cannabisnews.com: States Must Tackle Medical-Marijuana Issue States Must Tackle Medical-Marijuana Issue Posted by CN Staff on February 29, 2008 at 04:56:11 PT Editorial Source: Seattle Times Washington -- State legislatures around the nation have avoided approving medical marijuana laws — mostly out of fear they would be labeled as soft on crime.Yet it's pretty clear the public has sympathy for those who truly need marijuana to treat diseases such as glaucoma or to ease the suffering caused by cancer. As a result, voters in 10 states — including Washington and Oregon — have taken the law into their own hands and approved medical-marijuana initiatives. Unfortunately, as can often be the case with voter-approved laws, there can be some unintended consequences. Sure, that happens when laws are made by elected legislators, but it happens less often. The legislative process provides for a debate on the issues that can expose potential problems.One of the areas not always fully considered with voter-approved medical marijuana laws is the impact on workplace safety. It's now become an issue in Oregon.Under Oregon's 1998 medical-marijuana law, employers do not have to allow workers with approved medical-marijuana cards to smoke on the job. However, there is no mention about accommodation of workers who smoke the drug at home before coming to work. What if these workers have dangerous jobs in which being physically and mentally sharp is critical to keeping themselves and their co-workers alive?Two years ago, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled against a registered medical-marijuana user who was fired from his job after failing a urine test. However, the court's decision was extremely narrow and did not fully answer the question about the use of marijuana outside of the physical workplace.This is clearly a tricky issue. The will of the voters as well as the needs of those with serious health problems need to be juxtaposed against worker safety. Oregon's Legislature took a run at coming to a consensus but failed. The matter will be looked at again next year.Frankly, this is an issue that would be best addressed by Congress and federal agencies. We believe medical marijuana should be treated the same as any prescription medication. If the drug has side effects that put workers at greater risk of injury or death, workers should be reassigned to a safer job while on that medication.We can't see that happening in the near future. Congress doesn't have the political courage needed to take action.So, until that day comes, states will have to tackle the issue. Workplace safety has to be the top priority.Source: Seattle Times (WA)Published: Friday, February 29, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Seattle Times CompanyURL: http://tinyurl.com/2fyeepContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #40 posted by potpal on March 03, 2008 at 06:05:08 PT paint with light Thank you my friend. I do consider myself an artist. Man, watching the McCartney and Lulu video again really filled me with joy this morning. (poke may have helped!) I'm so happy for him and her. Okay, I'll get it over with.....a one, and a two... To Sirrr Paul-l-all with Looo-o-o-ovePeace be with them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by Paint with light on March 02, 2008 at 21:47:33 PT Art That fits my definition of art. It gives new meaning to being light on your feet. I will refrain from other puns in the interest of not getting flammed.I had to view it twice. I admit to being slow recognizing the image until near the end the first time through. Good job.The Museum of Modern Art once had the standard, "If you have ever seen anything like what you do we don't want to see it".You might talk to them. I mean that as a compliment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by FoM on March 02, 2008 at 20:20:58 PT potpal I hope if the two of them get together that they are happy. Paul McCartney is a remarkable man and he deserves way better then he had recently. She won't be Linda but they could have fun together and after all that is what matters. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by potpal on March 02, 2008 at 19:21:22 PT paint with light Funny, I did too! Wish I did now just to tell the tale. I remember the day like yesterday. I was in a book store in the 69th Terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. I do a little 'light painting' to...http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=323953305&albumId=802541Back to the books, if you haven't read Soon To Be a Major Motion Picture, I'd highly recommend it. It's Hoffman's autobiography.Aloha. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by potpal on March 02, 2008 at 19:08:34 PT dig it They make beautiful music together. Nice harmony. Nothing wrong with Paul's eyesight either. Too bad he didn't hook up with her right then but that was just a year after Lynda died. He grieved her loss, I'm sure. Maybe she was still attached. She apparently had eyes for him then, well, he is Sir Paul McCartney, bet more than a few ladies would want to be in her place! She has a OBE. I wish them love.Thanks for the link. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by Paint with light on March 02, 2008 at 19:08:26 PT Pot Pal I got real close to taking a copy of "Steal This Book" once. Somehow I just couldn't "do it".Thanks for the comment on the handle.It is a combination of my spirituality and my work. I don't adhere to a particular religion. I see life in terms of positive and negative flow with my goal being to provide as much positive energy or "light" as I can. The work aspect is, I sell my photographs on the professional art show circuit. In the traditional darkroom we literally painted with light through the processes of burning and dodging.Another "reefer-ence" is to, "give me a light".Rock On.Equal with alcohol is all we ask. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by John Tyler on March 02, 2008 at 18:15:41 PT Paul and LuLu I’m glad Paul is not afraid to give love another chance. I would think LuLu could understand and enjoy the show biz scene with Paul. Heather was always jealous of that. I hope Paul will listen to his lawyers and not forget the prenup this time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by FoM on March 02, 2008 at 17:53:03 PT runruff She really is good. I just watched her sing with Paul.Paul McCartney & Lulu - Brown Eyed Handsome Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkEIx3yDwEk [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by runruff on March 02, 2008 at 17:38:53 PT: Like a potato chip, I couldn't stop with just one. I kept going from song to song.! She is great!I knew for her TSWL hit. Never listened to anything after that. Oops! Big mistake! She is great! [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on March 02, 2008 at 16:22:44 PT Dankhank You're right. Lulu seems more like Linda to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by FoM on March 02, 2008 at 16:18:50 PT potpal I found a video of Lulu singing To Sir With Love. I think she would make Paul happy.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWHMEOgl-rQ [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by Dankhank on March 02, 2008 at 16:14:13 PT Lulu did a credible job in the movie as well ..."To Sir With Love" predated many of the 'compassionate/stern teacher calms inner-city kids' movies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by FoM on March 02, 2008 at 15:40:35 PT potpal I think that is a great match. I always loved her song To Sir With Love.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulu_(singer) [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by potpal on March 02, 2008 at 15:24:18 PT ot mc cartney Believe Sir Paul found someone he can relate to...http://www.newspostindia.com/report-31394Nice couple.Cannabis prohibition is the crime. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by potpal on March 02, 2008 at 12:34:32 PT paint with light / nice handle Yes, guerrilla theater was the way they received free media coverage. To think what great organizers they were to do what they did with the cards stacked against them and being pre-internet / cell phone days. I was a little too young (15 in '69) to fully participate but was part of the gang for sure. It's still playing out today...right here.I read and have a copy of The Strawberry Statement. Read The Tales Of Hoffman too. Other books that influenced me and read back then: Do It! Jerry Rubin We Are Everywhere Jerry Rubin Revolution for the Hell of It Free (Abbie) Steal This Book Abbie HoffmanRubin later wrote an insightful book in the mid-70s examining the trends that emerged as a result of the youth movement titled: Growing Up at 37 Man, if only we had their voices with us today. It's tragic that we lost them so young. Patriots in my book.Hippies had the right idea. I'll google the others you mention. Thanks.Peace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by JohnO on March 02, 2008 at 02:17:28 PT: Dissent: Voices of conscience. Anne Wright I just saw a book signing speech on C SPAN by Anne Wright, co author of a fine book which documents those who stood against their own governments on various issues of high crimes and the conspiracies which perpetuate them. The introduction was written by Daniel Ellsberg (of Pentagon Pares fame.) Ellsberg practically dominated the microphone much to my chagrin, however what he was talking about was extremely important. This book documents the illegal lead up to the war in IRAQ, tells names, leaks internal documents, talks about about a myriad of issues such as the patriot act, the Guantanamo debacle, and the lies and collusion among elected officials who supported GW Bush going to war in IRAQ. Up till now I have stayed away from this topic because I have not seen anything concrete to support the rhetoric, but I'm going today to get a copy of this book. My voice might become one of dissent, as opposed to merely waiting and watching, as I have to date. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Paint with light on March 02, 2008 at 01:00:24 PT Pot Pal Abbie Hoffman was one of my hereo's also.I think it was on here the other day that someone posted a link to a video of some activists going to the office of the Mayor of San Francisco and bringing small plants.When I saw that I thought, Jerry and Abbie would be proud.Sometime during the 80's Abbie and Jerry did a college tour where they had a bit of a debate. It seems like Jerry Rubin had sold out some by that time. I remember Abbie was one of the people I was glad I got to meet even if I was just a handshake in the crowd. Some of my books that I still have from that time are;The Conspiracy. It had an introduction by Norm Chomsky, and a chapter each by what became known as the Chicago 8(which later dropped down to the Chicago 7).The Tales of Hoffman. It was edited from the official transcript by Mark Levine and others. I loved it when Kunstler started to O-H-M the judge.The Strawberry Statement(not the movie), by James Simon Kumen.There were also a series of books called Countdown 1 and 2, and a couple called Us, the paperback Magazine.Thanks for stirring the memories.Equal with alcohol is all we ask. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by potpal on March 01, 2008 at 23:12:12 PT fom Your right. I still have my draft cards. I was in the lottery for 2 years, number 87, luckily I never got called. Lost a cousin, Richard Flagiello, there. He was 19. Think I'll go burn them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on March 01, 2008 at 19:19:41 PT potpal The time back then was a time of desperate actions in a time when any young man could be drafted and sent to South East Asia and maybe die for a war that made no sense. We don't have a Draft and to me that is why the youth of today that are activists aren't as fired up because their lives aren't on the line. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by potpal on March 01, 2008 at 16:54:30 PT fom ot Thanks for the heads up.Check it out...looks good. I loved Abbie Hoffman, one of my heros as a youth. Ever read, Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture?http://www.alternet.org/blogs/mediaculture/#78333 [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Paint with light on March 01, 2008 at 15:12:25 PT Impairment I think when cannabis is legalized it should come with the same warnings and restrictions my blood pressure medicine has. That includes driving. That is one of the places where I disagree with Norml. They favor more restrictions on driving than I do.If they want to test drivers for cannabis impairment then they shoud do the same thing with prescription drugs.My medicine used to say, "Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you are familiar with the effects of this medicine".Now it just says, "May cause dizziness."That is the same advise I would give anyone who indulges in cannabis.Some people do okay right away. Some people have problems for awhile and learn to compensate. I have met a few people who never learn to adjust and have to refrain from driving.The only thing I have noticed that is a challenge is the times when I have been teaching. When I get over 15 or 20 people in a class, I find it is difficult to keep that many trains of thought going simutaneously.One of the advantages cannabis has always had for me is the ability it has to enhance, intensify, and expand the experience of whatever I am doing.Quality instead of quantity.Some people are able to funtion at a complex level. I had a friend win the heavyweight division of the Battle of Atlanta(a karate tournament) right after we had done a couple of doobies in the parking lot.I read a good point on drug testing on another site.If employers want to control what you do away from the job, then they should pay you for 24 hours a day. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by user123 on March 01, 2008 at 11:44:57 PT: Hmmmm... Where are all the stories about stoned MMJ users causing co-workers harm, all while operating heavy machinery? There are construction accidents every day in this country and you know the press would jump all over it if the accidents were caused by MJ, but they don't because they are just accidents caused mainly by carelessness or misjudgement. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 01, 2008 at 09:55:19 PT The GCW The fear I had when the religious right got involved in the Republican Party years ago has played out the way I thought it would. I quit going to church when Pat Robertson said they were going to get involved in the RP. I've never gone back. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by The GCW on March 01, 2008 at 09:25:06 PT Hart's insight is interesting too. Former Sen. Hart says Reagan era of U.S. politics may be endinghttp://www.examiner.com/a-1251151~Former_Sen__Hart_says_Reagan_era_of_U_S__politics_may_be_ending.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 01, 2008 at 08:20:53 PT The GCW I hope you are right. I want this over. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by The GCW on March 01, 2008 at 08:09:05 PT Yes, Tuesday The former 1st lady will become the former candidate.The Repubs have been getting worried about all the energy the Dems have...-0-I saw the following LTE in My local paper about McCain and I think We will see so much more of that type of thing that McCain will not have a chance but will only be able to spend money to home lost.McCain supports pollutersI was appalled to lean that John McCain was the only Senator who two weeks ago chose to skip a crucial vote on the future of clean energy in America — dooming the measure to fail by just a single vote. Now I am even more appalled to learn that this is a pattern with Senator McCain. On the League of Conservation Voters scorecard he received a 0 for missing the 15 most important environmental votes in 2007. McCain’s score of 0 is lower than members of Congress who died last year. John McCain’s LCV score exposes the real record behind the rhetoric: a lifetime pattern of voting with polluters and special interests and ducking the important votes.Robert AllenFriscohttp://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080229/LETTER/773227466 [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by John Tyler on March 01, 2008 at 07:51:27 PT Re #1 I have know quite a few people over the years that have come to work way under the influence of prescription medications, but you know, that’s “OK” (wink wink) because they are pills or what not. Here is the ultimate prescription for using on the job. The Dept of Defense is giving out a new generation type of stimulant for fatigue management to the soldiers in Iraq. It is called Provigil. (The DoD is also paying top dollar for it too.) It has the usual warnings about not using it while driving until you get used to it, or not operating dangerous equipment, may cause hallucinations, etc., maybe habit forming, etc. Imagine this scene… soldiers tweaked out, possibly hallucinating from lack of sleep etc., in a combat situation, driving big vehicles, and shooting at anything that moves. Now that is weird. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on March 01, 2008 at 07:36:56 PT potpal I don't know if you know about this but if you go to YouTube and type in We Are The Ones you might enjoy what you find. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by John Tyler on March 01, 2008 at 07:27:54 PT voter initiatives Voter initiatives may not be perfect, but they can force political change on a stubborn legislature that is not listening to the public. Medical cannabis is right, and moral and proper. It is shameful the way cannabis users have been, and are being treated. The public, the voters, the people are demanding change now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by augustwest on March 01, 2008 at 07:17:59 PT: charmed quark I've never heard of that impairment software, sounds interesting it seems impaired is impaired and presents a danger wether self inflicted or not. So I think it could be used to determine if somone is impaired,which is most important to avoid an accident,and they can figure out the cause of the impairment through urine and blood.It makes more sense than testing metabolites that don't measure impairment,but make for positive tests weeks after any effects of the substance are long since gone.I always wondered why they don't have better ways of testing people.The real reason is probably more sinister than anything I could come up with. Great fox news article on overdose drug,pretty telling when the drug warriors are being called out on their sh#t by fox news. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by charmed quark on March 01, 2008 at 04:32:21 PT comment #7- workplace safety And of course, this ruling actually had nothing to do with workplace safety. In this case there were no allegations that the employee was "under the influence" of medical cannabis at work or wished to use the drug at work, just that he tested positive from his home use. They showed no interest in determining if he was actually impaired.If people were truly interested in workplace safety, they would use available impairment testing software. The problem with this software is it can't tell the difference between mild impairment due to being a little short on sleep versus mild impairment from illicit drug use. It just measures impairment.Workplace drug testing is about enforcing morals, not safety. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by charmed quark on March 01, 2008 at 04:22:36 PT Bill Buckley and Reefer Madness I thought, to honor William F. Buckley, Jr. in his passing, it would be nice to reread his article "Reefer Madness".My politics are very different from his, especially in regards to the status of women, but I definitely agree with him on allowing people to live as they wish. And how often does someone here link to a National Review article :-)http://www.nationalreview.com/buckley/buckley061003.asp [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on February 29, 2008 at 17:03:23 PT Dankhank #4 - Thanks! "We're told that certain drugs have to be prohibited because they're too dangerous. But we should also resist efforts to make them less dangerous because doing so might encourage drug use.It's a bizarre argument until you consider the real motivation behind it: In truth, it's not so much about the harm some drugs do; it's about an absolute moral opposition to the use of some drugs.""...drug warriors are willing to write off the loss of human life as collateral damage and engage in all sorts of morally dubious practices in order to prove their point.That point, ironically enough, is that drug use is immoral and dangerous."I think this was a very well written anti-prohibition opinion/story. Fox Personnel Dept. must have screwed up when they hired Radley Balko, lol. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Sam adams on February 29, 2008 at 15:55:51 PT Workplace safety has to be the top priority No, staying alive is the first priority. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 29, 2008 at 15:28:26 PT Potpal That was a nice video. Shiny happy people are my kind of people. Soon we will know if he wins the nomination and who he would pick to run as VP. Bill Clinton was in our area today and what we saw on the local news was that very few people were there. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by potpal on February 29, 2008 at 14:12:02 PT fom It's OBAMA! Man, I'd love to see Obama / Richardson. Richardson stated he wasn't interested in the VP spot but after watching Obama and hearing this man, I think he'd reconsider if asked.We need this man, I’m on board. I’m an independent. http://origin.barackobama.com/tv/mostrecent.php [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on February 29, 2008 at 13:54:08 PT seen this ...? http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332515,00.htmlit's mostly about an overdose preventer and how it should be deployed; and why ONDCP opposes wide distribution.talks a lot about prohibition ...mentions Marijuana/Cannabis late but favorably.ignore if you've seen it ... :-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dankhank on February 29, 2008 at 13:39:50 PT medical Cannabis ... we already know that Cannabis is a treatment for stroke, now this ...http://tinyurl.com/2u3f2jso now we have a better picture ...Cannabis and music ...whatta treatment ... :-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 29, 2008 at 07:59:37 PT dongenero I think that common sense and reason don't play a big part in many articles that are written about marijuana. I wish more writers would talk about the harm of marijuana prohibition. I will be so glad when we know who the Democratic nominee will be. I sure hope it is over on Tuesday. Once we know we can target the two who are the nominees. We know it's McCain on the Republican side and I want to know who it will be on the Democratic side. We voted yesterday and at least this time they did have a paper receipt but we didn't get a copy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dongenero on February 29, 2008 at 07:38:07 PT What if these workers are using phamaceuticals? Looks like the Seattle Times needed some filler material with little thought. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment