cannabisnews.com: For Ill, Medical Marijuana Ought To Be Obtainable For Ill, Medical Marijuana Ought To Be Obtainable Posted by CN Staff on June 21, 2007 at 06:31:39 PT Editorial Source: Daily Bulletin California -- We can't say it any better than Leo said it. Still, it bears repeating. Leo, of course, is Leo Greene, our colleague and friend who is battling ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He has been chronicling his thoughts and feelings as he confronts his illness in an award-winning series of columns and videos called "Leo's Story." In Sunday's installment, he made the case for the use of medical marijuana to fight his terminal disease. It could buy him time, he wrote: "Time to see my two younger sons graduate. Time to see another grandson born. "Time, perhaps, for a cure to come along." Those are powerful words, especially for those of us who know and love Leo and admire the incredible grace and dignity with which he has faced his illness. It puts the legal and law-enforcement wrangling over medical marijuana in a new light - a personal, gut-wrenching light. Leo reported on marijuana research that has shown great promise for extending the life of those with ALS, as well as relieving the muscle twitching, spasms and potentially fatal excess mucous associated with the disease. Cannabis compounds have been found to offer symptomatic relief and slow the progression of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; to relieve rheumatoid arthritis; to slow nerve degeneration in Alzheimer's patients; and of course, to help cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy. Marijuana has been in the news a lot lately, and not in a good way. Police have been busting pot "grow houses" left and right in suburban neighborhoods, many of them quite upscale, in and around the Inland Valley. Federal drug agents and Pomona police raided a medical marijuana dispensary in that city last week. Most local cities have passed moratoriums against medical-marijuana dispensaries, reasoning that they sell much of their wares to people without a medical need and that they attract a bad element. They've decided that the problems - which are real - outweigh the good that marijuana does for some very ill people. The dispensaries are legal under state law as a result of the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996, but federal law outlaws marijuana outright. We find Claremont City Council's attitude refreshing amid all the moratoriums and bans being passed. The council has done protracted battle with one confrontational dispensary owner in town, but still decided in May not to pass a staff-recommended ban. Council members want to review other cities' and counties' ordinances and thoroughly explore the options before revisiting the issue in July. If Claremont's leaders have the guts and the smarts to adopt an ordinance that allows patients with true medical need to obtain legal marijuana - as the state's voters intended - while minimizing the possibility of abuse, more power to them. Frankly, we're willing to risk it, if it might mean some relief - and some more precious time - for Leo and others who need it. Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA)Published: June 21, 2007Copyright: 2007 Los Angeles Newspaper GroupContact: letters dailybulletin.comWebsite: http://www.dailybulletin.com/Related Articles: Looking for Relief, More Timehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23087.shtmlMarijuana-Like Chemicals Helps Treat Parkinson'shttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22608.shtmlMarijuana May Stave Off Alzheimer's: Studyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22243.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by FoM on June 21, 2007 at 16:44:59 PT mayan Michael Moore might just do that. F/9/11 was more about how the Bush administration has connections that aren't the one's Americans would think were right or good for our country. Like invading a country that never attacked us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by mayan on June 21, 2007 at 16:28:15 PT F9/11 That didn't even scratch the surface of what happened on that day. I believe Moore is currently hinting that he will make a second one in which he tackles the inside job. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 21, 2007 at 11:03:21 PT whig To have to wait until 3 am to download something I would really have to want it. I can watch a couple videos a day but I am very selective now. I am staying way under any FAP numbers because now I monitor it. I am using about 25% now of what is allowed. It was that one very big file that got me. I also found a trojan after viewing it. I removed the virus. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 21, 2007 at 10:59:58 PT Dankhank I couldn't download a copy if I found one because of FAP and will also go see the movie if it comes closer then a big city from us. I bought F/9/11 and have loaned it to friends that never even heard of it and they all were shocked. Sicko could be as good as F/9/11 because so many people are without insurance. I practically don't know anyone that has insurance with their employment anymore.One thing I wonder is if our government wants us to embrace capatalism then why would they make it so people can lose their home over big hospital bills or at least be harassed until they die of old age or illness by bill collectors? People get very poor care that don't have insurance. That I know for a fact. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by whig on June 21, 2007 at 10:59:21 PT Haha, funny and good music video I Feel Fantastic - Jonathan Coultonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEwIRJV-7lQSorry if you can't watch this FoM but you should schedule a download if you can. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Dankhank on June 21, 2007 at 10:45:41 PT sicko probably won't show at first in this ignorant town I live in, as was the case for farenheit 9/11. F9/11 showed a couple of weeks after spouse and I went to OKC to see it.I did find a copy online and grabbed it.'Likely I will go to the movie, too, to support him for one of two of his best movies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 21, 2007 at 10:07:53 PT Sicko I looked and it won't be shown around our area at least not when it hits the streets. I will buy it when it comes out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by DjLoTi on June 21, 2007 at 10:00:38 PT Marijuana Should be obtainable for the ill and the non-ill [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by whig on June 21, 2007 at 09:29:08 PT Michael Moore on file sharing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlAB0v8wHdcIn case anyone wonders whether it's okay to find a copy of SiCKO. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 21, 2007 at 07:56:10 PT Sicko I hope the movie will be shown in our area. I really want to see it. Michael Moore knows how to make his point.http://sicko-movie.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by fight_4_freedom on June 21, 2007 at 07:44:21 PT: I will be Lining up to see this movie the day it comes out. And I really hope there is some kind of mentioning of the medical marijuana issue in this film. It would only make complete and total sense to throw a spot in it for our issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on June 21, 2007 at 07:16:53 PT anyone read this bill yet Micheal Moore endorses the Dennis Kucinich/John Conyers HR 676 National HealthCare Bill!!! Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYnadAE685o http [ Post Comment ] Post Comment