cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Should Be a Medicine function share_this(num) { tit=encodeURIComponent('Marijuana Should Be a Medicine'); url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/25/thread25383.shtml'); site = new Array(5); site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit; site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit; site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit; site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit; site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit; window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500'); return false; } Marijuana Should Be a Medicine Posted by CN Staff on February 01, 2010 at 08:32:04 PT By Andrew Pazdon Source: GW Hatchet Washington, D.C. -- If my 93-year-old grandmother lived in a state where medical marijuana wasn't verboten, she would be able to use medical marijuana to help with her glaucoma and her chronic arthritis. My father told me this not that long ago because of pending legislation in the New Hampshire General Court. Apparently, when he told my grandmother this fun factoid, she asked about the delivery method for this new-fangled medical cannabis. He responded that he had heard that back in the day, circa the late '60's, hippy hoodlums would bake their dope into brownies, consume and wait for the effects. So, he suggested she could bake her medical marijuana into her much-loved cinnamon rolls and enjoy with breakfast. I immediately looked up two things: her recipe for cinnamon rolls and what medical marijuana is used to treat.Unfortunately for my grandmother, the bill to legalize medical marijuana was narrowly defeated in the New Hampshire General Court. All jesting aside, I really do mean it when I use the word "unfortunately" to describe the situation in not only New Hampshire, but in all other states that have yet to realize the potential net positives that stem from the legalization of medicinal forms of marijuana.The D.C. Council, in a moment of unconventional wisdom a few weeks ago, became the newest torchbearer in the fight for the legalization of medical marijuana. A bill that is supported by a majority of the council, according to the Washington Post, was recently proposed and awaits a formal vote and then a signature by Mayor Adrian Fenty. No doubt this act of sensibility will be confronted with plenty of baseless, partisan and obfuscatory hoopla.Cross-country campaigns to legalize medical marijuana are not wholly initiatives that are gateways to the full legalization of marijuana for recreational use. The proposed legislation stipulates that medical marijuana is to only be used for "chronic or long-lasting, debilitating... intractable pain which does not respond to ordinary medical or surgical measures."Studies from Columbia University and the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine have shown cannabis to substantially aid in the coping with HIV/AIDS. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Madrid have shown cannabis to help the retardation of cancerous cells. Cannabis has also been suggested the world over as a non-addictive alternative to opioids. In this way, cannabis can solidly be considered a miracle drug for those who are afflicted with chronic pain and suffering.The American Medical Association recently joined its colleagues in the American College of Physicians, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Nurses Association, and other organizations in calling on marijuana to be classified as a legitimate medicine and not as an illicit drug.It is quite contradictory for us as a country to keep drug dispensaries on nearly every corner fully stocked with all sorts of nasty, side-effect-ridden and potentially fatal, dangerous drugs, while summarily excluding marijuana for unknown, if not purely political, reasons. Our very own Drug Enforcement Administration reports that prescription drugs are abused almost as much as the illegal marijuana. Yet somehow, in our infinite wisdom, we find it completely acceptable to continue to dispense narcotics while simultaneously blocking the use of medical marijuana.I doubt many of my peers at GW are suddenly going to develop arthritis, glaucoma or severe chronic pain so they can use the medical marijuana dispensaries. It will be treated like any other drug that is used to help our fellow citizens cope with their ailments. This is not going to induce more illicit drug use or ruin the pinnacle of society.I unequivocally applaud D.C.'s government for charging through and casting off the hypocrisy. Let our physicians practice medicine the way they see fit and let them have every tool at their disposal to help their patients through their darkest hours.The writer, a sophomore majoring in international affairs, is a Hatchet columnist.Source: GW Hatchet (George Washington U, DC Edu)Author: Andrew PazdonPublished: February 1, 2010Copyright: 2010 The GW HatchetContact: letters gwhatchet.comWebsite: http://www.gwhatchet.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/lBaucK6kCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 03, 2010 at 05:59:25 PT afterburner I do remember that.We watched the Grammy's and they mentioned Neil but that was all. The Grammys were really strange to me. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by afterburner on February 03, 2010 at 00:06:07 PT FoM Remember when the medical-cannabis vending machines were installed and the prohibitionists howled against them? Looks like they think the vending idea is sound as long as synthetic pharmaceuticals are stocked instead of herbs.Drug-dispensing kiosks on the way. February 1, 2010. Jim Wilkes, STAFF REPORTER Drug-dispensing machines tested in Toronto medical centres will be permanent fixtures across the province under a plan approved by the Ontario Hospital Association. http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/healthcaresystem/article/758494--drug-dispensing-kiosks-on-the-wayApparently, the Grammy presentations at MusiCares were not televised: Jan 31 2010 - 1:46am. GRAMMY Week Blogs's picture. A Heart Of Gold. GRAMMY Week Blogs. By Melinda Newman. A cluster of stars including Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Norah Jones, Dave Matthews, Leon Russell, Stephen Stills, and Keith Urban pay tribute to 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year Neil Young. http://www.grammy.com/blogs/a-heart-of-gold [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by ekim on February 02, 2010 at 12:15:55 PT open web site see mom with son interesting that the other guests are listed in right side with mom and son in picture box -- but no expanation to the fact of using cannabis for his condition. Maybe more is there i am just posting this link as i was searching wrong name of show.with that said i feel the show did a good job of presenting the issue.http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/this_weeks_shows [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 01, 2010 at 18:21:25 PT ekim Thank you. We looked but we weren't sure what channel it was on. We caught something on Current on marijuana right at the end that didn't look familar today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by ekim on February 01, 2010 at 17:50:40 PT the med cannabis story of autistic boy the boy was wasting away and had tried 13 different meds and has been on cannabis brownies (one every other day or so) and gaining weight since last April.His Mother said he has gained weight and his mood has changed for the better.I watched this show on NBC on ch 8 at 3pm eastern time in MI.the name of the show iscalled Ask the DRS -- tried to google it with no luck. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on February 01, 2010 at 12:03:07 PT Ask the Docs on TV has story on med cannabis now [ Post Comment ] Post Comment