cannabisnews.com: Easing Their Pain 





Easing Their Pain 
Posted by CN Staff on November 23, 2002 at 09:53:37 PT
Editorial
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
Usually, when science and technology move ahead of culture and wisdom, the general belief is that it is science that is moving too quickly, not culture that is moving too slowly. In areas from nuclear power to genetic engineering, the often justified fear is that we have let the genie out of the bottle -- or Godzilla out of the deep -- and don't know how to control it.   But when it comes to the science and the culture of medicine, it seems clear that our feelings have been far too slow to catch up with our technology. 
 Last Acts, a national organization that works to improve medical treatment for people with terminal illness, released a report this week that gives Utah some poor grades for its willingness to use the available means to treat severe pain and other maladies that come at the end of life.   Not that the rest of the country did much better. Last Acts noted that a woefully small number of the people who could benefit from the services of a hospice -- a provider of services to the terminally ill -- don't receive them, and those who wish to die comfortably at home instead pass their final hours in an expensive hospital. And this happens even to people whose insurance or Medicare would have paid for such services if only the correct paperwork had been filed.   Too many dying people suffer from pain that could be treated with a new generation of medications. Even though the number of specialists in pain management has grown, and even though they have developed ways of easing intractable pain without making patients dopey, depressed or addicted, many doctors are afraid to use such drugs and many patients or their families are afraid to ask for them.   The cloud hanging over all good means of easing people's pain is the misbegotten War on Drugs, a law enforcement juggernaut that has put fear of chemicals ahead of basic human compassion. It is not necessary to embrace such controversial proposals as medical marijuana to see that the threat of being second-guessed by the FBI is going to put a chill into any doctor, hospital or insurance carrier who might otherwise put the needs of patients first.   Doctors who don't specialize in pain management or end-of-life care can be too easily frightened by one of those letters from state or federal agencies, the ones that take official note of the number of painkillers a doctor prescribes and suggest that it may be too many.   It's not science that is lacking. It's wisdom.   The purpose of medicine is to ease the inevitable pain of life. Whatever gets in the way of that, whether ignorance of available techniques or fear of overzealous law enforcement, is not the kind of medicine that should be practiced in a civilized society.  Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)Published:  November 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Salt Lake TribuneContact: letters sltrib.comWebsite: http://www.sltrib.com/ Related Articles:Home Remedy Offers Pain Reliefhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14805.shtmlMessage From The Judge -- Is Ashcroft Listening?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14798.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by afterburner on November 23, 2002 at 22:16:25 PT:
FoM - Here Are Some Text/Information Links
on Crimes of Compassion. It originally aired in February 2001 when Alan Rock was still Health Minister. Now Anne McLellan has assumed the position and has been backtracking on Flin Flon Pot, medical marijuana, etc. Two steps forward, one step back. Maybe Canada is dancing the waltz.www.globaltvmedia.com/releases/crimes_of_passion.txtthe may street group inc. :: film, video & animation
http://www.maystreet.ca/past_projects.htmSearch Engine for NewReleases Health
http://www.kineticvideo.com/searchednew.asp?price_code=canada&subject=newheaAN OPEN LETTER TO CANADIAN HEALTH MINISTER ALLAN ROCK.
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v99/n1080/a01.htmlCanadian Medical Association - Marijuana
http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/cmajulyltr.htmlCANADIAN HEALTH MINISTER SHELVES MEDICINAL POT
http://drugandhealthinfo.org/updates/ottawa%20shelves_3d.htmWe'll have to wait to see what the courts and Parliament have to say to resolve the supply problems in Canada.ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. If anyone finds a working video link, let's us know. I'd like to see it again myself.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on November 23, 2002 at 19:44:21 PT
Thanks DdC
I looked on the satellite and we get Canadian TV but it is called News World International. I looked and didn't see that it was scheduled. I am not sure why I have had so much trouble with Real Video. If I knew why it made my computer go bonkers and could fix it I sure would. Having a high speed connection and missing everything that needs real video is a bummer. I like Media Player but it doesn't seem to get as much of what I would like to see as Real Video.
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Comment #15 posted by DdC on November 23, 2002 at 19:04:37 PT
Northern Exposure Extra is on...
Northern ExposureLooks like an entertainment show on the nightlife of Vancouver. ???DdC
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Comment #14 posted by DdC on November 23, 2002 at 18:55:10 PT
Global TV Looks like its part of Canada.Com
I pulled up a javascript channel and I have problems with it but maybe its airing on the net if you can't reach the cable TV.
DdCCanada.Com
http://www.canada.comGlobal TV National
http://www.canada.com/national/globalsunday/GLOBAL'S GOT IT
Crimes of Compassion/ Changing attitudes about the medical use of marijuana.  (Saturday   7:00 pm)Whats on Global TV
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/globaltv/tvlistings.aspSaturday, November 23, 2002
6:00 PM
News Hour (starts at 6:00 PM)   7:00 PM
Crimes of Compassion  Changing attitudes about the medical use of marijuana. 
javascript: ProgDetail('detail.asp?programid=SH4919840000','tvlistings','scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,width=510,height=400');8:00 PM
Without Warning   9:00 PM
Mutant X  The team tries to recover a secret government weapon after a military plane is shot down behind enemy lines. 10:00 PM
Andromeda  Tyr encounters a long-lost love and the man who had hired him to kill her. 11:00 PM
News Hour Final With Jill Krop   11:35 PM
Saturday Night Live  Kirsten Dunst; musical guest Eminem. 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 23, 2002 at 17:50:32 PT
afterburner
Thank you. It sounds like it was good.
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Comment #12 posted by afterburner on November 23, 2002 at 17:16:32 PT:
FoM - There's NO Link Yet.
The program just aired on broadcast and cable. Unfortunately it is now over. Since Marc Emery is in it, it MAY be on Pot-TV in the future. No guarantee. It was good balanced coverage with quite a bit of time devoted to patients talking about how medical marijuana helps their conditions and how difficult it is to get a safe and reliable supply when they are unable to grow it themselves. The credits mention various producers, Canadian governments, Canada Film Board and of course, Global TV. Copyright 2001. I will videotape it if it shows again. It needs to be seen on your side of the medicine line. ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. If we have to endure visits from the U.S. drug czar, you deserve to hear Canadians speaking their minds about medical cannabis. God bless.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 23, 2002 at 16:55:18 PT
afterburner
I looked but can't find the program. Can you post a link? That would help. I hope it uses media player since that is all that works for my computer. Thanks.
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Comment #10 posted by afterburner on November 23, 2002 at 16:44:18 PT:
 Canadian Compassion Is on the Air!
Global Tv is airing a program right now "Crimes of Compassion" : Changing attitudes about the medical use of marijuana. Speaking Marc Emery, BC Compassion Clubs, medical marijuana patients, law enforcement, and Canadian government officials, like Alan Rock. Look for it on Pot-TV??
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Comment #9 posted by DdC on November 23, 2002 at 15:05:40 PT
Thats what I like about you FoM... You Get It! ¶8)
Thats a nice thing to do for someone. I've had two main patients the past 10 years and was lucky enough to be able to conduct the estate sales of both with the permission of the families, to get the necessities to the people needing them over profits. Be it food, appliances or medical supplies. All done in the name of the patient. Many people who can't afford the nonprofit trinket shop prices were able to receive furnature or household items for free or practically nothing. Taking care of ourselves and our community in the truest sense. Ganja Dispenseries or recycling to the needy. What better way to make a living, I'd be stumpt to find. I'm thankful the Universe got me into this when I came to Cali. And I'm thankful so many are awakening to the fact that those who built this country and fought wars and got sick also deserve good care at a fair price if loved ones like you and Stick can't be around. Using Ganjameds to ease the cost and side effects of drugs is just plain old American ingenuity. Too bad America is on its D.E.A.th bed and incoherent most of the time. Hallucinating on Pharmaceutical lobbiest instead of doing no harm. But then with good people speaking out I believe its only a matter of time. Be well... DdC
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 23, 2002 at 13:52:59 PT
DdC
We're doing OK. We have been just talking and doing a few things that were necessary but that's all. We have a good friend who has young growing boys and he doesn't have much money to feed them so we are gathering the food up and giving it to him. Stick is taking a nap and I'm making a good dinner for us. We will be gone on Monday until early afternoon for the funeral so I doubt I will get any news posted and this is a good time to mention it. It will only be Stick and me. No visitation or service. I have the essential oil of lavender in the house and that is very soothing. Trying to avoid anything on tv that isn't light hearted too. One day at a time. Thank you for asking. 
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Comment #7 posted by DdC on November 23, 2002 at 13:40:53 PT
We've been advocating a recycling of Pharm meds...
I suppose their is potential for problems with anything. But the thousands of Neurological and pain relief meds that I've flushed after the patient passes will cost someone else. Such a waste... How ya doing FoM?DdC
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 23, 2002 at 13:14:05 PT
floyd
That is exactly how I took the article. Yesterday it was required that all the medicine was flushed before the hospice nurse left. Morphine and Oxycontin etc. We didn't mind but even at the end the drug war matters. That is sad.
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Comment #5 posted by DdC on November 23, 2002 at 13:11:42 PT
Jeckal and Hyde Republickrats for D.E.A.th
Hyde and Asa searching for Penis tracks and pisstaste.Peace, Love and Liberty or the Dying D.E.A.th Mongers .. DdCDr. Nickles and Mr. Hyde Feel Your Pain
http://www.infidels.org/secular_web/feature/1999/pain.htmlPalliative Care Doctors Cautious about Marijuana
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/14/thread14533.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by floyd on November 23, 2002 at 13:01:49 PT:
I dont know....
I dont know.......i think they made a pretty obvious point. If anything I would see them as more open-minded by not focusing on marijuana as the only problem, but prohibition of medicine in general.        
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Comment #3 posted by firedog on November 23, 2002 at 12:04:59 PT
What's their point?
It seems like they want to support medical marijuana without actually saying so. Maybe they support it at the subconscious level and they just don't realize it yet.They present a lot of the arguments in favor of MMJ, and no arguments against it, but then they throw in the words "It is not necessary to embrace such controversial proposals as medical marijuana to see...", as though they just can't quite bring themselves to say it out loud.It could be that they don't want to push things too much in conservative Utah. Still, it's a pretty convoluted piece of writing and it's hard to see exactly what they are proposing as a course of action.
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Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on November 23, 2002 at 11:29:15 PT
Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board
A group of individuals obviously suffering from schizophrenia. A good dollop of blood-letting should cure their ills. There is wisdom in that, too.They are a bit too meddlesome, also.A free trip to Auschwitz is in store for them.
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Comment #1 posted by p4me on November 23, 2002 at 11:12:51 PT
Alexa Cannabisnews rating
Eight days ago on November 15th, Cnews was rated 57,468. A few minutes ago it was 53,951. I think it important that these authors that write in support of murder, tyranny, and prohibition know of Cnews and have a chance to read how stupid we think their propaganda really is. In this guys case, he may want to read comments on his work that I am sure will be highly favorable to his opinion/words. If you have time, please send a few LTE's all along.On 9/11 it was 72,394On 10/3 it was 71,262On 10/10 it was 67,521On 10/24 it was 64,596On Nov 6 it was 58,159
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