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Proven Medical Remedy Must Be More Accessible
Posted by CN Staff on February 20, 2010 at 04:51:12 PT
Editorial
Source: Star-Bulletin
Hawaii -- The first U.S. clinical trials in more than two decades on the medical effectiveness of marijuana have determined it is capable of reducing muscle spasms and pain. The conclusion should lead to changes making it available to patients in Hawaii so they will not have to buy marijuana on the black market.The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, funded with nearly $9 million by the state of California for the past 10 years, confirmed that marijuana is effective in reducing muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and pain caused by certain neurological injuries or illnesses.
Volunteers were randomly given marijuana and placebos in some of the studies to determine actual relief. In one study, rats that were given vaporized cannabis exhibited reduced activity of nerve cells, indicating it could be helpful in treating migraine headaches and facial pain.California and Hawaii are among 14 states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. More than 5,700 patients in Hawaii have registered with the state to use medical marijuana. However, while California has been trying to cope with nearly 1,000 medical marijuana dispensaries, creating what some have called a carnival atmosphere, Hawaii has none.The George W. Bush administration won a court battle upholding a federal law classifying marijuana as an illicit drug with no medical use, allowing prosecution of people for using pot for medical purposes. The Obama administration has chosen not to pursue such prosecutions.Gov. Linda Lingle has insisted on adhering to the federal law. She vetoed a bill last year that would have created a task force to find a way for patients to obtain marijuana legally. When the Legislature overrode her veto, she chose not to create the task force. Instead, Sen. Will Espero, who sponsored the task force bill, asked representatives of nongovernmental groups included in the bill to do the work as the Medical Cannabis Working Group.The group issued a report this month proposing creation of a marijuana distribution system for patients, increases in the maximum number of plants and marijuana amounts a patient may possess, allowing doctors to care for at least five patients to assure them adequate supplies and transferring the program from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health.The working group also recommends that the Legislature ensure patient confidentiality -- state officials released patients' names and addresses to a Hilo newspaper in 2008 -- and "presumptive eligibility ... so that a patient with completed paperwork is assumed to be certified pending determination" by the state agency.Legislators have strongly supported the state's medical marijuana law. The working group notes that Lingle's veto of the task force legislation was overridden unanimously by the Senate and by a 38-9 vote in the House. A bill to create a distribution system should be enacted with the expectation that a veto will fail again and the next governor will implement the new law. The first U.S. clinical trials in more than two decades on the medical effectiveness of marijuana have determined it is capable of reducing muscle spasms and pain. The conclusion should lead to changes making it available to patients in Hawaii so they will not have to buy marijuana on the black market.The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, funded with nearly $9 million by the state of California for the past 10 years, confirmed that marijuana is effective in reducing muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and pain caused by certain neurological injuries or illnesses.Volunteers were randomly given marijuana and placebos in some of the studies to determine actual relief. In one study, rats that were given vaporized cannabis exhibited reduced activity of nerve cells, indicating it could be helpful in treating migraine headaches and facial pain.California and Hawaii are among 14 states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. More than 5,700 patients in Hawaii have registered with the state to use medical marijuana. However, while California has been trying to cope with nearly 1,000 medical marijuana dispensaries, creating what some have called a carnival atmosphere, Hawaii has none.The George W. Bush administration won a court battle upholding a federal law classifying marijuana as an illicit drug with no medical use, allowing prosecution of people for using pot for medical purposes. The Obama administration has chosen not to pursue such prosecutions.Gov. Linda Lingle has insisted on adhering to the federal law. She vetoed a bill last year that would have created a task force to find a way for patients to obtain marijuana legally. When the Legislature overrode her veto, she chose not to create the task force. Instead, Sen. Will Espero, who sponsored the task force bill, asked representatives of nongovernmental groups included in the bill to do the work as the Medical Cannabis Working Group.The group issued a report this month proposing creation of a marijuana distribution system for patients, increases in the maximum number of plants and marijuana amounts a patient may possess, allowing doctors to care for at least five patients to assure them adequate supplies and transferring the program from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health.The working group also recommends that the Legislature ensure patient confidentiality -- state officials released patients' names and addresses to a Hilo newspaper in 2008 -- and "presumptive eligibility ... so that a patient with completed paperwork is assumed to be certified pending determination" by the state agency.Legislators have strongly supported the state's medical marijuana law. The working group notes that Lingle's veto of the task force legislation was overridden unanimously by the Senate and by a 38-9 vote in the House. A bill to create a distribution system should be enacted with the expectation that a veto will fail again and the next governor will implement the new law.Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)Published: February 20, 2010Copyright: 2010 Honolulu Star-BulletinContact: letters starbulletin.comWebsite: http://www.starbulletin.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/hVJgapjmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by ekim on February 21, 2010 at 17:42:06 PT
more info on owpds
Operating with the Presence of Drugs (OWPD) (Medical Marijuana THC) A New Crime under Michigan’s Drunk Driving Lawshttp://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/16436
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on February 20, 2010 at 15:36:19 PT
On a Lighter Olympic Note
I am so proud and happy that the snowboarders did such a great job and in my opinion outshined any skiing event.
***Excerpt: Snowboarding and snowboarders have had a tenuous relationship with the Games and the omnipresent media ever since its 1998 Olympic debut in Nagano. Minutes after snowboarding’s first gold medal was awarded to Canadian Ross Rebagliati, the IOC marked the milestone by rushing through the door and stripping it away.Rebagliati tested positive for marijuana. Whoops.Back then, snowboarders had enemies, too. None bigger than the skiing community, who cited Rebagliati's bad PR as more proof that snowboarders -- the young, unruly and unwashed tribe of rebellious little fringe dwellers -- remained a threat to their very way of life. The battle between mountain tribes was already fracturing the cultural fabric of families, businesses and even entire towns at the time.http://www.grindtv.com/snow/blog/13149/for+snowboarders+brighter+lights+bring+bigger+problems
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 20, 2010 at 15:25:55 PT
Drug Testing
Drug testing is not helpful. It puts fear into people and in a free country I thought we weren't suppose to be afraid. Is liberty just a nice word to throw around to get some people to cheer?
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on February 20, 2010 at 14:11:37 PT
Hope,
about that link in #4...A while back there were several locations and maybe more where they made laws that said if someone had any THC in their system at all then they were legally in the wrong, regardless of if it was from a month ago.That's just plain wrong. It's a bad joke people in power have made to happen that are the worst kind of people.By reading the comments in that link, I feel like there are people thinking about ways to fix that stupid discriminating law. One way is taking it to the election ballot. Michigan got great support to protect sick people using cannabis and I think they would support changing that stupid ignoid law.It's very sad that mean ignoids feel a need to attack sick humans like that.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on February 20, 2010 at 13:18:16 PT
Oh my gosh! Comment 4
So, basically, if you're a registered medical marijuana patient in Michigan, you lose your license to drive. Completely.They know who you are. They'll be watching you. If you make a mistake, an infraction of any kind... you lose your license.That's pretty harsh.
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on February 20, 2010 at 13:11:13 PT
Ekim
Comment 1That Clinic. It seems perfect. Run by a dedicated doctor that believes in what he is doing. They charge a flat fee and if you are turned down for one reason or another the fee is waived.I wish Dr. and Annette Crocker the very best of success.It seems like a very good idea and I hope "The powers that be" allow them to prosper and do well.
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Comment #4 posted by ekim on February 20, 2010 at 10:54:09 PT
what are other MMJ States doing about this
http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/16365"If you have THC in your system, no matter how much, it's illegal. Medical marijuana users are going to feel the pinch between do I have the right to use it if it's been prescribed to me and can I drive?" Said Jim Soderberg, prosecutor.
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on February 20, 2010 at 08:00:44 PT
I met an old man in prison.
he said, I know society considers me to be the scum of the earth, 'something I know. Something else I know!I said, what?People who make a living off of me are bottom feeders!
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on February 20, 2010 at 07:54:58 PT
How many people in the criminal industry...
does it take to process eight hundred plus thousand pot bust per year?Federal, State, County and City? Then add the extra expense of having to hire five bureaucrats to do the job of one.Stack all the unseen expenses on top of that, whoa!When we end this fascist fiasco, the unemployment lines will grow like weeds!Green industries will flourish!All I gotta do now,...say that can be easily done, jes' put some bleachers out in the sun...out on highway 61...their game is imploding!
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on February 20, 2010 at 07:22:13 PT
last year 1000 arrests in Kal for Cannabis use
Kalamazoo's first medical marijuana clinic has busy first week 9:30 AM In its first week of operation, business as been potent at Michigan Holistic Health. http://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo/
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