cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana User Banned from Regatta





Medical Marijuana User Banned from Regatta
Posted by CN Staff on September 27, 2005 at 10:42:26 PT
By Eliot Kleinberg, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Source: Palm Beach Post
Florida -- Irvin Rosenfeld, the South Florida stockbroker who gained national attention for his fight to freely use marijuana as medicine, has run into resistance from one of the nation's top sailing events for the disabled and expects to be barred from next year's event.The reason: an independent group that monitors use of drugs by athletes won't exempt the pot Rosenfeld uses to treat tumors that would otherwise leave him bedridden and in pain.
Rosenfeld, who has sailed in three races of the North American Challenge Cup in 11 years, has asked the race's organizers and the U.S. Sailing Association to overrule the United States Anti-Doping Agency and let him sail in the 2006 regatta. He said an event that celebrates overcoming disabilities is in effect discriminating against a disabled person.The USADA, the official anti-doping agency for Olympic, Pan American and Paralympic sports, gave no reason for its rejection, Rosenfeld said in a Friday e-mail to the sailing officials.Travis T. Tygart, general counsel for Colorado Springs-based USADA, said Monday the agency is bound by the standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which bans marijuana. Banned drugs must meet at least two of three standards: they enhance performance, they have detrimental health effects, or they violate the spirit of sports. The WADA does not specify which standards apply to marijuana, Tygart said. He said athletes are free to appeal to WADA, and, if rejected there, to an independent arbitrator.Representatives of Montreal-based WADA did not return calls on Monday.Challenge Cup Chairwoman Jennifer French couldn't be reached Monday. U.S. Sailing spokeswoman Marlieke Eaton said from Portsmouth, R.I., that the group is bound by the USADA's rules. But, she said, "We do have intent to revisit this."Seven people — one has since died — were given marijuana in a federal program started in 1978. Rosenfeld joined in 1982. The U.S. government grows marijuana on a farm in Mississippi and provides it in cans of 300 cigarettes to Rosenfeld in care of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami.Rosenfeld smokes 10 to 12 cigarettes a day of what he calls "my medicine." He said the federal government has ruled the marijuana does not give him an edge over other competitors. And he said that because he has never gotten high on the drug, he has special permission to drive and even operate machinery and would not be a danger to other sailors.In the 2005 regatta in Chicago, organizers allowed him to race but said he must refrain from using his marijuana during the event. He said he took his medicine in secret, but believes competitors and organizers knew he was doing so, since he at times smoked it just a few hundred yards away."Why don't you just tell a diabetic to stop taking his insulin for five days?" Rosenfeld wrote."U.S. Sailing had some nerve to single me out for my 'BANNED SUBSTANCE' when a lot of the other competitors were on banned substances," Rosenfeld continued. He alleged competitors in the Challenge Cup have never been tested for drugs, even though virtually all of them take some sort of medicine, none of it designed to improve their performances."All of us are disabled, and that's the medicines that we use," Rosenfeld said Monday in an interview.Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL)Author: Eliot Kleinberg, Palm Beach Post Staff WriterPublished: Tuesday, September 27, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Palm Beach PostContact: letters pbpost.comWebsite: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Patients Out of Timehttp://www.medicalcannabis.com/ 7 Americans Get To Smoke Pot in Federal Program http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20817.shtmlPatient Detained After Bill Sinks in Committeehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20259.shtml
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Comment #22 posted by runruff on September 28, 2005 at 13:47:50 PT:
Mailing address.
I'm at: Jerry Sisson
    P.O. Box 775
    Cave Junction Or.
          97523Any form of payment is ok. I my dvd's are donated but I can't afford to pay all the postages.
Once again thank you all.Peace
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Comment #21 posted by runderwo on September 28, 2005 at 12:11:19 PT
P.S.
what is your mailing address?
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Comment #20 posted by runderwo on September 28, 2005 at 12:10:08 PT
runruff
nothing to do with that, it's just iffy sending money through the mail. I've had two packages arrive empty in the past five years. Though I guess it wouldn't be the hugest loss in the world. Is a USPS money order ok?
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Comment #19 posted by paulpeterson on September 28, 2005 at 11:38:56 PT:
Attila at the gates of Rome
When the Romans awoke to find Huns at the gates to the city, they asked why they should open the gates-the reply? Because then you will keep your lives. Matter of factly.The Romans opened up and allowed the city to be sacked. Most kept their lives. All the gold left, of course.The parady here? Visualize that each and every word that is posted on this site has a power and an energy, the more people that watch it, the more energy. Here, calmly announce to the status quo that there is a choice. Come to the table, discuss these matters, think around conflict, make changes, keep the flow positive (nobody needs to fear members of the opposing army, only fearful leaders on either or both sides). The challenge posited as "Sue the jerks" sounds fine, but let's fine tune it to something like "please listen so I am not forced to sue you jerks". Please help me to avoid your own downfall, jerks.And by the way, I need some volunteers for a couple of projects I will call "Spartacus" & "Medussa Project". These will be to enlarge the clusters of towns with decriminalization. I will pretend to be the general, I take any heat, I just need to have a few well intentioned citizens on the ground for coordinating town meetings with locals, etc. Report in my calling me 847-853-4200 or omegabeef gmail.com or posting through cannabis news. Over and out.  
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Comment #18 posted by Toker00 on September 28, 2005 at 09:30:36 PT
runruff
Glad to hear what's up. I'm patient. Please take your time. This will be a special DVD in my collection of items I've obtained from cannabists online. dankhank's CRL is, too.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! 
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Comment #17 posted by dongenero on September 28, 2005 at 07:06:36 PT
E-J
Yep, that's his name....Dick Pound. 
 
Hey, is that your name or is that what you do??...
Paging Mr. Pound.....Mr. Dick Pound...At least he wasn't named Jack Mehoff.Poor guy must have had a hell of a time in school.
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Comment #16 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 28, 2005 at 05:35:07 PT
Time To Sue!
Sue the jerks! Take them to court at every turn and make it cost them time and money. If you win, you open the doors for all those who come after you.
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Comment #15 posted by legalizeit on September 27, 2005 at 21:50:05 PT
Always a double standard for govt-sanctioned drugs
Notice how alcohol is coddled in the banned list. Banned "in-competition only" and only in certain sports. And why is the limit so much higher for aeronautics and powerboating than it is for motorcycling and automobiles? Seems to me that the same limit should be enforced for all motorized sports.So, for most sports you can show up drunk as a skunk and not be disqualified. But heaven forbid you relax with a phattie the weekend before competition!The global campaign against cannabis is so stupid that it defies all attempts at logic or reason.The powers-that-be upstairs must either be laughing their butts off or (more likely) weeping at the collective stupidity of governments and other concentrations of corrupt political power.
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Comment #14 posted by mayan on September 27, 2005 at 18:20:56 PT
Fed Medicine
He said an event that celebrates overcoming disabilities is in effect discriminating against a disabled person.This hypocrisy will be witnessed around the world! Banned drugs must meet at least two of three standards: they enhance performance, they have detrimental health effects, or they violate the spirit of sports.Irv's medicine meets none of the three standards. This is very interesting since his medicine comes from the federal government! Could the feds be in a position where they would have to defend cannabis as medicine? On an unrelated note, here's another take on the seizure of Cynthia Warren's home...Seize this!
http://www.lvcitylife.com/articles/2005/09/23/opinion/commentary/ouropinion.txt THE WAY OUT...CBS News Takes a Stab at 9/11 'Conspiracy Theories':
http://www.911blogger.com/2005/09/cbs-news-takes-stab-at-911-conspiracy.html"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you. And then you win." - Gandhi
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Comment #13 posted by runruff on September 27, 2005 at 18:12:46 PT:
Re: Paypal account.
No, sorry I don't have one. I will promise to keep your 
personal info private and I've never stiffed anyone in my life. I am a crusader. I want to change what I see as 
injustice and tyrany. This means more to me than personal gain. I'd love to send you a DVD or a video.Namaste, Peace
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Comment #12 posted by The GCW on September 27, 2005 at 17:13:39 PT
Speaking of Dick Pounds prohibited list.
This report filed September 27, 2005WADA publishes '06 prohibited list http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/8969.0.html list:S8. CANNABINOIDS 
http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/2006_LIST.pdf
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Comment #11 posted by paulpeterson on September 27, 2005 at 16:47:27 PT:
the virus is loaded into the mother ship
Good news, citizens! Irv has just got the chance to appeal to an agency in rebel held zone: french held Canadian rebel turf, no less.I donno, but I doubt they will say it violates the spirit, with their recent trend there. Anyway, at least we get some fire happening in that UNy area, hoping, of course, that they appeal.Be of good cheer! The Chicago tolerant stand will be important precedence for the appeal. No torn curtains, no skies falling, no rabid sailers with blood of human children on their foul mouths for even talking about talking about it in a sailing event here.Change only happens when events occur that test the challenge. Change only continues if the change is greased with good intent. Sometimes the good intent must be seen by the observer. Once and observer sees the potential good intent (or flow) he must express that to make it so.Therefore, see this refusal as a way to confirm and energize the change that Chicago already witnessed. Paul Peterson
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 27, 2005 at 16:05:25 PT
runruff 
You're very welcome.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by runderwo on September 27, 2005 at 15:57:45 PT
runruff
you don't have a paypal account do you?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on September 27, 2005 at 15:40:26 PT
dongenero is that his real name?
"the World Anti Doping Association and its head Dick Pound"The Lord works in mysterious ways, indeed.
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Comment #7 posted by boballen1313 on September 27, 2005 at 14:53:07 PT
Taking hemp out of sailing?
You reckon using canvas (hemp) sail cloth would possibly enhance performance? Maybe that line (rope)at your feet is made of marijuana stems!!!??? Oh no the whole damn sailing world is inundated with outlaw drugs!!! SAVE US!!! Pass some laws quick!! OUTLAW PROHIBIT JAIL FINE CRUSH STEAL KILL!!!OH THE MADNESS! This aint your granddaddy's fibre!!! its ten times stronger!!! Can't you just see the THC oozing from the sailcloth in the sun??? Quick arrest someone!!!!
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on September 27, 2005 at 14:46:29 PT:
My video.
To my friends out there who have shone an interest in 
my video and to those of you who have sent me money. We are burning a new batch right now and I will be sending them out soon. Tooker00. Yes that was more than enough money. Thank you very much. I have never heard of your town before. I hope everything is OK with you and yours.
I haven't seen you here for awhile. Take care.
FoM. Thank you and Stick for letting me get my video out on your website. You've been very gracious.Namaste,
Peace
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on September 27, 2005 at 12:19:10 PT
Athlete persecutions.
As long as Irvin doesn't exhale into the sail...As long as Irvin can drink beer on His own time...Athletes should not get punished for using cannabis, including this national champion down hiller:US CO: LTE: Dope Smoking's No Reason To Strip Titlehttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1662/a08.html?119399Pubdate: November 15, 2004
Source: Velo News (CO)
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Comment #4 posted by CorvallisEric on September 27, 2005 at 11:59:39 PT
3 tests
Banned drugs must meet at least two of three standards: they enhance performance, they have detrimental health effects, or they violate the spirit of sports.1 - enhance performance - This is a little tricky. Like some MMJ use, aspirin reduces pain and inflammation. Does that enhance performance? Is it banned? I believe butazolidin was banned from horse racing for this reason (recalling an ancient incident). There seems little doubt that growth hormone and anabolic steroids enhance performance.2 - detrimental health effects - Every medication flunks when used inappropriately. Every one passes when used appropriately. 3 - violate the spirit of sports - I have no idea what this legitimately means beyond providing an unfair advantage to one competitor over another. Seems like a nice fallback if you need a second count and you have nothing solid and you just want to ban something because it's "bad."The bottom line is that much of the decision to ban a particular substance is arbitrary and capricious.By the way, of all the people I've ever seen on TV with any connection to cannabis (not a large number), I found Irv most impressive.
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on September 27, 2005 at 11:30:47 PT
Dick Pound and the WADA
Yes, the World Anti Doping Association and its head Dick Pound are soooo ethical. As seem in the complete lack of protocol in the recent allegations against Lance Armstrong.What credibility WADA had is seriously tarnished now. This move against Rosenfeld by the USADA looks very idiotic as well.It's "high" time they remove marijuana from the anti-doping testing. It is not a performance enhancing drug. The point of these Anti-Doping bodies should be to insure fair sport, not carry out culture war persecution for the DEA and the US government. 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 27, 2005 at 11:08:25 PT
goneposthole 
You really do make me laugh! Thanks!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on September 27, 2005 at 11:00:28 PT
bad news
The Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam has no chance of ever becoming an Olympic event.
Cannabis Cup
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