cannabisnews.com: Group Projects Virtues of Medical Pot





Group Projects Virtues of Medical Pot
Posted by CN Staff on February 22, 2009 at 06:27:32 PT
By Courtney MacKay, Staff Writer
Source: Nashua Telegraph
Concord, NH -- The debate about allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes has been going on for years, and some people might argue that it isn't our place to make that decision – that it should be made by a doctor and the patient."There are people living with pain, and there is something that can help them," Greg Surbey said Saturday after a showing of the film "Waiting to Inhale" at the Nashua Public Library.
"I don't want patients to suffer just because I don't use it. You have to respect other people."Surbey wasn't the only one disturbed by some of the content of the film that shows how marijuana can be used for medical ends such as pain, nausea, depression and appetite.Lou Eastman and Monica Granger felt angry that there are so many people suffering because they're afraid to use a substance that's illegal."These people are being kept from what they need," Eastman said."Waiting to Inhale," a Jed Riffe LLC film, shares stories of families who have known somebody who was positively affected by the use of marijuana and negatively affected by other prescriptions given by their doctors."We all know someone who has experienced it – smoking pot – and it doesn't derail your life," Granger said.The film also points out that doctors will do what's best for their patients and whatever it takes to improve the quality of their lives. Some patients are allergic to a lot of pharmaceutical drugs and marijuana is their only option. Some patients won't eat because of a loss of appetite, and marijuana can contribute to getting their appetites back."I'm constantly shocked when watching the documentary," said Phillip Coan, a field staffer for the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy since September. "It always makes me take a step back."The group is dedicated in changing marijuana laws. With the state Legislature considering passing a bill such as HB 648, which would protect seriously ill patients from arrest if recommended marijuana use by a doctor, it's showing a hopeful future for those who are suffering."We're cautiously optimistic," Matt Simon said about the bill being passed this year.Simon, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy, has been involved with the movement since January 2007. He said somebody needed to initiate a debate among the public about passing such a bill and that he, along with others, were willing to do that."Why do we perpetuate so much suffering when we could be relieving?" Coan asked.By traveling around New Hampshire, showing this documentary and providing a discussion, the word is getting out there. Simon said there haven't been a lot of – if any – negative responses."It's been overwhelmingly positive," Simon said. "People are eager to sign up and get involved."According to a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research of Washington, D.C., with an error margin of 4 percent, 71 percent of New Hampshire voters support medical marijuana reform, while only 21 percent are opposed."If it were up to the people of New Hampshire, we know the bill would pass," Simon said.A hearing on HB 648 will be held March at 10 a.m. 9 at the Legislative Office Building, Room 205, behind the Statehouse in Concord."I challenge anyone who opposes the bill to watch this film," Simon said.Another showing of "Waiting to Inhale" will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Pierce Hall at Franklin Pierce University, Rindge.On The Net: New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy: http://www.nhcommonsense.orgNote: Film at library shows how legalizing some marijuana usage can help people in pain.Source: Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH)Author: Courtney MacKay, Staff WriterPublished: Sunday, February 22, 2009Copyright: 2009 Telegraph Publishing CompanyContact: letters nashuatelegraph.comWebsite: http://www.nashuatelegraph.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/8oWoxYLpRelated Articles & Web Site:Waiting To Inhalehttp://www.waitingtoinhale.org/Waiting To Passhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24497.shtmlLegalize The Medicinal Use of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24490.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 22, 2009 at 19:23:52 PT
John Tyler 
Thank you. I really appreciate Dr. Grinspoon.
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Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on February 22, 2009 at 18:18:57 PT
off topic
Here is something interesting… Dr. Lester Grinspoon, at his website, is asking people to send him an essay about why they use cannabis. If you aren’t in an eloquent writing mood you can just read what other cannabis lovers had to say. Check it out. It is interesting reading. Here is the link.
http://www.marijuana-uses.com/index.html
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Comment #1 posted by knightsmanx on February 22, 2009 at 15:11:58 PT:
We can really fix this situation...
To be honest, and please post if you support his position, as it is a highly plausible situation. First to start, the use of "income tax" is to pay the INTEREST on the national debt. If that is enough to pay the interest with so many people unemployed, why not legalize pot, and all business's and companies working in commercial growth of marijuana, be REQUIRED to hire more employees based on net profit and sales. As well as it being possible to grow plants that yield a pound a piece, or more, if given the most efficient methods of growing, including indoor (expensive) lighting and outdoor growth. If keeping sales by these commercial growers at a max of 6 grams per sale, and having prices that highly compete with current "illegal" prices (meaning selling the 6 grams for $25), per plant revenue exceeds $1800, while the federal government acquires a tax of $5 (out of the original $25), keeps the "growers" revenue nearly exceeding $1500, while federal tax earns the additional $300+, per plant, from taxing.As for the federal spending of this "new found" tax money, I propose that it go towards paying off the national debt since the federal government is doing well enough (subtracting it trying to bail out all of the failing companies losing it's money in the process...).
Now for the state governments "lack of funds" problem, isn't that more easily fixed by the reduction of unemployment? By forcing the businesses to hire according to their net profit (with allowing a portion towards expansion) the unemployment rate would drop significantly, driving up sales by all other companies in the state because of the "excess" of money that is now available. Meaning what? Meaning that the state governments will attain a significant boost in tax money, possibly even enough for there to be an excess of wealth to be spent in other areas of state government spending that have not been getting as much as they require. For instance, EDUCATION.As a final note, doing all of this will also allow for the money being spent on "drug wars" to be put into other areas as well, but I don't care to mention it too much at this time because of all of the other mentions in recent topics on this site. But something I would like to add to that is having about half of the money coming from the dissolved "drug war" department of the government go towards what others have posted it to go to, but having the other half go into the social security funding.
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