cannabisnews.com: US Asked To Stop False Information on Medical Pot
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US Asked To Stop False Information on Medical Pot
Posted by CN Staff on April 14, 2009 at 19:44:17 PT
By Carol J. Williams and Maura Dolan
Source: Los Angeles Times
Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles -- Citing "overwhelming" evidence that marijuana eases pain and anxiety for the chronically ill, medicinal pot advocates told a federal appeals panel Tuesday that the federal government should be stopped from spreading "false information" about marijuana.As was argued in the debate over whether stem cell research should be resumed, Americans for Safe Access cast the Bush administration's opposition to any legalized use of marijuana as being shaped by conservative sentiments instead of hard facts.
President Obama has signaled to Cabinet members that science should be guiding government judgments in controversial matters of medicine and technology, not the prevailing political mood. On Tuesday, however, a government lawyer told three judges of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the administration wasn't required to explain or retract its statements that marijuana "has no currently accepted medical use."Marijuana is banned under federal law but is legal for cancer patients and others suffering chronic illnesses in California and a dozen other states. Safe Access sued the federal government under a law that prohibits it from disseminating inaccurate information.U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder signaled last month that the administration wouldn't interfere with medical pot dispensing in states where it is legal as long as users abide by state law.Since California became the first state to partially legalize medical marijuana 13 years ago, the federal government has prevailed in all challenges to the state's practice, including a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the federal government's right to prosecute offenders.Safe Access argues that the federal government needs to update its assessment to conform with the reality of broadening legal use as a pain-salver."The science to support medical marijuana is overwhelming. It's time for the federal government to acknowledge the efficacy of medical marijuana and stop holding science hostage to politics," said Steph Sherer, director of Americans for Safe Access.The group petitioned for revision of the federal judgment in 2004 but was ignored by Bush administration officials, who also sought and won federal district court dismissal of a 2007 lawsuit filed by Safe Access.Justice Department lawyer Alisa Klein told the appeals court panel that the government shouldn't be forced to defend the accuracy of "countless pieces of information" in its massive archives. U.S. Circuit Court Judge Marsha S. Berzon, an appointee of President Clinton, said the law at issue in the case was "amazing" because it did appear to require the government to correct all inaccurate statements, a result she called "troubling."Despite the positive signals emanating from Washington lately, Alan Morrison, founder of Public Citizen's Litigation Group who argued on behalf of Safe Access, said the plaintiffs hadn't expected a government turnaround just yet.Amid economic turmoil and global crises, he said, medical marijuana "is well below the radar scope of the Obama administration."Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Carol J. Williams and Maura DolanPublished: April 14, 2009Copyright: 2009 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/http://drugsense.org/url/LqiwxIyMCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #16 posted by AdaptBones on April 17, 2009 at 15:52:23 PT:
FoM
Absolutly! Thankfully we do not live in a dictatorship (even though at times in recient memory it certainly seemed like we did). I am not sure if I just wasn't clear enough with my comments before but i didn't want JUST Obama to help out our movement (I mean I do but it goes further than that). I think these facts and questions need to be presented by all concerned citizens to their elected representatives and let the truth flow. If the elected try to uphold the lies we need to have persistence and patience and keep the pressure on them and show them the facts. Every government report I have read from this country or others has advocated that cannabis is less harmful than the policies that have kept it prohibited. We need to question every elected offical about these policies and help educate them if they have false ideas about cannabis. We can show them their concerns can be addressed and freedom can still ring free. As always blessed be.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #15 posted by FoM on April 17, 2009 at 12:42:28 PT
AdaptBones
This is how I see it. When Obama was elected I don't think anyone wanted a person who had ultimate control over issues. What I mean is if you get a bad guy in power bad things can happen without checks and balances. We all would like him to be able to legalize marijuana but what if he decided to do something that would hurt us?
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #14 posted by AdaptBones on April 17, 2009 at 12:32:25 PT:
FoM
You are most welcome! Cnews is a wonderful site and I've learned quite a bit in the short time I've been following the site. I agree completely that the process will have to go through legal means but I feel that those are the questions we should be asking the law makers at this time. People like Jim Webb and various others that are trying to take a realistic look at our government and society. I feel the answer to those questions will speak for themself when considered by rational people. The only way they could answer those questions and NOT change the way things have gone is for them to uphold one of the biggest lies ever perpetrated against the united states citizens. I won't claim I know enough about how our government works to say Obama could change it himself, but if he looked at the actual facts and really wants to change america for the better he can push to give citizens back their freedom and take any moral dictating out of federal law and give it to the states to decide how best to handle their area of the country. True freedom means, to me at least, being willing and able to accept ALL views as equally valid and letting people express those views in their area of the country (within reason of course). The problem comes in with the realization that people feel they have the right to try and dictate their views on others. The bottom line for me is that they have the right to their freedom just as much as I do, but they also have the responsability to keep it to themselves. Blessed be my new friend.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #13 posted by FoM on April 17, 2009 at 11:42:12 PT
AdaptBones
Thank you the compliment of CNews. I don't think like a lawyer or any organization so I don't have opinions except my own. I don't think a court can make the government change the scheduling of marijuana but I think it must go through the same way it was made illegal to become legal or rescheduled.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by AdaptBones on April 17, 2009 at 11:28:33 PT:
New Questions
Greeting everyone! I wanted to say this is a GREAT web site and since I found it I have followed it almost every day. We are certainly gaining momentum in our movement as this issue comes more into public view and that is great to see. However stories like this are frightening both to freedom as a whole and our movement. I feel that we need to be asking two questions to Obama and this government: First, why after campaining on a promise of openness and fairness in government his lawyers are telling judges "that the administration wasn't required to explain or retract its statements that marijuana does not have accepted medical benefits", and that with 13 states, and growing, currently accepting that cannabis DOES have medical benefit how can he keep cannabis as a scheduled 1 while it does not meet the definition of a scheduled 1 substance? These are the two legal questions we should be challenging this government with. Hopefully we can keep the pressure on and make this 4/20 one of the biggest rallies for freedom before our big win. Blessed be everyone.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #11 posted by runruff on April 16, 2009 at 09:37:47 PT
This statement:
"and that those who've survived the experience have every right to seek restitution".Money is always nice but not equal to the pain I felt while I helplessly watched my wife and family suffer in so many ways due to my forced absence.I've been told it was a choice I made that caused their pain! I will accept that as my loved ones have accepted that I am one who follows his own heart. This lifestyle and my involvement in this movement have driven me to be what I felt I have a right to be! When I feel I am right about something I will not back down!If by some chance we [the persecuted in this war] were ever awarded some monetary compensation, I would give or spend it all on those who stood by me and suffered as I did in my behalf.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #10 posted by kaptinemo on April 15, 2009 at 15:53:00 PT:
"Troubling" isn't the half of it
Considering how much of cannabis prohibition is predicated upon misinformation and outright lies, and that millions of people have had their lives ruined on the basis of that misinformation and those lies, and that those who've survived the experience have every right to seek restitution for the misery visited upon them thanks to that misinformation and those lies, it's understandable why Judge Berzon would engage in the Understatement Of The Year to call the situation 'troubling'This has been pointed out here many times, but now, with the economy in tatters, it becomes crystal clear why Uncle Sam will do everything in his power to delay the correction of information the ASA is attempting to achieve. To admit a need to do so is to admit complicity in the greatest, most widespread, literally multigenerational miscarriage of justice in this nation's history since slavery. On the moment that such a correction occurs, the litigation floodgates will open, and what little illusion of fiscal solvency this government tries to project will be swept away by that flood. Which I am sure the top DrugWarriors are well aware of...hence their moving Heaven and Earth to try to stop this from happening.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 15, 2009 at 12:17:24 PT
Tax Day
Well it's over. We had to pay in a lot of money but thanks to our New President we got a $600 reduction on the tax owed.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by runruff on April 15, 2009 at 04:44:35 PT
Ronald Raygun
Can we say dufus!He never seemed to notice that Nancy always had that "thousand yard stare" in her eyes. It was her Valium induced, death mask, countenance. He loved to hear himself talk so much he probably never notice how she never responded.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by Dankhank on April 15, 2009 at 04:41:48 PT
this morning ...
CNN pollshould US legalize drugsDo you think the United States should legalize drugs?No way 6% 138
Yes, all drugs 49% 1112
Only marijuana 45% 1013
Total Votes: 2263
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by runruff on April 15, 2009 at 04:38:06 PT
"The facts only get in the way".-Ronald Raygu
Here she is admitting that telling the truth is a bad thing!I saw Johnny Pee on TV today. His rhetoric so inflammatory and erroneous, I come so close to putting a fire poker into the screen! I think that only the Son-of-Babs could have picked an idiot like that as drug czar!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on April 15, 2009 at 04:19:35 PT
Ron Paul
on CNN, soon, re: legalize/decrim drugs.Likely repeated throughout the day.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by Canis420 on April 14, 2009 at 22:12:51 PT:
Cannabis: Report of the special senate commitee
After reading this 2002 report (link provided)by a senate committee in Canada I have to wonder why cannabis has not been legalized already. It is the most comprehensive and common sense report by a governmental body I have ever read. Someone needs to make sure Jim Webb see's it before he undertakes his review of the criminal justice system.http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/rep-e/summary-e.htm
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Comment #3 posted by DCP on April 14, 2009 at 20:52:37 PT
Troubling
"U.S. Circuit Court Judge Marsha S. Berzon, an appointee of President Clinton, said the law at issue in the case was "amazing" because it did appear to require the government to correct all inaccurate statements, a result she called "troubling."I'm troubled that she is troubled.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by HempWorld on April 14, 2009 at 20:16:28 PT
When policies and laws are based on propaganda ins
tead of science, special interests are rewarded at the expense of we the people.
On a mission from God!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 14, 2009 at 19:48:50 PT
Cannabis Is Medicne
It must be removed from Schedule I. Marijuana has medicinal value and the government sends rolled marijuana to a few people every month and has for years!
[ Post Comment ]
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