cannabisnews.com: No Rush To Legalize Medical Marijuana





No Rush To Legalize Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2007 at 06:33:10 PT
By Rachel Vamenta, Opinion Editor
Source: Commonwealth Times
Virginia -- The slacker protagonists of "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" fail to steal medical marijuana from a hospital. As with many other films, this one uses the drug as a punch line. However, medical marijuana isn't a joke to the people who want it legalized.This question got more attention last week when comedian and "Price Is Right" host Drew Carey appeared in a Reason. tv video advocating the reclassification of medical marijuana. (Perfect. Exactly what the world needs right now is another celebrity championing a shaky cause.)
Carey isn't the only one who's mentioned marijuana lately. In a December 2007 British GQ interview, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said marijuana is not a drug, but a plant.Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance in the U.S. According to a marijuana brochure from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, this means marijuana - at least when smoked - has no "commonly accepted medical use." The brochure was last revised in August 2007.Carey's Reason.tv video can be found on the Reason Foundation's Web site. The video's press release refers to many studies extolling the benefits of medical marijuana. However, those studies are either not specifically named, or were published almost 10 years ago.David Nott, president of the Reason Foundation, said in the press release the government is ignoring cancer, HIV and AIDS patients, and the millions of sick Americans who "deserve access to the drugs that ease their pain and suffering."If that's the case, then where are the numbers to back up such a statement? How many people actually rely on marijuana for legitimate medical purposes?Although we don't have those numbers, we know enough people voted to legalize medical marijuana in 12 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Legalizing medical marijuana doesn't seem like a big deal in Virginia, so don't expect us to join those states anytime soon.Politicians have been addressing many medical and scientific issues, such as better health insurance systems, stem cell research and stronger mental health policies. But when you get in line to vote, remember, medical marijuana won't be one of those health issues.Medical societies and associations such as the American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association do not support the legalization of medical marijuana, nor do they believe in the drug's medical value. However, an AMA statement on the Drug Enforcement Administration's Web site says marijuana should remain a prohibited, Schedule I substance, "at least until more research is done." Let's just make sure that research is well-publicized when it is published.On second thought, maybe more young Virginians would come to the polls if legalizing marijuana became a state issue.Note: Is medical marijuana a big deal?Source: Commonwealth Times (VA)Author: Rachel Vamenta, Opinion EditorPublished: Monday, November 5, 2007 Copyright: 2007 Commonwealth Times Contact: opinion commonwealthtimes.com Website: http://www.commonwealthtimes.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by potpal on November 06, 2007 at 05:25:27 PT
ot - Scotland and MS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7077992.stm Cannabis prohibition is a crime against humanity.
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Comment #9 posted by aolbites on November 05, 2007 at 12:41:57 PT
AMA Opposes the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/American_Medical_Association_Opposes_the_Marijuana_Tax_Act_of_1937-=snip=-Since the medicinal use of cannabis has not caused and is not causing addiction, the prevention of the use of the drug for medicinal purposes can accomplish no good end whatsoever. How far it may serve to deprive the public of the benefits of a drug that on further research may prove to be of substantial value, it is impossible to foresee.-=snip=-
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 05, 2007 at 10:58:03 PT
Press Release from PhysOrg.com
Marijuana-Like Brain Chemicals Work as Antidepressant November 05, 2007 http://www.physorg.com/news113492328.html
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Comment #7 posted by RevRayGreen on November 05, 2007 at 09:59:05 PT
Rachel Vamenta earned a spot
on my email chain. Congrats..........I just emailed her the below vvvvvvv pain/reducing pain/inflamation that is the idea right ?"May 31, 2007 - Richmond, VA, USARichmond, VA: THC, when administered in combination with morphine, acts synergistically to reduce symptoms of chronic pain, according to preclinical data to be published in the European Journal of Pharmacology. Investigators at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Pharmacology assessed the antinociceptive interaction between cannabinoids and morphine in an animal model of arthritis. The administration of THC enhanced morphine’s anti-inflammatory activity on chronic pain, researchers concluded.Preclinical data published last year in the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia reported that the co-administration of cannabinoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSIADS) also act synergistically to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. "
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Comment #6 posted by whig on November 05, 2007 at 09:15:59 PT
nuevo mexican
If I try to have compassion for politicians, I must know what forces them to act as they do, who controls their lives. I can feel sorrow for someone who does the weak thing because accustomed always to doing the weak thing, but redemption is available merely by growing a spine and doing the right thing. I have never seen any backbone in those two you named.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 05, 2007 at 08:30:34 PT
nuevo mexican 
You sure know how to express yourself! LOL!
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Comment #4 posted by nuevo mexican on November 05, 2007 at 08:20:21 PT
The benefit of being sick......
is the compassion it creates in that person, for the suffering of others who are in a similar condition or who have gone through situations.Obviously, this writer is digging her own grave, one where she will gladly jump in, and ask others to willingly throw the dirt over her. While we balk, and refuse, she eggs us on!Until she finds himself with cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, or pain of any sort, and she will, as her own words will make it so.And she is digging his own 'grave', figuratively speaking, unfortunately, MBC and so many more are the ones who get buried.We reap what we sow, and when we lack compassion, we guarantee that we will find it eventually, usually through extreme suffering, which is not the way I choose to experience the gaining of compassion, though daily reminders are a continuous test of this approach.Todays test:Try having compassion for Dianne Feinstein and Chuck 'WTF' Schumer, bushes latest torture cheerleaders, out of the closet, and into yours!Helping implode the what little is left of what used to be called the 'Democratic Party', Dianne and WTF Chuck have finished the job Hill and Billary have been doing for the bushies all these years!Congrats! The job is done!Code Pink greets Di-Fi at CNN, (those who can, and are able, should consider doing actions like this, whether it's focused on torture or Cannabis legalization, as Cannabis is what anyone who has been tortured would want and need at the very least, as I and others here believe Cannabis heals traumatic memories, it has been discussed here before):CODEPINK Demonstrates Waterboarding to Feinstein at CNN
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_
all&address=385x67246Dennis Kucinich live call in tonight!
http://www.dennis4president.com/go/homepage-items/
live-call%11in-monday/Great news, thanks mayan!
National Lawyers Guild Passes Impeachment Resolution
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_
all&address=389x2201269
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Comment #3 posted by thestales on November 05, 2007 at 08:15:33 PT
in the recycle
(Perfect. Exactly what the world needs right now is another celebrity championing a shaky cause.) what is this crap? By legalizing cannabis you can, help end the drug war, 
make paper instead of cutting down trees
use less fertilzer and pestides 
Save Millions in tax dollars in regards to the policing, judiciary, etc
Stop the ethnic cleansing and slavery that is the prison system
Gain millions in tax revenue
reflect heat back to the atmosphere to help cool the earth
power cars for CHEAP
Stop cartels
Stop gangs 
help eliminate the need for war
Substantially increase the health of humans the world round by using it as a more widespread food source.yeah..it's a shaky cause
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Comment #2 posted by potpal on November 05, 2007 at 08:06:26 PT
parrot head
Rachel apparently speaks for all Virginians...and the NIDA and the DEA. She must be right...far right.Bong hits for Jesus.
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Comment #1 posted by Truth on November 05, 2007 at 07:57:20 PT
Garbage
Toss this one in the trash....
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