cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar Says Medical Marijuana 'Dying' Drug Czar Says Medical Marijuana 'Dying' Posted by CN Staff on July 29, 2005 at 20:22:36 PT By Audrey McAvoy, The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Honolulu -- The White House drug czar said Friday that medical marijuana is "dying out" after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that federal authorities may prosecute sick people whose doctors prescribe pot to ease pain.John Walters, the national drug policy director, said state legislative efforts to expand medical marijuana programs have stalled in the two months since the high court's ruling overrode laws in Hawaii and nine other states. "I think it's dying out," Walters told reporters after a meeting with Hawaii drug treatment counselors and law enforcement officials. "The real issue here is, is it the safe and best way for medical treatment? We don't think the best thing for people who are really sick is to make them high and send them away."Walters said the federal government was funding research into whether cannabis could be used as a source of "medically sound" drugs, but he said "smoked marijuana hasn't met that science."Steve Kubby, national director of the American Medical Marijuana Association, objected to Walters' remark, saying there are "hundreds" of peer-reviewed scientific studies showing clear medical benefits from cannabis."The drug czar has blood on his hands for blocking the humane and medical use of cannabis for sick, disabled and dying people," Kubby said.Kubby, a force behind the passage of a California proposition that legalized pot clubs, said marijuana can help treat nausea, pain, arthritis and cancer.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Audrey McAvoy, The Associated PressPublished: Friday, July 29, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Associated Press American Medical Marijuana Associationhttp://www.americanmarijuana.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by mayan on July 31, 2005 at 14:38:24 PT Dying? The only thing dying is Walter's tenure as Drug Czar as even his peers have acknowledged that he has been a total failure. Johnny Pee is headed for the dust-bins of history! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on July 30, 2005 at 15:58:51 PT comment 10 Bull's eye."It is better that we raid their homes, arrest them, and put them through a living Hell on this earth."(?) [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on July 30, 2005 at 15:54:01 PT behind the grrrr You agree. Been talking to too many animals lately. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by global_warming on July 30, 2005 at 15:16:00 PT OT:To John and Joyce "I think it's dying out," Walters told reporters after a meeting with Hawaii drug treatment counselors and law enforcement officials. "The real issue here is, is it the safe and best way for medical treatment? We don't think the best thing for people who are really sick is to make them high and send them away."-We don't think the best thing for people who are really sick is to make them high and send them away."It is better that we raid their homes, arrest them, and put them through a living Hell on this earth.So much for that science John holsters, and all that nasty blood that will stain his immortal soul.Send them away, as far as the Law allows, to repent and find absolution, in this Christendom.John, might actually be a very nice person, that job and all its pressures may force him to make these harsh statements.When you craft laws, that allow and dismiss the sick and dieing, are you a member of the cleansing party, that seeks to eliminate, all the useless human beings on this earth?You might want to look at your membership card, maybe it has expired?The blood, of this planet, is the only connection we have, to share, in the purpose, that is moved by God.When your time has expired, who will you seek?With your last breath, as you look across your bed, who will you see?Some stranger, some loved one, distorted by your lack of vision, as your eyes fail, and that blindness reminds you, how much you cared, how much you loved.Will you confess?gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Patrick on July 30, 2005 at 11:41:05 PT Hi Hope I think that in a certain sense, I create my own reality. For example if I set a goal and can accomplish it. That is in effect creating my own reality. That's a good thing no?On the other hand, if someone arrests me because I like to smoke cannabis. Then I see that as a reality not of my creation but of the other person who wishes to exercise their power or reality over my reality. Is that the reason behind the grrrr? If so I agree with you. We are either free or we are not if I may use Bush logic here.What a long strange trip it has been this thing called life. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Hope on July 30, 2005 at 10:53:09 PT "we create our own reality" grrrr [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by charmed quark on July 30, 2005 at 10:47:46 PT Administration not in "reality-based" commun A quote from a senior Bush advisor ( as reported in the NYT Magazine): " The aide said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. 'That's not the way the world really works anymore,' he continued. 'We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality."That's why the Drug Tsar says medical cannabis is dying. He can ignore the fact that Rhode Island passed their medical cannabis bill just a week or two after the Supreme Court ruling ( and I believe they have now overridden the Governor's veto).And they say smoking marijuana causes you to lose contact with reality. Heh, heh.-CQ [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on July 30, 2005 at 10:17:27 PT "... it's still always there" Lies are like shed snake skin. They disolve, shatter, waste away.Truth is like gold. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on July 30, 2005 at 10:01:15 PT Comment 2 Very Interesting ViewpointIt's amazing how it doesn't matter how hard the truth is hidden and covered up, it's still always there, and sooner or later it will always pop up to be seen in one form or another.Let the Beat go on. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on July 30, 2005 at 09:51:08 PT Private property isn't dying either, Mr. Walters The Supreme Court expanded the powers of emimnent domian, and now outraged citizens are using their state legislatures to roll those powers back. Private property isn't dying either, Mr. Jerk [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by b4daylight on July 29, 2005 at 23:39:04 PT NUP? every one is all riled up ......medically sound" drugs, but he said "smoked marijuana hasn't met that science."Walters J>maybe he should try a case study instead? Might getter better results? After all the weed won't be the thing that killed them!. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ron Bennett on July 29, 2005 at 21:54:07 PT Med Pot Dying ... Not Smart Move for Drug Czar The drug czar / DEA are unwittingly putting themselves into a corner - if medical cannabis goes away, the issue doesn't go away, but rather turns to outright legalization ... the action today against Marc Emery is going upset many folks, including many in the "mainstream" - not because they necessarily know of/care about Marc Emery, but rather many people are going to be asking what is the U.S. doing in Canada, and why is U.S. putting so much resources into such a fight over a relatively harmless plant; possibly life in prison for seeds, even to many folks against cannabis law reform, is going to seem way excessive - child molesters, rapists, murderers, etc get less; even the folks who stole billions from Enron, Aldephia, etc got less, but I digress.In a nutshell, in my view, having medical cannabis off the table is fine - now the issue will be squarely on legalization ...The government is racking up points right now, but at great cost later on; things often get worse before they get better - as the U.S. policies regarding cannabis get more and more extreme, the more folks who will question them ... and that will eventually lead to meaningful cannabis policy reforms; legalization.Ron Bennett cann.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on July 29, 2005 at 20:52:53 PT Mr Walters debate Mr Cole if you have the balls http://leap.cc/who/jackbio.htm Sep 3 05 Hawaii Tour 12:00 AM Jack Cole Honolulu Hawaii USA It's a tough job, but someone has to do it, as Executive Director Jack Cole begins his tour of Hawaii to spread the message of America's failed drug policies. Mr. Cole will speak to civic clubs, the media, college students, retired military personnel and a variety of other organizations about medical marijuana, mandatory minimum sentencing and grass roots efforts across the country to change America's racially biased drug laws. Sep 6 05 KTUH 90.3 FM 06:00 PM Jack Cole Honolulu Hawaii USA The radio station is KTUH, the show is The Rokery, the host is Terri Hurst, and it's at 90.3 FM, Honolulu, Hawaii. Terri will be interviewing Executive Director Jack Cole about his current trip to Hawaii to spread the word about America's failed drug policies and a host of related issues. KTUH is the University of Hawaii's radio station and Hawaii's only 24 hour, non-profit, non-commercial educational radio station that has been serving the Honolulu community since 1969. Visit the KTUH web site at http://www.ktuh.org/ Sep 6 05 University of Hawaii Sociology and Political Science Departments 03:00 PM Jack Cole Manoa Hawaii USA Executive Director Jack Cole will host a multi-department presentation for the Sociology and Political Science Departments of the University of Hawaii. Mr. Cole, a founding member of LEAP and one of the nation's most respected experts on America's failed drug policies, will be discussing a myriad of issues related to the failure of drug prohibition. Some of the topics are sure to be the breakup of American families caused by the current sentencing guidelines, why women are the fastest growing segment of the prison population, how the war on drugs continues the cycle of violence and destruction and what individual citizens can do to bring about change. Location: University of Hawaii, Room A101. Sep 7 05 Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii Annual Dinner Meeting 05:30 PM Jack Cole Honolulu Hawaii USA Executive Director Jack Cole is the keynote speaker at this year's Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii Annual Dinner Meeting. Mr Cole, a nationally known and respected expert on America's drug policies, will be discussing a multitude of drug prohibition issues such as mandatory minimum sentencing, medical and recreational use of marijuana, the relationship of drug prohibition to crime and LEAP's mission to end America's failed war on drugs. Visit http://www.dpfhi.org/ for more information. http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Post Comment