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US: Medical marijuana: A Nation Gone To Pot?
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n944/a05.html
Newshawk: Kirk
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jul 2004
Source: Republican, The (MA)
Copyright: 2004 The Republican
Contact: letters@repub.com
Website: http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Note: Letters to the editor must include the writer's name, address and
telephone number in order to be considered for publication.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A NATION GONE TO POT?
For a nation that has been waging a decades-long war against drugs without
success, it is difficult to admit that someone might benefit by smoking
marijuana.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed this week to decide whether seriously ill
people who smoke pot under a doctor's care are subject to a federal ban on
marijuana.
Attorney General John Ashcroft strongly opposes the California law that
permits medical use of marijuana, saying it "seriously undermines Congress'
comprehensive scheme for the regulation of dangerous drugs."
There are common drugs prescribed by doctors every day that are far more
dangerous than marijuana.
As we've noted before, the United States has the best hospitals in the
world, the most skilled doctors, the most advanced technology and the most
modern medicines, but its laws governing marijuana are archaic.
Studies by the Institute of Medicine, the American Medical Association, New
England Journal of Medicine and others conclude that marijuana use can
relieve pain and nausea associated with illnesses such as cancer, multiple
sclerosis and AIDS. And, the studies show, marijuana is less toxic than
some of the common prescription drugs that doctors use to treat patients.
The Justice Department asks the court to make no distinction between a
California doctor who prescribes marijuana for a cancer patient and a drug
lord in the jungles of Colombia who grows coca for drug trafficking. Such
thinking may explain why the U.S. government is losing the war on drugs.
A doctor practicing in a state that recognizes that medicinal value of pot
risks a charge of malpractice if he or she doesn't recommend marijuana when
all else has failed.
The Supreme Court will hear the case next winter, but ultimately it is the
function of Congress to change the laws governing marijuana. Federal law
categorizes pot as a "schedule 1" or dangerous drug under the Controlled
Substances Act. At the very least, Congress should amend the law to allow
for the medical use of marijuana.
Some lawmakers might fear that voters will think they are soft on drugs if
they approve such a change.
Such thinking, to borrow a phrase from the cult movie on the dangers of
marijuana, is reefer madness.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D
*****************
Mark
"Marijuana clearly has medicinal value.
Thousands of seriously ill Americans have
been able to determine that for themselves,
albeit illegally. Like my own family, these
individuals did not wish to break the law but
they had no choice."
--Lyn Nofziger, former deputy chairman of
the Republican National Committee
From the book, Marijuana Rx,
by Robert C. Randall, the founder of
the medical marijuana movement.
Marijuana Rx is published by
Thunder's Mouth Press.)
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"Mark2101" <markss2101@cox.net> wrote in message news:<oktFc.12053$z81.8326@fed1read01>...
US: Medical marijuana: A Nation Gone To Pot?
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n944/a05.html
Newshawk: Kirk
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jul 2004
Source: Republican, The (MA)
Copyright: 2004 The Republican
Contact: letters@repub.com
Website: http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Note: Letters to the editor must include the writer's name, address and
telephone number in order to be considered for publication.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A NATION GONE TO POT?
For a nation that has been waging a decades-long war against drugs without
success, it is difficult to admit that someone might benefit by smoking
marijuana.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed this week to decide whether seriously ill
people who smoke pot under a doctor's care are subject to a federal ban on
marijuana.
Attorney General John Ashcroft strongly opposes the California law that
permits medical use of marijuana, saying it "seriously undermines Congress'
comprehensive scheme for the regulation of dangerous drugs."
There are common drugs prescribed by doctors every day that are far more
dangerous than marijuana.
As we've noted before, the United States has the best hospitals in the
world, the most skilled doctors, the most advanced technology and the most
modern medicines, but its laws governing marijuana are archaic.
Studies by the Institute of Medicine, the American Medical Association, New
England Journal of Medicine and others conclude that marijuana use can
relieve pain and nausea associated with illnesses such as cancer, multiple
sclerosis and AIDS. And, the studies show, marijuana is less toxic than
some of the common prescription drugs that doctors use to treat patients.
The Justice Department asks the court to make no distinction between a
California doctor who prescribes marijuana for a cancer patient and a drug
lord in the jungles of Colombia who grows coca for drug trafficking. Such
thinking may explain why the U.S. government is losing the war on drugs.
A doctor practicing in a state that recognizes that medicinal value of pot
risks a charge of malpractice if he or she doesn't recommend marijuana when
all else has failed.
The Supreme Court will hear the case next winter, but ultimately it is the
function of Congress to change the laws governing marijuana. Federal law
categorizes pot as a "schedule 1" or dangerous drug under the Controlled
Substances Act. At the very least, Congress should amend the law to allow
for the medical use of marijuana.
Some lawmakers might fear that voters will think they are soft on drugs if
they approve such a change.
Such thinking, to borrow a phrase from the cult movie on the dangers of
marijuana, is reefer madness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
MAP posted-by: Jo-D
*****************
Mark
"Marijuana clearly has medicinal value.
Thousands of seriously ill Americans have
been able to determine that for themselves,
albeit illegally. Like my own family, these
individuals did not wish to break the law but
they had no choice."
--Lyn Nofziger, former deputy chairman of
the Republican National Committee
From the book, Marijuana Rx,
by Robert C. Randall, the founder of
the medical marijuana movement.
Marijuana Rx is published by
Thunder's Mouth Press.)
How do you feel about legalizing herion for anyone who wants it?
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"Mark2101" <markss2101@cox.net> wrote in message
news:<oktFc.12053$z81.8326@fed1read01>...
US: Medical marijuana: A Nation Gone To Pot?
How do you feel about legalizing herion for anyone who wants it?
Legalize it and tax it. Same as alcohol and tobacco.
If they do something irresponsible while high, we treat them like we would
any body who did something stupid while drunk.
Mark
"The War on Drugs was never, ever about drugs,
it's about bigotry. You can change the law,
but changing the prejudice and fear of bigots who hide
behind drug war rhetoric is a far more challenging task.
It's time to expose the Drug War and the bigots who
promote the ideology of "Zero Tolerance."
-- Steve Kubby, 1998 Libertarian candidate for
Governor of California
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"Mark2101" <markss2101@cox.net> wrote in message news:<vo8Gc.12886$z81.3379@fed1read01>...
news:<oktFc.12053$z81.8326@fed1read01>...
US: Medical marijuana: A Nation Gone To Pot?
Legalize it and tax it. Same as alcohol and tobacco.
If they do something irresponsible while high, we treat them like we would
any body who did something stupid while drunk.
Mark
With that attitude no wonder marijuana is having such a tough time
becoming legal.
"The War on Drugs was never, ever about drugs,
it's about bigotry. You can change the law,
but changing the prejudice and fear of bigots who hide
behind drug war rhetoric is a far more challenging task.
It's time to expose the Drug War and the bigots who
promote the ideology of "Zero Tolerance."
-- Steve Kubby, 1998 Libertarian candidate for
Governor of California
The Libertarian party is a joke. They are so fragmented that they
couldn't organize a trip to the bathroom. Nobody cares what they have
to say. If you are pinning your hopes to those losers then don't count
on drugs being legalized in the next 1000 years.
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"Mark2101" <markss2101@cox.net> wrote in message
news:<vo8Gc.12886$z81.3379@fed1read01>...
US: Medical marijuana: A Nation Gone To Pot?
How do you feel about legalizing herion for anyone who wants it?
Legalize it and tax it. Same as alcohol and tobacco.
If they do something irresponsible while high, we treat them like we
would
any body who did something stupid while drunk.
Mark
With that attitude no wonder marijuana is having such a tough time
becoming legal.
Could you elaborate?
The Libertarian party is a joke. They are so fragmented that they
couldn't organize a trip to the bathroom. Nobody cares what they have
to say. If you are pinning your hopes to those losers then don't count
on drugs being legalized in the next 1000 years.
The above statement is an accurate description of the war on drugs not an
endorsement for the Libertarian party. Actually, I was libertarian until the
Libertarian party blamed 9-11 on the U.S. It was the last straw in a series
of major issues in which I differed with them. Specifically, abortion and
the death penalty. I never understood how they could be for murdering the
innocent and sparing the guilty. After they blamed the U.S. for 9-11 I
registered as DTS (Decline To State). I still consider my political
leanings conservative libertarian.
Mark
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