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News Smart Talk Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Purposes--Monday, August, 17
News Smart Talk Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Purposes--Monday, August, 17
| Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Purposes--Monday, August, 17 |
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| Monday, 17 August 2009 08:00 |
 Thirteen states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Is Pennsylvania next? Patients suffering from glaucoma or the nausea of chemotherapy say marijuana can reduce their symptoms and pain.In Pennsylvania rep. Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) is proposing legislation to allow patients to use marijuana. Social conservatives disagree and believe it could lead to more drug use.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
GUESTS
Chris Goldstein
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana
David Evans
Special Advisor to the Drug Free America Foundation
Comments (39)
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written by Bob in Lancaster , August 17, 2009, 09:13:08 AM Greetings, Your show airs during my work day, so it is not possible for me to contact you while you're live. Your topic does intersect a situation in my life that I hope will be part of the discussion. My mother, at 85, is in generally good health but her short-term memory is a casualty of the onset of dementia. Having grown up on a Lancaster County farm through the depression and raised four sons on a limited budget, wasting food has always been anathema to her. It has become increasingly difficult to get her to eat enough at mealtime, as she will only eat what she feels is necessary. This is especially difficult to overcome in her own home - partially-consumed Meals On Wheels containers accumulate in her refrigerator and are only discarded after several days, and then under protest. Even discarding sour milk is a problem because she has recipes that use it as an ingredient, though she no longer cooks for herself. Doctors have yet found no medical reason for her appetite loss, including as a possible side-effect of her half-dozen daily medications. We've been told that no effective medical solutions to boost appetite exist. My frustration with this ongoing effort of everyone in her life to overcome her good-natured (and one might say altruistic) refusal to consume any more food than she feels is appropriate has often led me to wonder if an occasional batch of those "Special Brownies" that were part of the culinary landscape in the sixties and seventies might not help boost her appetite a bit. I would never do that, of course, but I often wonder if appetite enhancement is an area where Medical Marijuana or some derivative of it might not be an effective solution. I hope that you will be able to address this aspect of the topic cin the course of your program. report abuse
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written by Tom , August 17, 2009, 09:38:28 AM I have to question the sincerity of having this debate, that is sociological, couched in these terms - where the test of marijuana is whether or not it is proven to have medical use? Does Beer, and cocktails pass that measure? And isn't alcohol proven to cause liver damage, and how many deaths each year caused by the intoxicated? Putting it to directed scientific research is bound to lead to variant lines of data, since the scientist will only report findings that he has been directed to find. I fear that this is only an example of hypocrisy report abuse
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written by Ken Wolski, RN , August 17, 2009, 09:44:45 AM Having qualified patients or their caregivers grow a limited supply of marijuana on a physician’s recommendation is part of the program of all thirteen states that have passed these laws. Nor does this patient access result in greater recreational use of marijuana—a common fear. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration studies show that teenage marijuana use has declined in eight of ten medical marijuana states between 1999 and 2006. Marijuana use by AIDS patients and cancer patients deglamorizes its use for teenagers. It is not something they want to emulate. Moreover, for the past 30 years, the Monitoring the Future surveys have shown that over 80% of high school seniors in the U.S. have said that marijuana is “very easy to obtain” or “fairly easy to obtain.” Instituting a medical marijuana program simply cannot increase availability to teens and almost certainly will result in decreased teen use. Another study by Texas A&M University shows that adult use of marijuana has remained steady in medical marijuana states. As further proof that these programs are working well, about a dozen other states have legislation or ballot initiatives pending that will allow qualified patients to grow their own medical marijuana. It is a wonderful advance in American healthcare to allow patients to produce their own medicine and individually adjust the dosage to control their symptoms, safely, under medical supervision. This will produce tremendous savings both to the patient and to the state. This will also refocus the health care industry away from the pharmaceutical industry and the health insurance industry and a back towards the patient, where the focus of health care belongs. report abuse
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written by Michael , August 17, 2009, 10:04:26 AM David is totally uninformed. I retract that - he's informed in the most slanted of ways or is such a well practiced attorney that he skills at presenting one side. Criminal attorneys PROFIT from prohibitive laws such as the ones governing hemp, cannabis, and marijuana. You and all your guests would do well to go to Blockbuster in the 'new release' section & rent "The Union... the business behind getting high". It's still in my DVD player as I write this, and while it doesn't support David's position 100% ( but close ) it completely negates everything Chris positions & substantiates every detail with all the research that has ever been done in 10,000 years. Please check it out & do another show. As a clinician from a family of lawyers, it's obvious to me that when Mr. Evans makes statements like, "an 18 year old kid from California...", he's putting his spin on his argument - in California, an 18 year old is and ADULT, but that doesn't sound as scary. He says the State of California "issued a statement"... but that statement is NOT backed by any clinical research, it's backed by lobbyists. He claims there are studies that prove "increased potency in contemporary marijuana" - FALSE. After 10,000 years a plant is going to make an evolutionary jump in under 40 years?!?! Impossible. As a matter of fact, every claim I heard him make today is impossible and DISPROVED in 'The Union'. Keep in mind, this movie's platform is that marijuana growers DON'T want it to be legalized because it's so profitable. Prohibition of marijuana is also most profitable to CRIMINAL ATTORNEYS like Mr. Evans. They are the two leading groups against decriminalization or legalization of marijuana/cannabis/hemp. Your guests were great & so was the show, but if any of your listeners or readers want to fill in the blanks of this broad spectrum of opinions with facts - rent 'The Union'! report abuse
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written by Jennifer , August 17, 2009, 10:04:45 AM As a nurse, I have seen many patients suffering from horrible side effects like nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotheraputic treatments. Conventional drugs often are often ineffective and we have to give antiemetic after antiemetic to try to help patients have some relief. Just recently I saw the administration of drug called dronabinol (Marinol), a synthetic cannabinoid, prescribed to a patient with reccurrent anorexia and nausea, help her eat an hour after giving it. If marijuana could be a solution to anyone's pain and suffering, I will support it completely. The founders of our country used marijuana for centuries and I don't believe it ever caused them to use "gateway drugs" or have children with birth defects. I think some people tend to forget that it is an herb, after all. report abuse
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written by Ken Wolski, RN , August 17, 2009, 10:06:39 AM Members of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (www.cmmnj.org) will hold a rally on the sidewalk in front of the Somerset County Court House, 20 North Bridge St., Somerville, NJ on Friday, August 21, 2009 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM in support of multiple sclerosis (MS) patient John Ray Wilson. Wilson faces 20 years in prison for growing 17 marijuana plants that he used to treat his MS. Wilson was charged with “manufacturing” marijuana and he was told by Superior Court Judge Robert Reed during a pre-trial hearing last month that he may not let the jury know that he has MS, or that his use of marijuana was an attempt to treat his disease. This ruling effectively removes Wilson’s only defense for his actions. Wilson plans to appeal the judge’s decision. Wilson is self-employed, has no health insurance and faces mounting legal bills. The National MS Society recently confirmed in an Expert Opinion Paper that standard therapies often provide inadequate relief for the symptoms of MS such as pain and spasticity, and that marijuana helps with these symptoms and could limit disease progression. To know that a safe and inexpensive herb like marijuana is able to relieve the pain and spasticity of MS and to actually arrest the progression of this incurable disease is a compelling reason to use it therapeutically. CMMNJ members want to demonstrate their outrage that Wilson faces many years in prison for this, and that he cannot even explain to the jury why he was using marijuana. The MS Society estimates that 15% of people with this disease use marijuana for symptom relief. report abuse
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written by Suzanna , August 17, 2009, 11:01:50 AM I was appalled by the false claims made by David and the ways he attempted to skew the arguement. For example, he said, at least three times, that smoking any substance is harmful to the body. That is irrelevant. It is not necessary to smoke marijuana in order to experience its affects. If that is truely what his position revolves around then he should be fighting for medical marijuana to be taken in specific forms. I would encourage you to advise any guests you have on you future shows to have references for factual statements they make (other than websites run by their organizations). I happen to be informed on this specific subject so it was clear to me that David was making unfounded claims. But I can imagine that if one was new to the subject it would have been difficult to know whether or not to believe David or Chris considering they were claiming truth in oppositional facts. report abuse
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written by Robert Colgan , August 17, 2009, 11:10:54 AM I called in to the show, this is what I wanted to more fully say: The discussion Monday completely and inaccurately conflated marijuana used for MEDICAL function with marijuana used for frivolous or "RECREATIONAL" function. Saying something IS what something is NOT creates confusion and deceit. The exact same confused argument could be applied to any medication, organically derived or synthetic -------- but to deny the therapeutic application of marijuana, as David Evans from drugfree org did, is disingenuous, and scientifically illogical. Medical use of marijuana would be between doctor and patient. Controlled. And in small measure because not that many patients fit the criteria. A medical system which endorses the use of opiates-----very strong and addictive analgesics derived from poppies-----yet continues to deny other far safer plants, like marijuana. . . . . could seriously be described as crazy. I want to add that I am not in favor of marijuana recreational use by children (Adults may do as they wish) because marijuana, like many powerful herbs, can potentially adversely influence growth: I have found that it reduces the internal navigational energy which guides the person on their life path, possibly throwing them off that track. I am not in favor of most drugs for similar reason. I also know that some people respond negatively to THC, and for them it has an opposite effect. All drugs should be used advisedly and sensibly. . . . the same as food or anything we put into our bodies. report abuse
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written by Amy , August 17, 2009, 11:27:01 AM So-called medical marijuana programs are being abused in every state that has implemented them! Proponents claim that only people with diagnosed with terminal illnesses or patients that have exhausted all other forms of treatment will be accepted to use “medical” marijuana. This is simply not true. Not all states have ID programs that track that is really using marijuana under the guise of medicine, but of those that do, only 2% are “treating” serious conditions such as HIV, cancer, and glaucoma. report abuse
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written by tomatoes , August 17, 2009, 12:29:25 PM Did Mr. Goldstein really just compare the growing of marijuana to the growing of tomatoes??!! report abuse
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written by Derek , August 17, 2009, 12:40:34 PM Man, Dave Evans really like to wave the fear flag around, but just like most things anti-drug fanatics like to blather about, he's wrong. 1.) Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program - the FEDERAL government has been sending medical marijuana to patients since the 1980s. Look it up. 2.) Marinol is 100% THC. How can he claim that 100% THC is any better than the high potency plants he rails against? Can't have it both ways, Dave, especially when Marinol costs patients $2,300 a month and half the time puts them in a catatonic state! 3.) The Institute of Medicine did a report at the request of the ONDCP during the Clinton administration called 'Marijuana and Medicine - Assessing the Science Base'. It's conclusions are way too long to post here, but you can visit http://www.pa4mmj.org/cannabis/medical to read it for yourself. report abuse
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written by Derek , August 17, 2009, 01:58:31 PM In reply to Tom's question, this should help: From the IoM's 1999 report: "Efficacy of Cannabinoid Drugs The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation. The therapeutic effects of cannabinoids are best established for THC, which is generally one of the two most abundant of the cannabinoids in marijuana. (Cannabidiol is generally the other most abundant cannabinoid.)" and "Use of Smoked Marijuana Because of the health risks associated with smoking, smoked marijuana should generally not be recommended for long-term medical use. Nonetheless, for certain patients, such as the terminally ill or those with debilitating symptoms, the long-term risks are not of great concern. Further, despite the legal, social, and health problems associated with smoking marijuana, it is widely used by certain patient groups." report abuse
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written by John , August 17, 2009, 03:48:20 PM Running to get coffee this morning I thought my radio station had been switched to Rush or one of his ilk. It was actually painful to listen to the lies and misinformation David Evans was spouting about marijuana usage. Alcohol is by far the most dangerous and debilitating substance legally available to americans, and yet its usage is controlled through laws. Marijuana usage could be regulated in a similar manner. Wouldn't it be nice to know that your child isn't going to get behind the wheel of a car and kill themselves or some innocent person? Sure, like the one caller pointed out, marijuana isn't for everyone as it induces mild anxiety in some people. The only true harm from marijuana usage is the draconian laws against it. Keeping alcohol usage legal does not make it any less dangerous. Drink up Mr. Evans! report abuse
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written by DFAF , August 17, 2009, 03:49:26 PM Chris Goldstein, as always, sited a lot of misinformation in this interview. In an attempt to discredit David Evans, who is a Special Advisor of Drug Free America Foundation, Chris stated he had Drug Free America Foundation's tax reports in front of him from 1991. Chirs also stated that Drug Free America Foundation received funding from Pharmaceutical companies and Tobacco companies such as Roche Labs, Johnson & Johnson and RJ Reynolds. It needs to be made perfectly clear that Mr. Goldstein did not do his research properly. First off it is impossible that he had a 1991 tax return as Drug Free America Foundation, a Not for Profit organization, was founded in 1995. The Drug Free America Foundation also does not and never has taken money fom Tobacco, Alcohol or Pharmaceutical companies. Check out www.dfaf.org where annual reports are posted. Drug Free America Foudation however is a drug prevention and policy organization committed to developing, promoting and sustaining global strategies, policies and laws that will reduce illegal drug use, drug addiction, drug-related injury and death. This type of misinformation and propaganda is how organizations such as Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana scare citizens into considering legalizing an addictive substance under the guise of medicine. For the real truth on Medical Marijuana visit this link http://www.dfaf.org/questions-answers/marijuana report abuse
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written by Robert Colgan , August 17, 2009, 05:02:39 PM DFAF, I visited that link and found it generally sensible . . . until I got to the part: Question: "BUT ISN'T ALLOWING MARIJUANA FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEALTH PROBLEMS A COMPASSIONATE THING TO DO? Answer: "Not really. “Medicalizing” this harmful substance has caused truly ill people to refuse proper medical care, thinking that because marijuana makes them feel better they are getting better. Medical practitioners and others who are truly concerned for the sick have higher standards and greater compassion – we want the ill to receive the medicine they need. The medical excuse marijuana movement has become a device used by special interest groups to exploit the sick and dying and well-meaning voters for their own purposes." And I am amazed at your callousness and ignorance. That you would even use the word "compassionate" in the question...only to later reveal that your sense of compassion is dictating to the ill what they should feel, what they should do with their bodies----is the height of patronizing arrogance. Your hubris knows no bounds: "we want the sick to receive the medicine they need"----clearly indicates that you do NOT want the sick to receive the medicine they need, only the medicine you approve of, that makes someone a profit from the sale to the sick. You want to stop drug use in America, DFAF? Then campaign for the decriminalization of drugs and the iplementation of education and drug treatment facilities deferred from the billions that is spent yearly in the insane cat-and-mouse battle between suppliers and users and law enforcers in our so-called drug war. Put your money where your mouth is. Otherwise, you lack credibility. And stop conflating medical drug use with recreational-----you definitely lack credibility on this one. report abuse
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written by Derek , August 17, 2009, 05:46:02 PM To DFAF: It was a phone caller who was making those accusations, not Mr. Goldstein. If you're going to get all uppity about something like that, at least get your facts right on who asked it! Also how dare you sit there on your high horse claiming that they scare people into supporting medical marijuana! That pedestal you put yourself on is on shaky ground my friend, and one day it's going to collapse out from under you and bury you in the same BS that you keep spouting. Remember, in Evans' own words from this interview, the only thing stopping Dave Evans from supporting medical marijuana is the Federal government's own ridiculous stance on it. As soon as HR 2835 passes, his opinion will be even more worthless than it is now. report abuse
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written by Becky , August 17, 2009, 06:06:03 PM This is Becky, the lady who phoned into the show this morning. I'll reiterate my concern to keep pot illegal When I was 14 years old, I smoked some pot for the first time, and within minutes had a full-blown panic attack, intense body pain, and vertigo and depersonalization. That one pot joint completely changed my personality and my psyche from that day forward, and ruined my life. I am now 48 years old and suffer the effects of depersonalization disorder daily which was precipitated by the ONE TIME use of pot. Who will know if they will be the one who succumbs to its ill effects? Will you? Some of us are genetically sensitive to its adverse psychoactive properties. Most people who smoke pot know friends who have had panic attacks from the weed. Many kids need to go to the ER when panic symptoms occur after smoking some weed with some friends. Mr. Cohen made the comment that if you smoke too much you just fall asleep, hogwash. A large group of smokers have many unusual symptoms from the stuff depending often on the setting in which they use the pot. Growing pot at home will open the gate to abuse--use your common sense. Also, Mr. Cohen was wrong in his deducing statement that I was schizophrenic. Depersonalization Disorder is not Schizophrenia, it is a Dissociative Disorder, but with Intact Reality Testing, I've been ruled out for Schizophrenia. This toxic herb called marijuana is a psychoactive drug and I've known people who have used it for years and suddenly find themselves trapped inside a mental cage--Depersonalization Disorder--in which they cannot escape. DP can strike at any time during use, especially if one is stressed. I'll fight to keep pot out of the homes and especially away from our kids! report abuse
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written by Ken Wolski, RN , August 17, 2009, 06:44:35 PM David Evans said it, "is not in (America's) best interest..to allow states to decide what is medicine and what is not. That would bring chaos to our medical system." But that is exactly the system that we have in America. Each state decides what constitutes the proper practice of medicine in that state. That's why I am licensed as an RN in New Jersey and Pennsylvania--because I passed the requirements for licensure in those two states. I am not licensed by the federal government, and I cannot practice as an RN in the other 48 states. It's the same way with physicians. It's also the same way with medical marijuana. If a state decides that marijuana is medicine, as 13 states thus far have, even the Supreme Court cannot nullify those laws. In fact, the Supreme Court specifically acknowledged this when it recently affirmed the Garden Grove decision. It's a shame that Mr. Evans believes the American way is chaos. report abuse
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written by Derek , August 17, 2009, 07:14:43 PM Becky, It's a shame that cannabis may have precipitated the disorder to which you were predisposed. However, science has found that cannabis is not the cause of these conditions, and only in people who are already predisposed, does cannabis use raise that risk slightly. I'd love to see the research (other than your personal experience) you've found on cannabis and your disorder though. If medical marijuana is legalized, at least doctors will be looking at a patient's medical history, will know that patient from doing an examination, before they recommend it as a treatment. The way it is right now, anybody can get it, anybody can use it, and guess what - they do! They do it with no oversight, for any reason they want. HB 1393 allows the state to regain at least a little of the control it's lost due to prohibition. report abuse
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written by Chris , August 18, 2009, 12:10:41 AM Lawyers, drug moguls and other societal bottom-feeders aside, since when is it so wrong for sick and dying people to grow their own medication for free? Doesn't make much sense in a "free" country. I, for one, do not buy the argument exclaiming "it's only safe if the FDA approves it". Tell that to the 40,000 dead people who took Vioxx. Secretly, I suspect that drug companies would be opposed to HB 1393 since there is no profit to be made on an existing plant. In the end, it is the voters who should decide. report abuse
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written by PA4MMJ , August 18, 2009, 09:16:01 AM TO: DFAF - Goldstein was answering a caller’s question about the Partnership for a Drug Free America, whose tax returns were well researched by the Village Voice (1991's returns are online) more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...ee_America He may have mis-spoken the group name; these fanatical prohibition groups sound alike. (Drug Free America Foundation/ Partnership for a Drug Free America) Although the prohibitionists like Evans have their spin off non-profits, they are clearly aligned with the larger group. Against the backdrop of resounding public support for medial marijuana Evans patches together a hollow argument with lies about the facts and clouding the debate with prohibitionist fear-mongering. David Evans and DFAF are not driven by compassion for our fellow citizens by zealous prohibition. Almost every single statement he made about marijuana was false. For example Evans cited a statement put out by the California Environmental Protection Agency. This was not an official statement by the state of California (as Evans claimed in the show), nor did any physicians group, the health department or even a law enforcement group, produce it. Mr. Evans and DFAF rely on spinning tiny snippets of information into large falsehoods. Why would a criminal defense attorney like Evans want to put sick people in jail anyway? Especially since the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDL) has come even out in favor of medical marijuana access! PA4MMJ wants to make sure that doctors and patients get to choose a therapy that works. We want safe, legal access to marijuana to be used under a doctor’s supervision. HB1393 would keep people out of jail and help them find relief for serious medical conditions. Medical Marijuana works in 13 states; let's allow it to work in PA too. Find out more at www.pa4mmj.org report abuse
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written by PA4MMJ , August 18, 2009, 09:59:20 AM Marijuana is non-toxic. Marijuana has been scientifically proven to alleviate a number of medical conditions. Marijuana has also been shown to be a curative for diseases like MS. More information at www.pa4mmj.org www.safeaccessnow.org and www.medicalcannabis.com In favor of medical marijuana are thousands of local advocates like Goldstein along with national supporting medical and legal organizations. Here is a list of these hundreds of supporting national groups like the American College of Physicians, The American Nurses Association, The American Academy of Family Physicians and The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry FULL LIST http://www.medicalcannabis.com/Grouplist.htm 76% of Pennsylvanians polled in favor of medical marijuana access, the FDA was not mentioned in the PA poll (another Evans lie during the show), it referred to a state program. The Pennsylvania Lawyers Guild issued their support of HB 1393 this June. Even US Senator Arlan Specter supports medical marijuana in PA! Specter told the Philadelphia Daily News in 2006 "If it were legalized in Pennsylvania and if I were in pain and my doctor prescribed it, then yes, absolutely I would." http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillygossip/ Specter_would_puff_if_medical_marijuana_were_legal_in_P ennsylvania.html If HB1393 were to pass in PA here’s what could happen: -Sick people would find relief with marijuana under their doctor’s care as is the case in Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont along with 10 other states -Compassion Centers would be open around the Commonwealth to serve patients -Marijuana use would be de-glamorized with public education about the medical properties of cannabis -Medical Marijuana would offer $25 million or more in taxes annually to Pennsylvania More information www.pa4mmj.org report abuse
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written by L.Foulke , August 18, 2009, 10:11:10 AM I believe marijuana for medical use is long overdue. If someone is in pain or could benefit from it's use, how is it any of my business? The individual has a right to privacy and to decide with their doctor what is appropriate for their care. report abuse
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written by Craig Cohen , August 18, 2009, 10:22:41 AM Hi everyone. Thanks for the terrific discussion on this topic. I wanted to quickly clarify something in one listener's post above. Becky inadvertently attributed some comments to me - statements I didn't make. I believe they may have been stated by one of our guests. Any time we have several voices on air, it's easy to mix them up - I'll use this as a reminder to myself to identify who's talking more often during the program. Again, thanks for the great discussion. - Craig report abuse
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written by Amy E. RN in Upstate NY , August 18, 2009, 10:28:29 AM This is a fascinating discussion to me. I know people who use marajuana for recreation, and have worked with cancer patients that used it for a variety of problems associated with chemotherapy. It is not leagal in NY to date. And in Oregon, it is, which I am not suprised as they also favor active euthanasia (of which I support). In any event, I think that Ken Wolski's comment about deglamorizing marajuana for teens seems fairly accurate. Maybe, as a very smart Nurse Practitioner I know says, legalize it and as Darwin first used Herbert Spencer's phrase "survival of the fittest" as a synonym for "natural selection". This may sound a little crude, but if people aren't smart enough to know better....... report abuse
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written by William Curtis , August 18, 2009, 11:10:42 AM I seem to recall hearing that maybe 400000 people die yearly from alcohol related accidents. There have never been any deaths directly related to marijuana. Just think of the tax revenue from legalized marijuana, the economic benefits to farmers that grow hemp for industry. Think of the medical uses of a nonaddictive medicine to relieve pain and nausea. The drug ,once legal, will stop illegal drug dealers from making millions on it. The state could license it ,control its sale and growth, and it could be dispensed like liquer in a state store. Ill people would not have to be treated like criminals when all they want is help. report abuse
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written by pete , August 18, 2009, 11:12:12 AM to tomatoes, Yes, growing a plant is growing a plant. You do not have to alter the state of bud when removing it from a marijuana plant, it will be ready to be used when you pick it off. When growing plants for opiates, you have to chemically alter the natural state to use them as pain killers. Growing marijuana would be no different then growing anything else that you can use right off the plant, like a tomato. report abuse
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written by Sharon , August 18, 2009, 02:22:04 PM Let’s take the debate back to HB 1393. I listened to statements like,curative properties.I have not heard of anyone whose diabetes, cancer or glaucoma was cured by smoking or ingesting pot. Where is the scientific data for that claim? The crux of the PRO side of this debate rests on “locking up sick people”, but what does HB-1393 really say? Excerpts from the bill: A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or any other weakening medical condition that is recognized by licensed medical authorities as being treatable. OK this definitely leaves the realm of sick dying patients and opens the law up to anyone going in and complaining about aches and pains! Listed qualifications for a Primary caregiver: At least 18 never convicted of a felony drug offense, (misdemeanors ok?) Can’t even drink alcohol until 21 but can distribute pot to a sick person? A physician shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution or penalty in any manner.” The State shall not be held liable for any deleterious (toxic) outcomes from the medical use of marijuana”. (Mr. Goldstein says its non toxic?) Does this open up flood gates for Dr's to set up pot distributing offices? Journalist Lisa Ling(ABC Nightline last night) went to see how easy it would be to get a diagnosis/prescription for RX pot in a “Legal state” She told the Dr. that she was under stress, he checked her vitals, and a few minutes later left with a prescription for pot and a registration card. My question is this: Is the millions of dollars being spent on lobbying to get these RX Pot bills passed bills passed really about the compassion for dying people or are these dying people, like so many, being used to further a much larger agenda? Condemnation without investigation is ignorance. Read it for yourself and then ask journalist Lisa Ling this question! http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=DOC&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1393&pn=1714 report abuse
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written by Viks , August 18, 2009, 08:42:45 PM What's David's concern, process or Marijuana's purported lack of medicinal properties? If the F.D.A. approved it he would not be opposed to its legalization for medical use he says. How does he dispute its medicinal properties yet there's synthetic products designed off marijuana that must have gone through the F.D.A. process? In which case should he not be more concerned with how to eliminate loopholes that would allow "18 year olds to grow 6" herbs in their backyard? So maybe it should not be smoked as a medicine, don't criminalize it, find a different formulation. The testimony of ill people who have benefited from the use of cannabis is argument enough. Keep politics out of it. People before profits. report abuse
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written by michael houle , August 19, 2009, 05:46:43 PM to whom it may concern: i heard a small portion of the drug related show. On that show chris golddstein mentioned that certain active components of marijuana can be "curative" for certain medical conditions. he mentioned diabetes as one of these diseases. i am a certified diabetes educator and would like to get his documentation on this as i have never have heard of it. can you provide me with info so i can contact him. thank you, michael houle, rd, ldn, cde report abuse
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written by Derek , August 20, 2009, 01:13:08 AM From http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7005 : A search of the scientific literature reveals no clinical investigations of cannabis for the treatment of diabetes, but does identify a small number of preclinical studies indicating that cannabinoids may modify the disease’s progression and provide symptomatic relief to those suffering from it.[1-2] Most recently, a study published in the journal Autoimmunity reported that injections of 5 mg per day of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD significantly reduced the incidence of diabetes in mice. Investigators reported that 86% of untreated control mice in the study developed diabetes. By contrast, only 30% of CBD-treated mice developed the disease.[3] In a separate experiment, investigators reported that control mice all developed diabetes at a median of 17 weeks (range 15-20 weeks), while a majority (60 percent) of CBD-treated mice remained diabetes-free at 26 weeks.[4] report abuse
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written by Tony , August 20, 2009, 05:02:29 AM Drink yourself to death, it's legal. Or smoke yourself straight, it's not legal. Both are available on almost any street corner. What's wrong with this picture? Can we PLEASE get on with the legalization of this stuff already? Our taxation of this product will help our government balance it's budget. Well, perhaps in the short term anyway. (No pun) Thanks, Tony report abuse
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written by Ken Wolski, RN , August 21, 2009, 07:09:15 PM Members of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (www.cmmnj.org) held a rally on the sidewalk in front of the Somerset County Court House in Somerville, NJ today, August 21, 2009 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM in support of multiple sclerosis (MS) patient John Ray Wilson. Wilson faces 20 years in prison for growing 17 marijuana plants that he used to treat his MS. Wilson was charged with “manufacturing” marijuana and he was told by Superior Court Judge Robert Reed during a pre-trial hearing last month that he may not let the jury know that he has MS, or that his use of marijuana was an attempt to treat his disease. This ruling effectively removes Wilson’s only defense for his actions. Wilson plans to appeal the judge’s decision. Wilson is self-employed, has no health insurance and faces mounting legal bills. The National MS Society recently confirmed in an Expert Opinion Paper that standard therapies often provide inadequate relief for the symptoms of MS such as pain and spasticity, and that marijuana helps with these symptoms and could limit disease progression. To know that a safe and inexpensive herb like marijuana is able to relieve the pain and spasticity of MS and to actually arrest the progression of this incurable disease is a compelling reason to use it therapeutically. CMMNJ members demonstrated their outrage that Wilson faces many years in prison for this, and that he cannot even explain to the jury why he was using marijuana. The MS Society estimates that 15% of people with this disease use marijuana for symptom relief. report abuse
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written by Professor W , August 26, 2009, 03:21:57 PM I believe that small amounts of marijuana for personal use will be legalized in one or more states of North America. Mexico and now, Argentina have stood behind this policy more because illegal drug enforcement now is much better aimed at larger quantities and at those that could harm its nations' citizenry. In the weeks to come you will read that more Latin American countries will follow suit in that small quantities for personal use will be decriminalized and more pressure will be asserted towards their northern relatives to do the same. Have a very pleasant Wednesday, Professor W August 26, 2009 report abuse
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written by Ben , November 10, 2009, 01:53:33 AM So if Marijuana doesn't have medicinal benefits, WHY does marinol exist? It doesn't make sense. That is stupid! They're trying to turn the marijuana plant into medicine - because IT IS A MEDICINE! report abuse
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written by Ben , November 10, 2009, 01:59:22 AM Here's curative information on marijuana killing CANCER and sparing healthy cells. Yes, smoke is carcinogenic, BUT THC kills cancer, that is why nobody who smokes marijuana alone has ever gotten cancer. www.thesethgroup.com < VIDEO here THC killing brain cancer, sparing healthy cells http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16804518?dopt=Abstract report abuse
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written by Ben , November 10, 2009, 02:01:28 AM Also, read this scientific paper here titled: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37948 First published April 1, 2009 Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells.(Translation: Cannabinoids make cancer cells die of natural causes without toxicity to the user) Have fun realizing the government lied to you. ;-) report abuse
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written by C. Davis , November 11, 2009, 09:35:03 AM This argument is stupid. Prohibition of drugs (of all kinds) cannot work. You have to legalize it to regulate it. If something is illegal, the only people that regulate it are criminals who do not care about you. Prohibition allows the government to only be able to regulate punishment... PUNISHMENT for drug addiction. With all the serious crime that goes unsolved and all the wasted money invested into criminalizing drugs, I don't see why this approach wasn't changed back in the early 70s... report abuse
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