cannabisnews.com: Denying Relief is Moral?





Denying Relief is Moral?
Posted by CN Staff on March 17, 2006 at 07:17:49 PT
By Greg Scharf, For The Californian 
Source: North County Times 
California -- A while ago, I had the misfortune to hear the shrill chest thumping of San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn as he was announcing the county would sue to overturn the state's Compassionate Use Act allowing the medical use of marijuana.His rantings reminded me of those heartless bastards who gave kids prison sentences in the '60s for small amounts of weed.
Our own county Supervisor Jeff Stone has talked about doing the same thing. Although Stone said he wanted clarification about how to deal with the conflicts between federal and state law, first and foremost, Stone is a pharmacist.I spoke to him about it, and my impression is that he's simply against the use of marijuana for any purpose. He stated that the stuff out today has some 40 times the tetrahydrocannabinol (active ingredient commonly known as THC) as what was smoked in the '60s, and while it may not be as dangerous as meth or heroin, it's certainly not harmless.Stone doesn't like amateurs dispensing drugs. He does not lack compassion; his pharmacy specializes in pain-killing "cocktails," which I would assume are morphine-based ---- much stronger than marijuana. But then again, his drugs are precisely measured and administered, there's no variation between doses.He brought up Marinol, the THC-derived drug that is used to allay nausea involved in chemotherapy. He admitted that it is expensive ---- $38 a pill taken twice a day ---- so if someone doesn't have insurance, they're out of luck. I also mentioned that a friend told me that the drug just keeps the vomiting in check, it doesn't stop the nausea.He mentioned the risk of people getting marijuana fraudulently, but then again, there are a lot of folks who obtain prescription drugs the same way. Stone admitted in terms of chronic pain, or particularly end of life, that marijuana's side effects or health threats are obviously no longer relevant ---- he simply believes that there are better approaches to pain and suffering than marijuana.Temecula has followed his lead and placed a moratorium on dispensaries, but then again, after all, this is Pleasantville.While Lake Elsinore has permitted marijuana co-ops, Police Chief Louis Fetherolf wants no dispensaries in town. He spoke of a "bevy of public safety issues," which sounded much like the issues surrounding beer sales at a convenience store ---- people buying it illegally, people using on premises and theft. Surely the Lake Elsinore PD is up to the task?The cooperatives sound good but don't serve people who are too ill to grow it or who don't know where to meet other users or find seeds.He doesn't want to enforce a state law and ignore a federal law. I'm sure that's confusing, but I wonder ---- illegal immigration is a violation of federal law; when Lake Elsinore police pull over illegal aliens do they apprehend them and turn them over to the Border Patrol?The ordinance proposed by Fetherolf included the language to "promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the residents and businesses of the city."How moral is it to deny relief to those suffering from multiple sclerosis, nausea and pain related to terminal or chronic illness?Greg Scharf of Temecula is a regular columnist for The Californian. Source: North County Times (Escondido, CA)Author: Greg Scharf, For The Californian Published: Thursday, March 16, 2006Copyright: 2006 North County TimesContact: letters nctimes.comWebsite: http://www.nctimes.comRelated Articles:Put Right Issues On The Front Burnerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21594.shtmlCounty To Mull Joining Medical Marijuana Suithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21554.shtmlCounty Joins Medical Marijuana Lawsuithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21518.shtml
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on March 18, 2006 at 10:17:19 PT
Kids
The new "gateway"...pharmaceuticals. And, oh Lord, huffing and choking and all that crap. If the people who weren't insane about keeping cannabis away from everyone, adult and child, most of those dead kids might have been perfectly happy sneaking a joint for fun now and then. Heck, they might even have become "potheads" as adults...meaning they appreciated a non toxic herb like others appreciate an evening cocktail. They might have indulged in pot the rest of their lives...but they would have had a life.And now this pharmeceutical problem. Did you see what it's going to be and really is about?Excerpt from the Jackson Tribune article: "Volkow at the National Institute on Drug Abuse said many teens associate prescription drugs with family doctors, and consider them safe, or have had positive experiences with properly prescribed medication in their early childhood." (Kreamer and Volkow raised their children to think pharmaceuticals are safe? "Positive experiences"? "Safe"? How egregiously stupid is that?)And this:"The challenge, she said, is to control abuse without banning drugs that do more good than harm to society. OxyContin, which is sold generically and generates about $2 billion in annual sales, is widely used in hospitals."More "banning", more prohibition. Don't they see that they, their prohibition, and their DARE programs, and their fear mongering brought us to this point? They are unwise to say the least, as well as greedy for their pompous positions of power and direction over the rest of us. If you know me, you know I seldom...never, actually use the term,"Fool" to describe or rebuff anyone. I don't because of what my God and Christ said about "Raca".Matthew 5: 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca', is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.That would be the translation of Yeshua's words as recorded in Matthew.I've used this scripture as a guide and have adhered to it very well for many years...but these "wise in their own eyes", self appointed prohibitionist "experts" never cease to tempt me.
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Comment #24 posted by Toker00 on March 18, 2006 at 06:00:03 PT
Healthy drugs are boring. Poison pills are fun.
Looks like Cannabis is losing it's edge as the "gateway" drug. Pharmacists should feel pretty darn guilty for this. Now, kids are dieing from the "approved" drugs. Have to protect the CHEELDRUN! I suppose the DEA will begin arresting "pill-rollers" for endangering kids and society by supplying those horrible, terrible, DRUUUUUGSS! Soon cannabis will fall out of favor, because it DOESN'T give you the thrill of tempting death and organ damage. How Boring!Hey folks! All drugs are gateway drugs! In fact, there really is no gateway, just drugs! Drugs are drugs! Sheeeeeesh! But make sure you only do the ones that cause damage and death! We don't want any HEALTHY drug users!Man made pills, God made Cannabis. Who do you trust?Cannabis is SAFER than Alcohol, Tobacco, and Aspirin. Still, they demand we suffer the consequences of these FDA approved poisons, over Natural Medicine. The government is the Anti-God.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! 
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on March 17, 2006 at 16:46:07 PT
Off Topic
American Kids Getting High on Prescription Drugs March 17, 2006Excerpt: Teenagers are increasingly experimenting with legal drugs like OxyContin, widely known as "hillbilly heroin," and Vicodin, often bought online or taken from medicine cabinets, even before trying marijuana or alcohol, health officials say. http://localnewsleader.com/jackson/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=160514
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on March 17, 2006 at 16:27:48 PT
Nuevo Mexican 
I guess I feel that if a survey is sent I should do my best to answer it. The last survey they sent I rated most of them as not very important. This survey was far more interesting to me then the last one.I'm glad I'm a good egg. That made me smile.
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Comment #21 posted by nuevo mexican on March 17, 2006 at 16:21:59 PT
Thanks FOM, Cannabis and Move On are......
a good combo, now the Cannabis medicine and recreational use is now massively mainstream. The way to influence large organizations that are responsive to the will of the people, is to do their surveys, and point out the need for an end to the drug war, and the war on cannabis and cannabis users, especially medicinal users that are sick and dying.So thank you FOM! You're a good egg!
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Comment #20 posted by bionic man on March 17, 2006 at 16:13:51 PT:
Sukoi
You are absolutely right. MY bad. I would'nt want to misquote mr.stone. 40 times as potent. right. If I were a customer of his and heard this garbage, I would question whether he was competant enough to be a pharmacist, especially considering he DOES distribute drugs that can KILL you. 
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 17, 2006 at 16:04:52 PT
Whig
That's sure ok. I get e-mail from all different groups and do the surveys just because it helps them with how people feel. I get many different e-mails on earth related issues mostly. It's just one of my interests besides CNews.
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Comment #18 posted by whig on March 17, 2006 at 16:01:02 PT
FoM
I don't want to support MoveOn.
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Comment #17 posted by Sam Adams on March 17, 2006 at 15:51:56 PT
Mr. Stone
The hypocrisy is jaw-dropping. Mr. Stone, along with every other pharmacist in the state, is supplying multiple addicts with opiates EVERY DAY. I guarantee you that some fraction of the opiates he slides into the bottles will end up in the hands of addicts. I'm not saying it's good or bad, wrong or right, I'm merely stating the obvious. OxyContin is not shipped from the factory to addicts - every single tablet passes throught the hands of a licensed pharmacist.Opiate abuse has exploded across the US in the last 10 years - has marijuana abuse increased? No, in fact usage appears to be down.What happened to "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"???? 
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 17, 2006 at 15:06:43 PT
Off Topic: A Survey from MoveOn
MoveOn has grown tremendously over the last several years and none of that growth would have been possible without your energy and support. From the war in Iraq to President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, we have worked together to make sure that our voices are heard on the issues that matter most. We've always focused on working on the issues that MoveOn members care about. That's why our primary goal is to make sure you support the issues that we work on now and those we might work on in the future. Can you take a moment to help us plan our future campaigns? http://www.moveon.org/tellus/interest.html?id=-6715274-3HrmNJwwkQ0VsN0OdCbFzQ 
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Comment #15 posted by Sukoi on March 17, 2006 at 14:57:42 PT
Comment #7
Actually he said that it's now 40 "times" stronger than it was in the 60's. So that means that it now contains 400% THC (300% last week) as opposed to 10% in the 60's; that's four times the THC than the plant could ever physically contain. Junk science? You betcha!
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 17, 2006 at 14:12:55 PT
AOLBites 
Thank you. That's a good link.
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Comment #13 posted by AOLBites on March 17, 2006 at 13:29:05 PT
marinol
its synthetic thc disoved in sesame oil - 
Dronabinol, the active ingredient in MARINOL® Capsules,is...
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Comment #12 posted by whig on March 17, 2006 at 11:37:17 PT
Graehstone
Also, pressed buds are not pure THC -- there are so many other active constituents of cannabis. THC is just one. And plant consciousness. Don't ever forget it. Chemicals can never replace it.
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Comment #11 posted by whig on March 17, 2006 at 11:12:57 PT
Graehstone
I should have said, Marinol is pure [u]synthetic[/u] THC.Not the same thing at all, really. More potent in the sense that CRACK COCAINE is potent, but not better. Not at all.
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Comment #10 posted by Graehstone on March 17, 2006 at 11:02:45 PT
Marinol is hooey
It's not pure THC. Hash is pure THC as it is the pressed resin off the buds, the little crystals you see under a microscope.
I have a friend that gets Marinol and it does nothing for her but make her sick so she gave them to me.
I still have them just for gee whiz sake but they did absolutely nothing as far as what is said they are suppossed to do. They are nothing but brown little squishy pills filled with some goo that cost an arm and a leg and possibly rights to your first born.
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Comment #9 posted by whig on March 17, 2006 at 10:28:01 PT
bionic man
Keep in mind, too, how much more potent MARINOL is than cannabis. It's pure THC!
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on March 17, 2006 at 10:24:47 PT
They really are
wearing dollar bills for blind folds.
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Comment #7 posted by bionic man on March 17, 2006 at 10:21:14 PT:
side effects
WOW! Now we are up to 40 percent stronger cannibis. Was'nt it just 30% somewhere last week?LOL. What about all the drugs Stone has distributed that require a BLACK BOX warning of possible death as a side effect. Especially all the ADHD meds for kids. This guy is just worried about the bottom line. He wants you to pay $38 a pop for his marinol.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on March 17, 2006 at 10:18:31 PT
Thanks
I appreciate it.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 17, 2006 at 10:00:24 PT
Hope
Sometimes it's really good to let it out. I sure understand. 
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on March 17, 2006 at 09:56:34 PT
:0)
That felt pretty good.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on March 17, 2006 at 09:55:47 PT
Oh, FoM! You let Greg Scharf say it!
It's been on the tips of my fingers for so long. I've been so mad and sometimes just ached to say it. Just this one time.The BASTARDS!
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Comment #2 posted by Max Flowers on March 17, 2006 at 09:25:45 PT
Health threats
Imagined (by Stone): Lung cancer, hormone disruption, bronchitis, cognitive dysfunction, etc. etc.Actual: Dry mouth, slight intermittent cough, bad breath
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Comment #1 posted by runderwo on March 17, 2006 at 07:22:59 PT
stone
"Stone admitted in terms of chronic pain, or particularly end of life, that marijuana's side effects or health threats are obviously no longer relevant"When were the "side effects" or "health threats" ever relevant? In fact, I have no idea what they are even referring to when they say "health threats".
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