlled.htmlGordon Ross 9/11 Collapse Presentation (video):
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/july2007/070707Ross.htm9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #13 posted by Dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 16:22:16 PT

M Moore
video on alternet ...http://alternet.org/blogs/video/#56446
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #12 posted by Dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 16:07:58 PT

M Moore
coming up again, don't miss it ...if you can see it, might be on rerun late tonight ...CNN
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 15:53:45 PT

LaGuardia 
I believe that a person can be a hippy and still be very effective. It's what we say and how we act that will make a person listen or turn them off. I understand that California is a free spirited state particularly San Francisco and more power to them but it won't work in middle america I don't think.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 15:50:14 PT

Dankhank
We are watching An Inconvenient Truth now. We missed the first half an hour. I think Weeds starts next month so we will keep Showtime until Weeds is over for the third season. Thanks.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 15:27:41 PT

truth ...
on Friday twicesaturday, oncethen on 17th ...not many times, don't know why ...http://www.sho.com/site/schedules/product_page.do?seriesid=0&episodeid=129720
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #8 posted by Dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 15:22:40 PT

it's only on one time tonight?
Truth, showing now ...don't know when again, will look ...
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #7 posted by LaGuardia on July 09, 2007 at 15:20:42 PT:

I Could Not Agree More
Kaptinnemo is right. We need to broadcast the image of marijuana reform supporters as the responsible citizens that most of us are. True reform on this issue will not come until we use the news media to wins the hearts and minds of the average, non-pot-smoking American.It is unfortunate that the illegality of marijuana and the social stigma attached to its use leads to most of the responsible-looking and acting marijuana users remaining in the closet. The users like the gentleman quoted in the article have little to lose and thus publicly make a fool of themselves and of the rest of us.When I attended the 2000 NORML conference, one of the speakers compared the marijuana reform movement -- at that juncture -- to the gay rights movement in the 1960s, when gay people were attempting to portray themselves as responsible citizens rather than sexual deviants. Unfortunately, seven years later, we are still in the same phase, more or less, as we were in 2000. Fortunately, NORML and MPP have helped make strides in this area by wearing suits and behaving the way that inside-the-beltway types need to in order to influence Congress: Behaving as responsible, hard working Americans. We need to shake the media-loved image of the stoned hippy-loser -- and the media-loved image of the wasted teenager -- in favor of the image of responsible, successful adults who smoke pot without ruining their lives (unless they get arrested). The media will seize on the hippy and wasted teenager cliches whenever they can. And, for God's sake, don't protest stoned or smoke in public! Wait till later, at home. Would anyone take a drunk protester seriously? Public use and intoxication hurts the entire movement by making marijuana users seem like irresponsible deviants who need to be kept in line by the law.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 15:10:47 PT

Dankhank
I can't stand it any longer. I want to see An Inconvenient Truth too. I'm going to re-activate Showtime now.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 15:05:22 PT

sho
An Inconvenient Truthand In Pot We Trusttonight ...

[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 14:59:05 PT

dankhank
We missed it. We will watch it when it comes back on. I hope they show it again.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 09, 2007 at 14:57:22 PT

kaptinemo
I have never seen any people chanting about marijuana. The only thing I have seen after all these years doing CNews is concerned citizens wanting the laws changed. I never wanted to go to an event that celebrates marijuana because cannabis reform is only one thing that is important to me. Waiting to Inhale was a very good documentary in my opinion. Tonight we will watching Standing Silent Nation on PBS.http://www.waitingtoinhale.org/thefilm.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/standing/special.html

[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #2 posted by dankhank on July 09, 2007 at 14:53:26 PT

M Moore
He's on CNN now chewing wolf's ass ...It's a hell of a interview ...
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on July 09, 2007 at 14:25:35 PT:

Some things are just too stupid to be allowed to 
continue...and this is one of them:One memorable segment, featuring pro-legalization marchers chanting ``We smoke pot and we like it a lot,'' includes an enthusiast who loses his train of thought in mid-sentence.For one thing, it's an eminently idiotic slogan. Why? Because it works in favor of the prohibs. What do you think a few score or a hundred or even a thousand people chanting this slogan looks like to people who might otherwise be sympathetic? Childishly petulant, self-indulgent, no better than the kid who throws a tantrum in the store because Mommy won't buy him what he wants. It's the kind of stereotype that feeds prohibition, and the prohibs must smile inwardly when they hear reformers chanting it, because they then turn to to the nominally disinterested public and say, "See! We told you they were just a bunch of punks wantin' to get high!"You want a marching slogan with teeth? How about this: "People are dying while Walters is lying!" And be ready to explain how the Fed Gubmint is stonewalling research to any newsies standing by.Or: signs that say "Whatsa matta, Johnny? Don't want to debate?" showing Walters in business attire but with a bright yellow streak down his back. Explain to the newsies about how ol' Johnny bobbed and weaved his way out of his own offer to debate cannabis prohibition.Attracting the attention of newsies in this issue is easy; they always go for the most outlandishly attired person supposedly supporting reform, because that kind can usually be counted upon to say something equally outlandish. Well, I hate to say this, but it's long past time to step in front of such and redirect the conversation. Literally, if you have to, but do it. We've suffered enough media-wise from such people, and it's long past time to stop allowing the media to use such people as foils and doing the prohibs dirty work by 'representing' us. Confront the media with in-your-face stuff like I just mentioned, and we're bound to get at least some intelligent questions fielded our way.
[ Post Comment ]






  Post Comment