cannabisnews.com: Clinic Offers Puff of Relief for Chronically Ill Clinic Offers Puff of Relief for Chronically Ill Posted by CN Staff on January 07, 2008 at 13:32:21 PT By Miriam Bulwar David-Hay Source: Jerusalem Post Israel -- A Tel Aviv medical clinic has quietly begun giving marijuana to cancer and AIDS sufferers, legally and with Health Ministry approval, reports Yediot Tel Aviv. The move, the first of its kind in Israel, is aimed at alleviating the pain suffered by the chronically and seriously ill. According to the report, the clinic began giving the drug to suffering patients about six months ago. By Israeli law, marijuana can legally be used as a medicine if a patient obtains a special license from the Health Ministry. The drug is approved only for patients with cancer, AIDS or Crohn's Disease (a chronic gastro-intestinal illness), and aims to help ease the chronic pain they suffer from the illnesses or as side-effects of treatments for the diseases. The clinic - which the Health Ministry has refused to identify publicly, reportedly either to prevent protests or to keep criminal elements away - gives out the drug in small, controlled quantities when a patient presents their license. One cancer patient said the ministry's decision to offer the drug through the clinic was "a blessing," saying it prevents suffering patients from being driven to buy the drug illegally. The patient said more doctors and the Israel Cancer Association should be made aware of the therapeutic, pain-relieving benefits of marijuana, and not regard it solely as an undesirable and harmful illegal drug. A spokesman for the cancer association said it was true that the drug could reduce painful side-effects for some patients undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments, and the organization would consider adding information about this to its website.Source: Jerusalem Post (Israel)Author: Miriam Bulwar David-HayPublished: January 6, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Jerusalem PostContact: editors jpost.com Website: http://www.jpost.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 08, 2008 at 05:25:26 PT Canada's Tolerance On Marijuana Fades January 8, 2008The marijuana harvest in British Columbia generated about 7 billion Canadian dollars (US$7 billion) last year, making it one of the most lucrative industries in the Canadian province. But after a string of high-profile arrests and slayings -- including the execution-style murders of six people in October -- the easygoing attitude that has long surrounded marijuana in Canada is under attack.Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper is calling for a cultural shift, to be enforced by what his political opponents are calling an American-style war on drugs. He has introduced legislation that would set mandatory minimum jail sentences for marijuana growers and traffickers, and he is seeking more money for enforcement and prosecution.URL: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119975599646473615.html?mod=googlenews_wsj [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on January 07, 2008 at 20:50:55 PT racism Re comment #1 that is because all drug laws are racist according to the History Channel. Drug laws are then used to “legally” harass and imprison minorities, to take them out of society, and marginalize them socially, economically, and politically. It has worked very well. Most people don’t even notice it. Minority “leaders” don’t mention it either because, (I think) they have either been bought off, or sold out, so they can remain prominent leaders. If they started talking this issue up, they could lose their position or worse. Maybe people will wake up to what is happening. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 07, 2008 at 17:29:41 PT News Article from Snipped Source: Seattle PI Report: Disproportionate Number of Blacks Arrested on Pot Charges in SeattleJanuary 7, 2008http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/346395_marijuana08.html?source=mypi [ Post Comment ] Post Comment