cannabisnews.com: Baloney on Medical Marijuana





Baloney on Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on September 21, 2007 at 06:30:33 PT
Editorial
Source: Times Herald-Record 
Albany, NY -- There's a trick politicians use when they want to appear to be in favor of some issue that has strong public support. They craft legislation that suggests support but include a provision they know the other political party won't go for.Senate Republicans are doing just that with medical marijuana. The Assembly approved a bill in June that allows people who are certified as seriously or terminally ill to grow and possess small amounts of marijuana, if recommended by a doctor. Nancy Calhoun of Blooming Grove and Tom Kirwan of Newburgh properly voted for the bill. 
The drug helps ease the chronic pain and nausea that accompany many serious illnesses.Senate Republicans, including John Bonacic and Thomas Morahan, say they, too, support the idea but — and here's the poison pill — only if the system is controlled by doctors and the state. No "blanket giveaways," as Bonacic put it. The bill would have the state control distribution and, in effect, require a prescription from doctors. The problem is that the federal government labels marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it can't be prescribed.And the U.S. Justice Department under the Bush administration has been aggressive in going after doctors or government workers in states that have laws allowing what the Republican here suggest. This tends to make doctors wary of prescribing the drug.This is not a war-on-drugs issue. Morahan, Bonacic and their GOP colleagues should trust the state's most seriously ill residents not to start dealing drugs from their death beds.Source: Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)Published: September 21, 2007 Copyright: 2007 Orange County PublicationsContact: letters th-record.comWebsite: http://www.recordonline.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/State Sen. Morahan Backs Medical Pot Stancehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23337.shtmlHope Riding on NY's Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23081.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill: Legalize Ithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23078.shtml 
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on September 22, 2007 at 21:56:35 PT
 Soooo off topic. FoM, Stick, and Toker00
Thanks, Stick. What Mom said about the bull is an old saying and good advice I won't be forgetting anytime soon. I thought maybe it was a quote from Will Rogers, but it's not. Searching the internet, it's only attributed to "Unknown" or "Old cowboy saying". At good old Cafe Press, I did find it on a T-shirt though, along with one that made me think about your desire, FoM, to ride mounted patrol. "Whatever you are, be a good one." Abraham Lincoln.http://www.cafepress.com/dressageart/1794898I liked one shirt in particular that made me think of a horse I used to ride. Horses are scared of two things. 1. Things that move.2. Things that don't.Toker00, I enjoyed your description of the fun you had as a child with your horses.It made me think of one of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot songs, "The Pony Man".And when we are assembled he gives a soft commandAnd we climb aboard our ponies as in a row they standThen down the road we gallop and across the field we flyAnd soon we all go sailing off into the midnight skyhttp://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/theponym.htm
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on September 22, 2007 at 10:21:51 PT
Hope
Last night they had the mounted police at the fair and we had to pass them often. I always looked lovingly at the policeman's horse but didn't try to touch him and then made eye contact with the policeman and I was smiling and so was he. I wanted to be in the mounted patrol years ago but because I was a woman I couldn't. I really tried. 
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on September 22, 2007 at 10:15:12 PT
Hope
I think Salty is a good looking Brahma Bull. Stick liked your mother's wise words.
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on September 22, 2007 at 10:10:08 PT
Hope
When I think of a cowboy I think of the horse whisperer. If you can connect with the mind of a horse or other large animal, that could kill you if they wanted to kill you, you also learn how to relate to people. The two go together. Back when I was riding and training if I was in a bad mood before I started riding my horse he became crabby too. I learned not to waste my time trying to accomplish anything if I was in a bad mood because he felt my energy.
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Comment #19 posted by Hope on September 22, 2007 at 10:05:45 PT
Dealing with bulls, horses, or fools.
The other day I had a not too fun experience with our bull. He's was blocking a narrow gate I needed to use. He's generally a friendly fella. But he's still a full grown bull. In the lot with him, I pushed against his forehead and told him to "Git back". It didn't work. The cows we have would have stepped back, as a general rule. Bulls are different. He didn't give an inch. He started pushing back and butting me... gently, for him. He thought I wanted to play "Let's have a butting contest". Which of course, he would win. I walked the long way around.My mother reminded me, "Don't approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction."
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Comment #18 posted by Hope on September 22, 2007 at 09:52:37 PT
Thanks, Toker00. Comment 5
I'm not surprised. It always irks me to hear Bush referred to as a "Cowboy". I grew up with cowboys. He's not in any way a cowboy. He's turned the term "Cowboy" into an insult. That's for sure. Instead of a term for a working man, it now means someone who doesn't think or consider consequences and just "Shoots from the hip.", a mindless reactionary. Mindless reactionaries don't last too long around any animal, including cattle and horses.My dad would have called him a "Drugstore Cowboy" from the git-go.From what I've seen, he's a "Drugstore Christian", as well. Clothes, boots, and a hat don't make a cowboy. Carrying a Bible and being a member of the congregation don't make a Christian either. It takes a lot more to be the real thing of either one.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on September 22, 2007 at 09:03:42 PT
Toker00
It is true. I had no problem approaching horses or the mules that were at the fair last night. I got right up close and was petting them and they were relaxed. I am not a threatening person and horses sense that with people.
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Comment #16 posted by Had Enough on September 22, 2007 at 08:57:17 PT
Doves
Mr. Bush has been shooting at peace symbols his whole life.And he likes it.What happened to the Doves he shoots? Do they get cleaned and eaten, or do they get tossed?
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Comment #15 posted by Had Enough on September 22, 2007 at 08:46:32 PT
Communicating with People, Doctors, & Horses
Below is a portion of the George W. Bush 2007 State of the Union Address.“There are many other ways that Congress can help. We need to expand Health Savings Accounts ... we need to help small businesses through Association Health Plans ... we need to reduce costs and medical errors with better information technology ... we will encourage price transparency ... and to protect good doctors from junk lawsuits we need to pass medical liability reform. And in all we do, we must remember that the best healthcare decisions are not made by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their doctors.”http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16672456/page/2/*********Well he say’s it right in this comment, but can he really hear what he is saying? If so he would whip out that pen of his and spread the right ink to end this stuff.Don’t see no document signing so I take this as nothing more than lip service.and speaking of protecting good doctors, the Feds should quit harassing doctors who recommend herbs for healing help.Horses:George DoobieYa (former, and maybe still current user of Jim Beam/Cocaine/Pot) is afraid of horses? Maybe it’s the other way around and the horses don’t like him?Animals sense things most humans never even know is there...From Toker00s’ link:“ Mr Fox, who left office in December, recalled Mr Bush "backing away" from the animal.''A horse lover can always tell when others don't share our passion," he said, according to the Washington Post.Mr Bush has spoken of his fondness for shooting doves and cutting brush on his Crawford ranch in Texas, which he bought in 1999.The property reportedly has no horses and only five cattle. ”
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Comment #14 posted by Toker00 on September 22, 2007 at 08:05:26 PT
FoM #6
That is exactly what I was thinking before I read your post!Toke.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on September 21, 2007 at 18:17:22 PT
This is how the vote stood
when I voted a few minutes ago.Yes
80.47% 136 votesNo
18.93% 32 votes169 Total Votes
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on September 21, 2007 at 18:12:20 PT
Comment 8
Dang, Dongenero. You're spooking me. I registered and voted. Oh well. They can't bust me for voting or thinking it should be legal. At least, I don't think they can. Last I heard, that wasn't a crime. Unless they do a throw down thing. That's always a danger in this day and age.Hoping for the best, though.Now, if they threw some down, and forgot to pick it up... and... and... Well... that's not too likely to happen.I hope it's not against the law to disagree with a law.Something cyber strange a couple of weeks ago. Something from About.com was posted here. While I was there, I looked around and I thought about signing up for their newsletter. I put in my e-mail address, selected a couple of health newsletters, and then I just decided they wanted too much information... such as street address and stuff... and didn't send it.Lo and behold... they signed me up without my entering it. I just closed the page, without filling out all the stuff they wanted, after a few minutes. I got a verification in my e-mail in less than an hour after I put my email address in and the newsletters started arriving!It said, "Someone at this IP address (and then the number) requested..." It said the IP address, and not just the e-mail, I'm pretty sure.I was so surprised.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 21, 2007 at 13:07:09 PT
Press Release from ASA
Congressional Vote Thursday Maintains State Control over Medical Marijuana Laws September 21, 2007Advocates celebrate the defeat of an amendment pushed by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn  
WASHINGTON - September 21 - Both Houses of the U.S. Congress voted this week, with the Senate voting yesterday, to pass the "Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007," without a medical marijuana amendment that was objectionable to advocates. In April, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), a staunch medical marijuana opponent, introduced an amendment to the legislation requiring that, "State-legalized medical marijuana be subject to the full regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration." While the stated purpose of the Coburn amendment, "To evaluate the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana," appeared genuine, it was aimed at obstructing the effective implementation of medical marijuana laws in the twelve states that have adopted such laws. The amendment would have improperly provided authority to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate medical marijuana (cannabis) at the state level. "We are thankful that Congress saw the virtue of maintaining state control of medical marijuana laws," said Caren Woodson, Director of Government Affairs for Americans for Safe Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy group that worked to defeat the amendment. "Yet, Congress should take decisive action to develop and adopt sensible federal policy on medical marijuana." Woodson continued, "Why should the sick in only twelve states get to take advantage of the medical benefits of cannabis?" Despite laws restricting the authority of the FDA to "new drugs" that cross state lines, the Coburn amendment attempted to expand that authority to medical marijuana grown, transported and consumed inside a state with its own regulatory laws. Within ten days after the introduction of the Coburn amendment, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) reviewed the legislation and found that it was "poorly drafted," and that "the effect of the amendment appears unclear." In the face of opposition by Committee Chair Senator Ted Kennedy and others, the amendment passed out of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in May, and then was subsequently approved by the full Senate. This spurred medical marijuana advocates like Americans for Safe Access, as well as HIV/AIDS groups, to successfully lobby the House to exclude similar language in its companion bill. This effort prevailed, and yesterday Congress overwhelmingly passed a compromise bill, which excluded the Coburn amendment. "It's bad enough that the federal government has a monopoly on medical cannabis research, preventing proper investigation," said Woodson. "If Congress wants to address this issue effectively, it must allow for unfettered research and access in all states for those that benefit from medical marijuana." Language of the Coburn amendment: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Coburn_Amendment.pdf Report on Coburn amendment by Congressional Research Service: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/CRS_Report_Coburn.pdf With over 30,000 active members in more than 40 states, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers. 
 CONTACT: Americans for Safe Access
Caren Woodson in Washington, D.C.
(510) 388-0546
  
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0921-09.htm
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Comment #10 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 21, 2007 at 12:15:29 PT
Personal Information
So they can round us up and put us on a reservation (death camp) like the did the native Americans. White people are so oppressive and they want to protect that way of life. Ironically, our forefathers left Europe to escape radical oppression from other white leaders such as religious fanaticism and debtors prison, just to become the oppressors themselves. Also ironically, Europe is not as oppressive now as America.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on September 21, 2007 at 12:05:38 PT
dongenero 
I didn't vote because of the registration. Why do they need personal information just to vote in an online poll?
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Comment #8 posted by dongenero on September 21, 2007 at 11:59:20 PT
post #7
There is also a poll at the below link, asking if you think marijuana should be legalized.Before you go looking......they require your personal info in order to vote or see results. Hmmm, that should certainly skew the results sufficiently."Yes I think it should be legalized! By the way, here is my contact information should you wish to follow up with me....officer."
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 21, 2007 at 09:58:01 PT
News Article and Poll from WFAA-TV
Ex-Cop is Now Marijuana Advocate Friday, September 21, 2007   
DALLAS COUNTY — When it comes to marijuana, Barry Cooper is on the wrong side of the law. "The war on drugs is a failed policy; it's not working," Cooper says. "This isn't 1957 any longer, it's 2007—and the facts and the evidence show that marijuana should be legal." Cooper not only believes marijuana should be legal, he's trying to help people grow it—and not get caught. URL: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa070921_wz_potcop.f6b1c430.html
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 21, 2007 at 09:42:57 PT
Toker00
He is probably smart to be afraid of horses becauses horses sense people's spirit.
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Comment #5 posted by Toker00 on September 21, 2007 at 09:18:27 PT
FoM Hope
Thought you might like this one about Bush.http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2007/210907Bush.htmIf he is afraid of horses, I wonder how he would feel left in a room with just one enlightened fed up American citizen and no security to fend off their intellectual attacks on his brain? He would be peeing his pants and weak in the knees when mommy or wifey comes to clean him up. This coward is President of the United States!?! I was jumping creeks and branches and running hard out races on quarter horses when I was 13. I will admit at a younger age I ran from a charging horse and then remembered what my Uncle had told me. I lay down in the pasture and the horse turned and ran away. I don't know why, but it worked.
Colts were fun to ride bareback and I found myself more than once hanging on sideways to a wild bucking running colt! They are magnificent animals and deserve the respect they demand. Bush is a wuss...Toke.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on September 21, 2007 at 07:08:42 PT
Isaiah 10: 1-3
 Woe to those who make unjust laws,
    to those who issue oppressive decrees,to deprive the poor of their rights
    and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
    making widows their prey
    and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning,
    when disaster comes from afar?
    To whom will you run for help?
    Where will you leave your riches? 
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 21, 2007 at 06:49:05 PT
Treeanna 
I think of what Republicans say about medical marijuana like I would if someone lied to me over and over again. After a while I know they don't mean it and I turn my back and walk away. Republicans have really messed up our country. 
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Comment #2 posted by Treeanna on September 21, 2007 at 06:43:45 PT
Silver Lining
One thing about that, though, it shows that they are starting to feel the heat from voters/PACs on this issue, otherwise they wouldn't feel the need to lie and otherwise pull this sort of stunt :)
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 21, 2007 at 06:33:53 PT
I Agree With This Opinion
I cannot believe what any Republican says anymore about medical marijuana. They aren't interested but pretend they are. I hope they aren't getting money to say they are interested.
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