cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Debate Heats Up
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Medical Marijuana Debate Heats Up
Posted by CN Staff on April 30, 2009 at 21:25:33 PT
By Laura Griffith, The Telegraph
Source: Alton Telegraph
Illinois -- Opponents of the Illinois medical marijuana movement are taking potshots at its supporters. The opponents are speaking out in response to several recent ads they're labeling "misinformation" as separate bills await their fate in the Illinois Senate and House."There are many casualties in the Marijuana Policy Project's campaign; the first is the truth," Dr. Andrea Barthwell, chief executive officer of the Human Resource Development Institute, said in a news release.
HRDI is one of the largest African-American behavioral health care organizations in the United States. "The health and welfare of our children and the safety of our communities are the ultimate victims when the marijuana legalization lobby has its way," she said. "The Marijuana Policy Project is a powerful, super-funded organization, whose ultimate goal is to legalize marijuana."Bruce Mirken, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, a nationwide advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., said Thursday that those allegations are "laughably false," deceiving and untrue.The TV commercials, which were introduced in April and began running in the Chicago, Peoria, and Decatur/Springfield/Champaign areas, feature testimonials from two real patients in Illinois regarding the use of medical marijuana.The ads can be viewed at: http://www.mpp.org/ads"Seriously ill patients like Lisa (Lange Van Camp of Lindenhurst) and Lucie (Macfarlane of Joliet) should not have to fear being arrested for using a medicine that can, and has, helped them," said state Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, who previously served four terms as Madison County state's attorney and is sponsor of the Senate medical marijuana bill. "It is our hope that my colleagues in the Senate will recognize that there are many patients out there who could benefit from this legislation and pass this sensible, compassionate bill."Medical marijuana can be ingested three ways - smoking, vaporizing or eating - and would be prescribed for seriously ill patients to help with severe pain and some other ailments.Users would need a recommendation from a medical doctor in order to possess marijuana plants, and then would be required to purchase an identification card to have them.Haine said the bill, along with its many amendments at this stage, includes a number of safeguards to make sure marijuana doesn't get into the wrong hands. Still, opponents worry that the bill, should it become law, would expand the influences of drug cartels."That's plainly ridiculous," Haine said."If anything, it will take business away from cartels and gangs, because patients won't have to get it on the street," Mirken said.Others argue that legalizing pot would send a message to children that marijuana is a medication and, therefore, must be safe.Haine disagreed and pointed out that part of the identification card fee would go into an education fund to warn children about the dangers of substance abuse, including abuse of marijuana.He said his experience as a state's attorney allows him to see and understand concerns from a law enforcement perspective, and because of that, he has added a number of amendments to ensure that the bill does not become a road to legalization and that it actually decreases abuse of the drug. These amendments include a reduction in the number of plants a patient would be allowed to possess to three, and severe penalties for those who misuse. One other safeguard is that the law would "sunset," or expire, in three years, so that legislators could look at its effects on society and determine whether to keep it in place. "California's (law) was a referendum placed on the ballot in sloppy fashion. There are problems with that," Haine said. "We have taken care to avoid those problems."Haine said many opponents simply refuse to believe marijuana ever could do any good, because they worry that it is addictive and that it's a gateway drug. "Gateway to what? Most of these people are dying for God's sake," he said. "I strongly suggest (opponents) read the bill."Haine's bill can be read in full at: http://drugsense.org/url/KK9XRwoN"We know that our efforts can nowhere near match the Marijuana Policy Project's upcoming media barrage, but we are hopeful that the truth will prevail," said Judy Kreamer, president of Educating Voices Inc., an organization dedicated to educating citizens about the dangers of drugs.Opponents have pointed to National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that all 12 states that enacted medical marijuana laws prior to 2008 remain above the national average for youth past-month marijuana use (6.02 percent), with the three highest rates in the country being Maine (10.99 percent), Montana (10.56 percent) and Vermont (10.08) percent. But medical marijuana advocates have statistics of their own. "(The opponents are) ignoring a dozen years' real world experience," Mirken said.In 11 states that have had laws in place long enough to have gathered proper statistics, teen marijuana use actually has gone down, he said."It's a fact that today's marijuana is much more powerful and much more addictive than it was a generation ago," Barthwell said. "Over seven million Americans suffer from illegal drug dependence, and more than 60 percent are dependent on or are abusing marijuana."Mirken said that while average potency may have gone up, that only means that patients who need to smoke marijuana don't have to smoke as much to feel the benefits."There's no evidence that it makes it more addictive," he argues."No one has ever died from marijuana overdose," Haine said. "People have died from Oxycontin use when it's prescribed."Haine said the deadline for a vote was supposed to be today, but time is needed to consider amendments that would further refine the bill.The new deadline won't come for a few weeks, although Haine said he doesn't think he'll need that long and plans to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote sometime next week.He said he hopes his peers will look at scientific facts, read the bill carefully and have compassion for patients who could benefit from the use of medical marijuana.Source: Alton Telegraph, The (IL)Author: Laura Griffith, The TelegraphPublished: April 30, 2009Copyright: 2009 The TelegraphContact: telegraph thetelegraph.comWebsite: http://www.thetelegraph.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/QygA0oEWRelated Articles:Patients Deserve Right To Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24759.shtmlLang, Haine Give Medical Marijuana a Pushhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24745.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by BobbyRa on May 04, 2009 at 19:02:45 PT
Thank You Senator Haine
A legislator looking at this reasonably. And please, I am tired of sneaking around.
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Comment #14 posted by kaptinemo on May 02, 2009 at 11:49:23 PT:
Ever seen a lion scared of a mouse?
I never have. I'm sure most of the people here never have, either.We know that our efforts can nowhere near match the Marijuana Policy Project's upcoming media barrage, but we are hopeful that the truth will prevail," said Judy Kreamer, president of Educating Voices Inc., an organization dedicated to educating citizens about the dangers of drugs.What she is referring to is a supposed 'massive' amount of funding the MPP is supposed to have.Oh, really? And just which organizations have enjoyed, for decades, the largesse afforded to them by both the taxpayers and special interests (whose profit margins are threatened by re-legalized cannabis)? Which organizations have, year after year, taken the money of corporations who produce recreational drugs with definitive lethal consequences for imbibing and inhaling them? Sure ain't the MPP, sweetie. Look in the mirror if you want the answer.It's time to call them out, publicly, for what they are:LIARS. Just as we did with the word 'prohibition', by using it again and again and again, in our LTE's , in TV interviews, in our missives to our elected Representatives, we must call the prohibs out as the liars they are, and dare them to debate. No soft, sweet asking, DARE them to debate and prove you wrong about their mendacity, and call them cowards when they try to wave you off dismissively. And yes, if you have to, make it personal; after all, years ago, they lumped dug law reformers in with murderers and pedophiles in Congressional testimony. Why the seeming belligerence? For the same reason you don't leave a mortally wounded and dangerous animal on the loose. And that's what drug prohibition has become. It's dying a slow death of a thousand financial cuts, but it's still dangerous. It's still able to lash out and maim and kill. As it does every day, despite the fiscal (and thus, political) writing on the wall that it's days are numbered. NOW IS THE TIME. The Beast is wounded and bleeding, but it still has its' claws and fangs. It's time for the coup de grace.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on May 02, 2009 at 09:10:18 PT
Vincent
Hello back at you!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 02, 2009 at 09:04:47 PT
Hope
About the Mexico article. I have always believed that change would not come with a big bang but a whimper. It's really happening quietly.
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Comment #11 posted by Vincent on May 02, 2009 at 09:00:08 PT:
Unbelievable Propaganda
Hello everybody, I just read this article and I can't believe the garbage that comes out of these fools mouths: "There are many casualties in the Marijuana Policy Project's campaign; the first is the truth," Dr. Andrea Barthwell, chief executive officer of the Human Resource Development Institute, said in a news release. HRDI is one of the largest African-American behavioral health care organizations in the United States. That's very typical--Conservative, bible banging prohibitionists always quote Conservative, bible banging Black organizations in an effort to "show" that most Blacks agree with them. Now, I grew up around mostly Black people in my neighborhood in the Bronx, and let me tell you, we all smoked herb together, that's a fact. The article goes on to say: Others argue that legalizing pot would send a message to children that marijuana is a medication and, therefore, must be safe. Haine said many opponents simply refuse to believe marijuana ever could do any good, because they worry that it is addictive and that it's a gateway drug. That is so true. Now, listen to this other fool: "We know that our efforts can nowhere near match the Marijuana Policy Project's upcoming media barrage, but we are hopeful that the truth will prevail," said Judy Kreamer, president of Educating Voices Inc. "It's a fact that today's marijuana is much more powerful and much more addictive than it was a generation ago," Barthwell said.How long have I been hearing that foolishness? For one thing, it's a LIE. I've been smoking since 1969 and I used to get much higher in those days. I wish I had some "Panama Red" right now.
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on May 02, 2009 at 08:51:30 PT
Comment 5
It's rather odd... or maybe not, that that hasn't been reported on by anyone else. It's been thirteen hours since Reuters released the story... and it happened Thursday.
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Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on May 02, 2009 at 08:48:48 PT
Former Deputy Drug Czar Dr. Andrea Barthwell…
…””says she trusts legal, prescription drugs over resorting to drug cartels for your medicine.””So do most people…so why all the rants to keep it illegal and classified as schedule 1???Never mind Andrea…I don’t expect an answer from you…but many people know why you do what you do…. ************Equal with lettuce, tomatoes, spinach and collards…Free the weed…clean the streets…************http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127343055695We are more than just a group. We are registered voters willing to sign a petition to show our support for medical marijuana. We are a political committee registered with the state of Florida to restore patients' rights to receive safe, affordable and effective medication. We are collecting signatures to amend the constitution.A Florida Political Committee... http://www.pufmm.org/
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Comment #8 posted by George Servantes on May 02, 2009 at 07:37:52 PT
marinol
it contains only one active chemical, but marijuana contains over 60 active chemicals.
So in any ways marijuana is far superior. and it's natural and safest drug known to man.
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Comment #7 posted by George Servantes on May 02, 2009 at 07:35:33 PT
AdaptBones
They don't think marijuana is a medicine because many people use it recreationally.
We must understand their egoistical fears and show them by our example that marijuana can also be very effective medication.
But they know if it's legalized as medicine, next step is total legalization. That's what they fear, their ego losing control.
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on May 01, 2009 at 21:32:41 PT
Doctor, first do no harm!
"there is medicine available that contains the active ingredient in marijuana "Marinol; My doctor says it is only good for legally passing a drug test. As a medicine it is useless!Barthwell reminds me so much of a broken little wind up monkeys that beats on it's drum while spinning around and around. Amusing at first but soon grows tiring....yawn!
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on May 01, 2009 at 20:19:35 PT
Off Topic
Mexico's legalization bill passed both houses!Mexico passes bill on small-scale drugs possessionhttp://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN01336313
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on May 01, 2009 at 18:16:31 PT
Barthwell's perfidy.
Pathetic.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on May 01, 2009 at 18:05:13 PT
AdaptBones Comment 2
Thank you! Very well said.
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Comment #2 posted by AdaptBones on May 01, 2009 at 17:06:18 PT:
WHAT??
"The Marijuana Policy Project is a powerful, super-funded organization, whose ultimate goal is to legalize marijuana."Alright, first off we are "super-funded"??!! Really? From WHO exactly are we getting this "super funding" from? If you want super funded go look at the pharm or tabacco lobbies and stop spreading lies. "Others argue that legalizing pot would send a message to children that marijuana is a medication and, therefore, must be safe"Sooo...you mean like pharmas do with EVERY DRUG THEY CREATE AND PUT TO MARKET?? And are they mad about the fact that cannabis would be considered a "medication" or that it would be seen as "safe"? Quite frankly it IS a medication (or at least it can be used for that with only natural risks) and compared to man made drugs it is HIGHLY safe. Sure you have the carbon from smoking the plant but that is an avoidable consequence by eating or vaporizing. Blessed be and prohibs, go ahead and try again because you just make me laugh at this point.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 01, 2009 at 13:12:43 PT
Illinois Radio Network
Those Opposing Medical Marijuana Speak With Lawmakers May 1, 2009Just a few days after proponents of medical marijuana legislation voiced their opinions at the state Capitol, those with the opposite view point came to express theirs.Former Deputy Drug Czar Dr. Andrea Barthwell says there is medicine available that contains the active ingredient in marijuana which supposedly makes people feel better, although she understands that some people think it's not the same. Even still, she says she trusts legal, prescription drugs over resorting to drug cartels for your medicine.
URL: http://www.wgil.com/localnews.php?xnewsaction=fullnews&newsarch=052009&newsid=5
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