War On Drugs Picks Wrong Target in Marijuana
By Ed Stickney, Billings Gazette;
The Obama-appointed "drug czar" Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief said, "Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit." His July 22 press conference was reported in the Fresno (Calif.) Bee.
This is a rather startling statement, given the fact that the Institute of Medicine, American Nurses Association, American Public Health Associat
More..ion, American Academy of HIV Medicine and many other medical organizations recognize marijuana's medical value. Even President Obama's own statements about marijuana's medical efficacy run counter to Kerlikowske's assertion.
In November 2004, 62 percent of Montana's voters approved Montana's medical-marijuana act. Montana was the 10th state to approve medical marijuana. As of July 21, 2,975 patients and 935 caregivers have signed up with the Department of Public Health and Human Services to obtain a medical marijuana card, and 204 physicians have given recommendations to patients.
A case study of an actual patient who used medical marijuana will be instructive: The patient suffered an industrial accident four years ago that injured three lumbar vertebrae. Until beginning the use of medical marijuana six months ago, the patient had lost 10 pounds and was largely confined to the house. Upon beginning use of marijuana, the patient was able to discontinue Neurontin ( for nerve pain ), Flexeril ( for muscle spasm ), Restoril and Phenergan ( for sleep ), lorazepam ( for anxiety ) and Percocet ( for break-through pain ). Use of Oxycontin has been cut in half, and increased appetite has made possible the gaining back of her lost weight. The patient has been able to resume a more normal life although isn't able as yet to go back to work.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of the effectiveness of medical marijuana as in that case, the U.S. government - mainly through the National Institute on Drug Abuse - has routinely blocked and discouraged any scientific inquiry into the medical effectiveness of marijuana. Alan Leshner, Ph.D., has been the head of the Institute since 1995. Portions of a letter to him from Donald I. Abrams, M.D., professor of clinical medicine at University of California-San Francisco may be instructive regarding the attitude of NIDA.
"I was not only disappointed by the flat-out rejection of the request, but also by the way this matter has been handled by your institute. .. To receive the first communication from your office nine months after we sent the initial submission is offensive and insulting. ... Obviously, your letter leaves no door open for further discussion as to how this pilot study could be modified. In the words of the AIDS activist community: SHAME!"
In the 1990s, when Bill Clinton was president, Walter Cronkite stated, "Just about every American was shocked when Robert McNamara acknowledged that the war in Vietnam was 'wrong, terribly wrong.' That's a mistake we must not make in this 10th year of America's all-out war on drugs." Nineteen years later, we are still involved in this needless, damaging and futile policy of drug prohibition.
Ultimately, legalization of marijuana needs to happen. As spokespersons for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition affirm, "Nothing which is illegal can be controlled."
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Pubdate: Sat, 8 Aug 2009
Source: The Billings Gazette (MT)
Author: Ed Stickney
Copyright: 2009 The Billings Gazette
Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Referenced: Drug Czar: Feds Won't Support Legalized Pot
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n000/a144.html
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Artwork courtesy Jim Wheeler Less..
Note: This item contains 1 connected file and 3 connected links (see top right)
Added: Aug 10 2009 In: news_politics
Recorded on: Aug 8 2009
By: Macky_J 
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The Billings Gazette (Link)
Comments - sort by newest to oldest
You pick on marijuana, you pick on a very sleepy & hungry group of people. You betta watch yo back.
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "walfart" (R)
The madness continues.
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "EXCONservative" (R)
It's a cash cow for scum lawyers is the only reason it's outlawed
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "BOSS_DROVER" (R)
He was just in a hurry to prove he had no credibilty.
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "ZigZag" (R)
OBAMA=CHANGE?? Yeah right, idiots..
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "Maxisminion" (R)
Not just lawyers, practically the whole prison system is privatized now.
Not to mention that law enforcement agencies can confiscate your shit, sell it and KEEP THE MONEY to buy more law enforcement stuff so they can bust more people so they can confiscate their shit so they can........
I think it's high time to go back to states rights and put the Federal Government where it belongs...... In the kitchen, making me a sam'ich.
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "EventHorizon2012" (R)
Get rid of marijuana...maybe after they first outlaw, alcohol, tobacco, and fast food plus all the other stuff that is proven to kill people in large numbers.
A brief review of the history of marijuana in the U.S. will reveal the dishonesty of the U.S. Government...I know, hard to believe, right.??
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "wozzoo" (R)
your comment Z' could be taken one of two ways. Clever.
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "daleastor" (R)
Not just lawyers, practically the whole prison system is privatized now.
Not to mention that law enforcement agencies can confiscate your shit, sell it and KEEP THE MONEY to buy more law enforcement stuff so they can bust more people so they can confiscate their shit so they can........
I think it's high time to go back to states rights and put the Federal Government where it belongs...... In the kitchen, making me a sam'ich.
Nice!
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "daleastor" (R)
If you are free why do they put you in jail for marihuana ?
Posted Aug-10-2009 by "Russian_Warlord" (R)
Change my ass. I supported Ron Paul, don't blame me.
Posted Aug-11-2009 by "DroogInPhoenix" (R)
Mr. Obama,
I once considered running for President on the Platform "Legalize it". Mr. Obama could you do so, and tax it?
Please end a foolish battle that drains the coffers of our government.
Please do the research and find out of more then 50% of Americans are smoking pot. If so? Do what is right Legalize it.
Posted Aug-11-2009 by "timerider2009" (R)
Not just lawyers, practically the whole prison system is privatized now.
Not to mention that law enforcement agencies can confiscate your shit, sell it and KEEP THE MONEY to buy more law enforcement stuff so they can bust more people so they can confiscate their shit so they can........
I think it's high time to go back to states rights and put the Federal Government where it belongs...... In the kitchen, making me a sam'ich.
The main culprit is not the lawyers or the criminal justice system, large corporations were and are the downfall of hemp. Hemp has so many uses and can make so many products very cheaply and safely but it has one problem, it can't be patented and therefore companies can't have a monopoly on it.
Here's just one example:
"Hemp produces four times as much paper as trees and does not require the sulfur-based acid chemicals used to break down the glue-like lignin that binds the fibers of wood pulp."
Very interesting read:
http://www.venusproject.com/ethics_in_action/Real_Reason_Hemp_Illegal.html
Posted Aug-11-2009 by "Master123" (R)
Hemp for Victory!!!! And also for the post victory party, and the after party party...
Posted Aug-11-2009 by "BenFranklin420" (R)
Federal government can't even keep drugs away from their maximum security prisons and expect to control it in an open and free society? LMAO DRUG WAR = FAIL
Posted Aug-11-2009 by "Chained" (R)