cannabisnews.com: Government Claims About Marijuana Are a Lie
Government Claims About Marijuana Are a Lie
Posted by CN Staff on May 14, 2005 at 08:12:24 PT
By Bob Newland
Source: Rapid City Journal
Hermosa, South Dakota -- "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." That statement by the late Hunter Thompson could well have been referring to something that happened after his death. In April Canada OK'd prescription distribution of cannabis.Little has been weirder in U.S. public policy than its political proclamation that "marijuana" (a political word for the plant, "cannabis") has "no medical use," in the face of dozens of medical studies, several publicly-funded, that reached contrary conclusions.
Cannabis experts have long thought that one of the reasons for governmental intransigence about cannabis has been the pressure from pharmaceutical companies, because they couldn't patent and profit from a God-given herb. The development and distribution of "Sativex" supports this suspicion.British drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals developed the whole plant extract and, through Canadian partner Bayer Healthcare, will promote Sativex "for the symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis" (although prescription application is not limited to treatment of MS). In a further weird twist, GW and Bayer have retained Dr. Andrea Barthwell as a lobbyist to grease the skids for FDA approval in the United States.Barthwell was until recently an attack thug for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who said of cannabis last fall: "It is not a medicine. You don't know what's in it. If there were compelling scientific and medical data supporting marijuana's medical benefits that would be one thing. But the data is not there."Sativex is a tincture - essentially the whole cannabis plant reduced to a concentrated stew, containing all its cannabinoids and other synergistic compounds. This is the same plant Barthwell demonized until she saw she could make more money promoting it. It will be sold in a spray bottle, to be misted under the tongue for quick absorption into the bloodstream.Is the argument now over? Have we won? Unfortunately, no, for several reasons.First, in order to gain FDA approval for Sativex in the United States, we need regime change. Congress and the Bush administration will not say, "We were wrong." They will continue for years to search for validation for 75 years of cruel denial of cannabis's medical benefits.Once FDA testing is under way, it will still be several years before the possibility of approval for preliminary prescription trials. Until then, people in agony south of the Canadian border will still have the choices they have now: suffer or become criminals to obtain cannabis on the street.There is no need for this delay. We have begun circulation of the petition to initiate changes in South Dakota law, which will remove the state's barriers to cannabis therapy for those who need it most. When we have obtained the signatures of 17,000 South Dakota voters, the initiative will be certified to appear on the ballot in November of next year as "The South Dakota Safe Access to Medical Marijuana Act of 2006."There isn't an eighth-grader in the nation who isn't at least somewhat aware of the therapeutic qualities of cannabis. Yet, every day kids go to schools that dare not teach them either of the history of cannabis in this nation or of the nutritional benefits of hemp seed and hemp seed oil, let alone the tens of thousands of uses for the hemp plant in every area of our lives. A school whose teachers are forced politically to avoid any discussion of therapeutic use, and, in fact, are forced to state to young people who know they are lying that "Marijuana has no medical use."The Medical Marijuana March this afternoon will be comprised largely of student-aged people. Why? Because most of the folks who bother to read editorials in Saturday's paper don't give much thought to the fact that we systematically lie to our children about the reasons we put people in jail. I suppose that's a realistic lesson to teach children, but I doubt its moral defensibility.You're invited to join us. We welcome your participation. Our petition will be there for you to sign.For those who maintain that we are cynically piggybacking marijuana legalization on the backs of sick people, I'd invite them to spend a day in the pain that many people who could benefit from cannabis therapy suffer, then ask me why I want the law changed.The Medical Marijuana March gathers at 3:30 p.m. at the bandshell at Memorial Park, with the march beginning at 4:20.Those who show up will be there to make one statement only: The therapeutic qualities of cannabis are undeniable; it is immoral to deny a medicine, easily available and safer than aspirin, to those who need it.Note: Bob Newland publishes http://www.hemphasis.net/ magazine from his home near Hermosa. For more information: http://www.SoDakSafeAccess.org/Complete Title: Forum, 5-14: Government Claims About Marijuana Are a LieNewshawk: MayanSource: Rapid City Journal (SD)Author: Bob NewlandPublished: Saturday May 14, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Rapid City Journal Contact: dan.daly rapidcityjournal.comWebsite: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on May 20, 2005 at 21:42:09 PT
News Article from The Rapid City Journal
Hemp Advocate to Bike Across South DakotaSaturday May 21, 2005 Hermosa, South Dakota -- A Hermosa man will bicycle across South Dakota to draw attention to what he says is the need for the legalization of medical marijuana.Bob Newland, 56, Hemphasis magazine publisher, plans to launch his two-week journey to Sioux Falls on June 5. He will log about 500 miles in the interim before returning to Rapid City.While cycling across South Dakota, Newland plans to circulate a petition for Safe Access Act of 2006, which would allow physicians to prescribe cannabis as part of a course of therapy and allow patients to possess and use cannabis to alleviate certain medical conditions. Newland invites others to join the tour.Copyright: 2005 Rapid City Journalhttp://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/05/21/news/local/news09.txt
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Comment #26 posted by Jose Melendez on May 16, 2005 at 18:16:47 PT
Compare and Contrast
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/16/MN157432.DTL " . . . the
marijuana that we provide and produce is almost entirely free of stems and
seeds." - (Steve Gust)The institute ships the majority of its marijuana cigarettes to a dozen
research programs throughout the nation that service several hundred people.
The agency also directly ships cigarettes to seven patients who are part of an
old investigative program that was created in the 1970s for research.
Musikka, a Sacramento woman who has had glaucoma since 1975, is one of the
seven study participants who receive the shipments from the institute. She
said that since her participation in the study began in 1988, the quality of
the marijuana has gone from awful to tolerable but that she still can't smoke
the cigarettes without cleaning them up first.
"They always have to be rerolled," said Musikka, who is blind in one eye.
"I don't like their papers, and all the seeds and stems have to come out. It
takes me all day to just clean everything and get it so that I can reroll it."Compare to: http://www.cannabis.net/articles/badpot.html The National Institute on Drug Abuse, which grows the marijuana plants that are pre-rolled, frozen and sent out to officially sanctioned researchers across the country, denies its research product is substandard."The marijuana we provide _does not_ (emphasis added) contain sticks and seeds. The problem is re-humidifying - it makes it kind of harsh," said Steve Gust, special assistant to the director of NIDA. "Certain procedures are needed to make it smoke right."Gust said researchers themselves aren't complaining about quality. He thinks groups like NORML are looking for something to blame if the results of the studies show it has little medicinal value. "Then they can say the marijuana isn't of sufficient quality," Gust said.
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on May 16, 2005 at 15:53:24 PT
News Article From The SFC from 2002
Jon CarrollMonday, May 16, 2005Saints preserve me, I never thought I'd live long enough to hear the special assistant to the director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse say, somewhat defensively, "Like any mass processing, it's not a perfect process. But the marijuana we provide and produce is almost entirely free of seeds and stems." Government Sez: We've Got Righteous Weed. The remarks by Steve Gust were in response to a complaint by users of government-produced medical marijuana (that would be the good kind of marijuana, the medical kind, rather than the felonious marijuana that leads to heroin, insanity and bank robberies) that the product they were receiving was "Mississippi ditch weed." In my day it was called "Midwestern median strip weed," since less potent forms of marijuana often grew along our nation's highways -- the hemp plant being, among other things, a hearty and adaptable weed -- but I am glad to hear the government defending its own doobies. It's also interesting that the phrase "seeds and stems" has entered the general vocabulary. Maybe it will become corporate jargon next -- "Carstairs, this report is nothing more than seeds and stems." Snipped:Complete Article: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/05/16/DDGM7C7T1F1.DTL
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on May 15, 2005 at 19:21:35 PT
News Brief from The Associated Press
Students File Petition to Legalize Medicinal Use of MarijuanaMay 15, 2005 IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- A University of Iowa student wants the city to approve the medicinal use of marijuana.George Pappas, co-founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, submitted a petition with more than 2,800 signatures to the city clerk's office Friday. At least 2,500 signatures were needed for the petition to be official.Officials with the clerk's office said the city has 20 days to certify the petition. Once that happens, the City Council must either adopt the proposal or place it on the ballot for a public vote, officials said.
The initiative of the petition is to ensure that "patients, for whom marijuana has been recommended by a physician, suffer no punishment or penalty for obtaining, possessing and or using medicinal marijuana ... "http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2005/05/15/news/iowa/51108e9fd61085db86257002000bd62f.txt
Medical Marijuana Information
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Comment #23 posted by AOLBites on May 15, 2005 at 17:21:21 PT
Bush Dart Boards
altho i just use pages ripped out of magazines [that mistakenly thought i wanted to see every pore on a bush]http://store.dartboard411.net/002.htmlhttp://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1469&item=5580519577&rd=1
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Comment #22 posted by Jose Melendez on May 15, 2005 at 11:10:27 PT
Today's Finger Pointer: Don't have a cow, Wendy.
Can we start arresting Partnership for a Drug Free America proponents now?Synthetic antidepressants linked to diabetes:http://www.medpagetoday.com/tbindex.cfm?tbid=1019
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on May 15, 2005 at 08:35:11 PT
Press Release About Marinol
Since Marinol works and is so expensive then they need to reschedule the Cannabis plant so people won't have to pay all that money to buy Marinol. Natural substances versus synthetic will always be superior in my opinion.***Synthetic Cannabinoid May Also Provide Additional Benefit for Prevention of Acute CINV When Added to a Standard Antiemetic RegimenMay 15, 2005http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-15-2005/0003622490&EDATE=
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on May 15, 2005 at 07:43:45 PT
Related Article from KOTA-TV
Marijuana March for MedicineMay 14, 2005Bill SuttonToday about a hundred people marched around Memorial Park shouting slogans urging lawmakers to let “doctors and patients decide” what type of treatment is best – even if that treatment includes using marijuana.South Dakotans for Safe Access hosted today's march to raise awareness about the medicinal benefits of using marijuana.The group is also circulating a petition that would give people a chance to vote on the issue during the 2006 general election.“It is simply insane to bar sick, disabled, and dieing people access to a medicine that is safer than aspirin,” says director of South Dakotans for Safe Access Bob Newland.Newland also says he doesn't expect it to be a problem to collect the more than 16,000 signatures needed for the petition.http://www.kotatv.com/localnews/story.asp?ID=21011
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Comment #19 posted by John Tyler on May 15, 2005 at 06:50:03 PT
It's the money
The Barthwell change in attitude shows that for most of the Prohibitionist it is just about the money.
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Comment #18 posted by Dankhank on May 14, 2005 at 20:47:35 PT
Browsers ...
Trying a new one called "Off By One" ...Caused me to tweak my own site a bit to show graphics better ... and does interesting things to CN homepage.http://www.offbyone.com/anyone who has had Firefox for a while should try this one ...still testing it myself ...ABM ... anything but Microsoft
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on May 14, 2005 at 20:34:53 PT
Cannabis advisers don’t want rethink
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1612957,00.html
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Comment #16 posted by TroutMask on May 14, 2005 at 20:28:10 PT
Internet Explorer = BAD
I must chime in as a web developer. The worst possible browser for personal security is Internet Explorer. Practically any alternative is safer.-TM
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Comment #15 posted by BGreen on May 14, 2005 at 19:35:39 PT
You're Welcome, Hope
My opinion was that there was nothing to lose and a bunch to gain safety wise by switching.Mozilla is open source software which means that anybody can examine the programming and improve upon it or make sure nothing sneaky is going on.They also offer a $500 reward for any security flaw somebody finds (which is something microsoft never did) so that encourages people to preemptively stop problems instead of just fixing the mess after the fact.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on May 14, 2005 at 19:19:15 PT
Thank you, BGreen
This is so impressively the same, only better! I was afraid to try it because I thought it would be so different. It's not, and it actually seems quicker! Thank you.
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Comment #13 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2005 at 18:58:39 PT
Cannada offers help.
Cannadians of Our culture give warning and assistance.North American lockdown by Darren McCloud (12 May, 2005) Government spies, fences and vigilantes on their wayhttp://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4346.htmlw/contacts at bottom.(America will need help from other countries, but not the same kind of help America offers Iraq.)
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Comment #12 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2005 at 18:51:06 PT
One thing Urantia needs is Bush dart boards.
Is it legal to even talk about such an adventure?Can I say, Bush dart board?You know, a dart board on one side with the (I hate to call Him President, so I won't) sheethead's picturte (they could fix the hair).I know it would sure help Me feel better and throw straighter. It would do it straight, You know.I know I'm not supposed to say, sheet____, but He is.FoM, I apologise if I said anything illegal. You'd think there were companies already making these dart boards and they are on back order.These things would sell like hotcakes around the world.... with free darts.(When it wears out, I'd buy another one for the whole family)- NOW BACK TO THE NEWS
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Comment #11 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2005 at 18:31:37 PT
We're not alone.
"Government Claims About Marijuana Are a Lie" (GLOBALY).(Everywhere, there is government, there is government telling this lie.)!)!)! (Can, for the sake of the spirit of truth, they be taken out of the picture?)Taiwanese tradition of pot and pregnancy by Reverend Damuzi (09 May, 2005) Cannabis versus Thalidomidehttp://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4341.html(Here, the ignoids schtik it to cannabists, women, Asians and the poor all at once and they consider it multitasking.)(The US policy to rebel the truth, harms planet earth.)(To by decree, rebel love.)(Rebel Our Father's love and truth.)
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 14, 2005 at 17:30:39 PT
NPR: Legal Affairs
Cartels Use Sequoia National Forest to Grow Pot All Things Considered, May 14, 2005 · Mexican and South American cartels are growing tons of marijuana inside U.S. borders, much of it within Sequoia National Forest. The huge backwoods plots pose a growing danger to hikers and fishermen and are creating environmental havoc in the park. Adam Burke reports.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4652462
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Comment #9 posted by BGreen on May 14, 2005 at 17:21:23 PT
Hope
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20641.shtml#5 is where it started.I'll be around tonight if you have any questions.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on May 14, 2005 at 15:37:01 PT
re:7
I've got Firefox loading, but I want my husband to read that thread.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on May 14, 2005 at 15:19:26 PT
OT...Can someone tell me
the thread where BGreen tells us about and how to switch to Firefox?I'm ready to do it!
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Comment #6 posted by cloud7 on May 14, 2005 at 15:03:03 PT
"Government Claims About Marijuana Are a Lie"
Don't miss another in depth expose this Sunday from the Rapid City Journal, "The Sky is Blue"Just kidding, good article.
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Comment #5 posted by observer on May 14, 2005 at 14:30:28 PT
revolving door
In a further weird twist, GW and Bayer have retained Dr. Andrea Barthwell as a lobbyist to grease the skids for FDA approval in the United States.That's an example of Washington DC's 'revolving door.'
pot news bot - see the new mj legalization section
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Comment #4 posted by siege on May 14, 2005 at 11:33:08 PT
REALITY
Barthwell REALITY she just woke up to the fact: she's still a marijuana whore from her college Day's, and can make money from Gods plant and it's benefits.
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Comment #3 posted by Jose Melendez on May 14, 2005 at 10:20:57 PT
Prohibition fine, for prohibitionists.
from: google's cache of http://www.defenselink.mil/dodgc/defense_ethics/ethics_issues/refguide_postgovDONapr00.docProhibition on participating in Government matters involving a prospective
employer 1.
Criminal prohibition. Before an employee begins "negotiating"
or "seeking employment" with a private concern, the employee
is required to disqualify himself from taking any governmental action
which could impact the prospective employer. A criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 208, prohibits Federal employees from participating "personally
and substantially" in any particular Government matter in which
any private entity, with which an employee is negotiating or has an
arrangement for future employment, has a financial interest. The
maximum penalty for a violation of this statute is a fine of $50,000
and imprisonment for 5 years.1
a. These restrictions apply to those matters in which an employee
participates "personally and substantially" through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation,
or otherwise. The circumstances of participation might have been
a judicial or administrative proceeding, an application, request for
a ruling, or other determination, contract, claim, controversy, charge,
accusation, arrest, or any other "particular matter."
To participate "personally" means to do so directly and includes
the participation of a subordinate when actually directed by a senior
in the matter. "Substantially" means that an employee's involvement was of significance to the matter.
(1) Example. While performing quality assurance inspections of
products produced by Company X, an employee violates the law when he
negotiates for prospective employment with Company X. A violation
occurs even if the employee recommended the Government not accept any
products from Company X during the period the employee was engaged in
employment negotiations with this company.(snipped)
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2005 at 09:05:41 PT
A Bulls-eye & a Barthwell.
"marijuana" (a political word for the plant, "cannabis") & Barthwell?GW and Bayer have retained Dr. Andrea Barthwell as a lobbyist to grease the skids for FDA approval in the United States."""Barthwell was until recently an attack thug for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who said of cannabis last fall: "It is not a medicine."""(I have heard of carpenter whores; what kind of whore is this?)This is the same plant Barthwell demonized until she saw she could make more money promoting it.(How do You afford Your Rock N Roll life style?)
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on May 14, 2005 at 08:50:30 PT
book a Leap speaker near you
May 18 05 Rotary Club of Annandale 12:00 PM Eric Sterling Annandale Maryland USA
Members of the Rotary Club of Annandale welcome Eric Sterling to speak to their group. Eric will present "Does the Drug War Hurt the Local Economy?" This discussion will cover the economic ramifications of the drug war and the relationship of drug prohibition, crime and the economy. Eric will also present "The Business Person's Guide to the Drug Problem". For a detailed biography of Eric's unequalled experiences in drug prohibition issues, visit http://www.leap.cc/speakers/sterling.htm May 19 05 Philadelphia Rotary Club 12:00 PM Peter Christ Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
Members of the Philadelphia Rotary Club welcome Board Member Peter Christ during his eastern Pennsylvania tour for discussion of drug prohibition related issues such as the effects on minority populations, mandatory minimums and other issues affecting the north eastern region of the country. May 19 05 Steel City Kawanis 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Pueblo Colorado USA
Board Member Howard Wooldridge and his horse Misty stop for lunch and discussion of issues related to the failure of the war on drugs. Topics are sure to include the continued waste of tax payer money, the drug warrior ideology and specific issues related to the Rocky Mountain region of the country. Follow Howard and Misty's cross country trip at http://www.leap.cc/howard May 19 05 1580AM WVKO "Front Street" Radio 05:00 PM Jerry Cameron Columbus Ohio USA
Speaker Jerry Cameron will be an in studio guest on "Front Street", a call in radio show on station 1580AM WVKO. Jerry will be discussing issues related to America's failed war on drugs. The show is hosted by Charles Traylor and Wendi Huntley. Given that the show takes live calls from listeners and does not screen those calls, this is sure to be a very lively and informative interview. May 20 05 Libertarian Party Of Ohio 2005 Convention 09:00 AM Jerry Cameron Columbus Ohio USA
Speaker Jerry Cameron will represent LEAP at the Libertarian Party Of Ohio's 2005 Convention. Location: Ohio State University Campus. May 21 05 Mississippi Marijuana Party Global Marijuana March and Rally 03:00 PM Larry Henson Tupelo Mississippi USA
Speaker Larry Henson will speak at the Mississippi Marijuana Party Global Marijuana March and Rally. Larry will talk about the failure of America's war on drugs and its negative impact on the nation and world as a whole. This is LEAP's very first event in the great state of Mississippi and it will be celebrated by all members of LEAP and the Mississippi Marijuana Party.
http://www.leap.cc/events
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