cannabisnews.com: Federal Official Criticizes Med Marijuana Issue





Federal Official Criticizes Med Marijuana Issue
Posted by CN Staff on November 04, 2006 at 07:11:17 PT
By Dennis Gale, Associated Press Writer
Source: Yankton Daily Press
Sioux Falls, SD -- A medical marijuana ballot issue in South Dakota is being supported by people who want to legalize drugs, a top federal drug official said Friday.John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, said people who have been trying to legalize marijuana are exploiting the suffering of genuinely sick people to further their political ends.
South Dakota would join 11 other states that allow some medical patients to smoke marijuana to ease their pain and other medical problems if voters approve Initiated Measure 4 on Tuesday.Diseases and conditions that would be covered include: cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms and multiple sclerosis. The state Department of Health also could approve other medical conditions.Valerie Hannah of Deerfield, who smokes marijuana to help ease chronic pain, said Walters' comments are without merit and amount to last-minute scare tactics."I'm one of those people who have been trying to get this drug legalized for those sick people," said Hannah, who served in the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s and was exposed to chemical weapons that are basically causing her nerves to dissolve.She called marijuana "an innocuous and harmless weed" and that drug officials' statements about the ballot issue have "just gotten really silly."In a release, Walters said the Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society do not support the smoked form of marijuana as medicine.Walters said there are more teenagers in treatment for marijuana dependence than for all other illegal drugs combined. The Office of National Drug Control Policy release did not provide figures on teenage treatment."Marijuana is a much more harmful drug than many Americans realize," he said.But Hannah said in the 11 states that have legalized the substance, marijuana use among teens has gone down 15 percent to 45 percent, depending on the state. She said that in Rhode Island, where the Legislature approved medical marijuana, only one incident of abuse was reported among 136 people who registered for the substance in a year.That person was prosecuted, just as what would happen in South Dakota if anything went wrong, she said.Source: Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan (SD)Author: Dennis Gale, Associated Press WriterPublished: Saturday, November 4, 2006Copyright: 2006 Yankton Daily Press & DakotanContact: newsroom yankton.netWebsite: http://www.yankton.netRelated Articles: South Dakota Medi-Pot Supporters Push Forwardhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22096.shtmlSupporters: Med Marijuana Bill Neededhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22216.shtmlSouth Dakota Medi-Pot Supporters Push Forwardhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22096.shtml
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Comment #19 posted by publicbulldog on November 06, 2006 at 09:39:14 PT:
The Federal trough feeder has spoken
"WHO ARE YOU".!
"I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFULL FEDERAL TROUGH FEEDER"Now fetch me the Thai stick from The wicked bitch of the east,and I will send you back to Kansas.Pay no Attention to that trillion Dollar deficit behind the
iraq curtain."FILL THE TROUGH AND GO NOW!"
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by Hope on November 06, 2006 at 04:41:53 PT
and...
We have Truth.We're bound to make it.:0)
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Comment #17 posted by Truth on November 05, 2006 at 18:57:08 PT
and....
We have Hope.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by Hope on November 05, 2006 at 11:18:34 PT
And Kevin Zeese
And Richard Lake, and Jo-D, Loretta Nall, and FoM and so, so many more.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by Hope on November 05, 2006 at 11:16:49 PT
Kay Lee
We're blessed to have her.
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Comment #14 posted by doc james on November 05, 2006 at 08:58:51 PT:
Puff_the_magic_dragon /politics n cannabis
I heartily agree with jahsgrave. We must each do what we can on a personal local level to end this madness against US. I do what I can when I can and will continue to fight racist injustice. remember the freedompages? the lawsuit against the feds for relief through reinstatement of the IND program? The original journey for justice n miss kay lee? Now that's activism at its finest. jah bless.
james
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Comment #13 posted by Wayne on November 04, 2006 at 23:11:01 PT
mmmMMMmmm
Or Swedish meatballs? Or a meatball sub w/ onions & peppers?? Maybe cut 'em up and put them on a pizza and then finish it up by smokin' some blueberry bud for dessert. Oh yeah.... this is definitely one slippery slope.
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on November 04, 2006 at 15:01:42 PT
Meatball story
The news of the cop and magic meatballs got me thinking two things: 1) that is the best made-up story for failing a drug test that I've ever heard, congratulations! A+ for creativity 2) Magic meatballs - what a great idea for a national medical campaign. Would you rather have a little yellow pill with risk of liver failure, or a big plate of steaming pasta?
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Comment #11 posted by global_warming on November 04, 2006 at 11:54:55 PT
I Have To Thank God
I will die and join the ranks of the deceasedWas only passing throughThrough this townI still haven't found what i am looking for
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Comment #10 posted by global_warming on November 04, 2006 at 11:41:16 PT
Take a good look
Take a deep "drag" a deep breath,It is time to gather and be "free"It is time to see 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by global_warming on November 04, 2006 at 11:29:18 PT
Take a look
"Life's a real downer these days for Anthony Chiofalo, the NYPD anti-terrorist detective who claims he tested positive for drugs and was booted from the force because his wife laced his meatballs with marijuana."http://tinyurl.com/y2pbavLike I said, there are many Cannabis Sympathizers, and they are paying and paying taxes, it is time for good people to gather to the fire which lights the foot, it is time to bring that man down off the cross, it is time to press a button, it is time to press that button that says yes.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by global_warming on November 04, 2006 at 11:00:30 PT
re: Mr. Walters, it would seem, 
"Mr. Walters, it would seem, should have his hands full, There are soooo many Cannabis Sympathizers out there if mr. wAlters locked them all up, then who would pay the bloody taxes, which keeps that suit in comfort?It is time, to change, to end the prohibition of Cannabis Use.YES is coming Everywhere, why not join the World?
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Comment #7 posted by greenmed on November 04, 2006 at 10:27:14 PT
g_w #6 and mayan #3
John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, said people who have been trying to legalize marijuana are exploiting the suffering of genuinely sick people to further their political ends.What a terrible, false claim. Of the medical cannabis activists I've met, most all are patients, caregivers or medical professionals. All know first-hand or directly from patients that cannabis is good medicine to ease their suffering.Mr. Walters, it would seem, should have his hands full addressing real problems like the meth epidemic and leave the sick alone.I just received my copy of "Waiting to Inhale" and will view it today for the first time. Thanks for the reviews here on cannabisnews, without which I would not have known about it.
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Comment #6 posted by global_warming on November 04, 2006 at 09:27:53 PT
God Bless Valerie Hannah
Valerie Hannah of Deerfield, who smokes marijuana to help ease chronic pain, said Walters' comments are without merit and amount to last-minute scare tactics."I'm one of those people who have been trying to get this drug legalized for those sick people," said Hannah, who served in the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s and was exposed to chemical weapons that are basically causing her nerves to dissolve.She called marijuana "an innocuous and harmless weed" and that drug officials' statements about the ballot issue have "just gotten really silly."That's because drug officials are "addicted" to this war on drugs. 
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on November 04, 2006 at 08:49:55 PT
Resign Already
Virginia Sheriff Linked To Drug Scandal Won't Quit:
http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5633339
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Comment #4 posted by jasgrave333 on November 04, 2006 at 08:41:03 PT:
911 - Cannabis?
...did you say 911?Could the plot; regarding Cannabis and finance run deeper?Free Mason symbols are not just at home in Manhattan and Washington, they are maintained in just about every corner of the globe.Masonic Lodge 911 is located on Delaware Road in Kenmore.""The United States is home to more than 13,000 Masonic lodges, whose members adhere to a motto of "friendship, morality and brother love," according to the Grand Lodge of the State of New York's Web site.Masons are dedicated to doing good, not operating underground, Walther said."As I recall it, the UN is dead against legalising Cannabis... OIL for scandals and corruption; gasp, surely not... 
United Nations, Occult, Masons
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on November 04, 2006 at 08:29:32 PT
Political Ends???
John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, said people who have been trying to legalize marijuana are exploiting the suffering of genuinely sick people to further their political ends.What an insult to sick people! Is Walters saying sick folks can't think for themselves? Political ends? That's pretty comical coming from a false, federal puppet like Walters! Perhaps Johnny Pee should try stand-up. Never mind, every time he holds a press conference it IS a comedy routine! THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...9/11 Truth Takes Oshkosh! Barrett Thanks Steve Nass, Tinfoil Hat Republicans:
http://mujca.com/oshkosh2.htmWill Doubletree Hotel Video Show Pentagon Impact?
http://www.infowars.net/articles/november2006/031106Doubletree.htmPentagon Video in the Nick of Time for Midterms?
http://kurtnimmo.com/?p=637Bill Maher would impeach Bush for his non-actions on 9/11:
http://911blogger.com/node/4268
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Comment #2 posted by potpal on November 04, 2006 at 07:53:06 PT
SAFER
Walters is at it again. I guess that is his job now to visit state after state to demonize cannabis. Like to see a contingent of SAFER in every state ready to take him down. In any case, let's see if we can give the head dope cop a reason to visit every state in the union in 2007 and 8. Or better yet, let's see if we can put Mr. Walters in his place, that being an Assistant Manager at McDonalds.
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Comment #1 posted by jasgrave333 on November 04, 2006 at 07:38:55 PT:
Politics and Cannabis
This summed it up:"
John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, said people who have been trying to legalize marijuana are exploiting the suffering of genuinely sick people to further their political ends. 
"...why do the few "elite" people in a defunct, broken system of government; get to dictate how I medicate here in the West Indies?The truth is; Cannabis was legal upto 1880 in the USA, taxes could be paid with it.Who in politics is going to have the back-bone to give the poor mans medicine back to us poor sufferers?Time for REAL free-dom to exist; right here on earth...
Working to legalise it - THChurch
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