Medical Marijuana's Moment

[babylonsister]

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/03/20/medical_marijuanas_moment.php

Medical Marijuana's Moment
Rob Kampia
March 20, 2007


Rob Kampia is executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.

On March 14, New Mexico's state legislature assured that New Mexico will become the 12th state to allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana without fear of arrest. It also proved that the medical marijuana movement—based on science, compassion and plain common sense—is now unstoppable.

The New Mexico bill isn't law yet, but there isn't much left that could stop it. Not only did it pass both houses of the legislature by solid margins (the vote in the state Senate was an astonishing 32-3), Gov. Bill Richardson is a longtime supporter, so his signature—which could come any day now—is assured.

Indeed, the most noteworthy aspect of the bill's passage may be how little controversy there was. Medical marijuana legislation was supported by a broad coalition that included the New Mexico Public Health Association and the New Mexico Nurses Association.

The governor, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, hailed passage of the measure with a statement saying, "This bill will provide much-needed relief for New Mexicans suffering from debilitating diseases while including the proper safeguards to prevent abuse.” He called medical marijuana "a humane option for New Mexicans who endure some of the most painful diseases imaginable.”

What politicians have finally learned is that medical marijuana is one of those issues where science, compassion and good politics all come together.

more...

[brentblack]

1. Slowly moving to Richardson's camp

Any pol that is willing to take up the standard for Marijuana is my hero.

I have always preferred smoking pot to drinking.

[indepat]

2. Have never tried pot but have a worsening peripheral neuropathy which ultimately

will likely cause severe pain which marijuana has been proven as the most effective in alleviating. May I wish that all who oppose/would block/would arrest for medical use of marijuana will burn in eternal hell for an eternity of eternities? No hard feelings, but burn in hell.

[ninkasi]

3. I know what you're going through, and how you feel

Today was the day my husband took me to the pain management doctor who prescribes my pain meds. I was on methadone until a few months ago, when he switched me to morphine sulfate immediate relief, which is not as effective. I have to go once a month, in person, to pick up the prescription. It has to be filled within 7 days, and it can't be refilled.

I have permanent nerve damage, because my health insurance insisted on "conservative" treatment of the two pinched nerves I had due to ruptured discs. By the time I had surgery, one area was so damaged it will never recover. I also now have bulging discs in my lower back, and fractures in my ribs and vertebrae due to osteoporosis. The pain can be unbearable.

Like you, I'm not looking to get high. I'm just looking for a day which isn't determined by what level of pain I'm experiencing. I'm looking to just being able to invite my grown kids over for a Sunday dinner, and knowing that I can cook a simple meal, without being in agony.

A peripheral neuropathy is one of the hardest pains to treat. My whole life is determined by the pain level I have on any given day. I have fallen three times in the last year, because my right leg just gave way. I walk with a cane. So, I agree with you, when you condemn the opponents of medical marijuana to burn in hell. If they could feel your pain, or mine, they would not be so cold hearted. The irony, though, is that I believe that if any of them, or their loved ones suffer from a similar condition, they are probably smoking the best weed money can buy.

Laws were made for peasants like us, not for the high and mighty. I hope your pain never gets any worse, and that you find something to make it better.

[indepat]

4. I feel your pain. Have had surgery for ruptured cervical disc (my 10-level pain),

ruptured lower discs, severe stenosis of the spine, severe arthritis of the spine and much more, but my current level of pain is minuscule compared to yours albeit all my symptoms get progressively worse. Denying any person the effective pain relief available is abhorrent and surely a violation of the spirit, if not letter, of the cruel and unusual punishment clause. May God bless and you have available the most effective pain relief possible.

[ninkasi]

13. I hope you find relief, too

I would bet that as far as whose pain is worse, it's a toss-up. You have many conditions which cause severe pain, so I think we probably feel pretty much the same. Just the arthritis is painful, and ruptured discs are agonizing when they press against a nerve root. I share your feeling about wondering what we'll do as our conditions get worse, because the older I get, the worse my arthritis gets.

It's sad that the government feels the need to meddle in what should be medical decisions, isn't it? Let's hope for some sanity being used soon, and stop making thousands of people suffer needlessly. :hug:

[leQ]

7. i'm on methadone (600mg/day).... and it's losing it's efficacy. i'm afraid of

going to morphine what with all the horror stories i've heard about how addictive it can be. i too suffer from PN and they haven't been able to determine the exact cause of it. i agree this nonsense of no -refills and personally walking the script to the pharmacy is geared towards the abusers, but there should be waivers for it for those who can prove it's not being abused. i always thought it was a state law (i'm in iowa) that proscribed how drugs like methadone were dispensed. what state are you in?

[ninkasi]

12. I'm in Texas

I'm like you, I realize that the trip to the doctor's office, etc., is done to prevent abuse, but I also believe that for chronic pain sufferers, there should be some kind of compromise. If my husband couldn't take me, I'd have to ask one of our grown kids to take off work to do it, and it's almost a necessity to make sure the doctor is within a reasonable driving distance.

My pain management doctor told me that there had been some sudden deaths attributed to methadone, which was the reason for the change. The morphine is morphine sulfate immediate release, and the doctor says that methadone stays in the system longer.

My guess is that the strict guidelines on prescriptions for things like methadone and morphine are imposed by the federal government. I know that they have, on occasion, tried to have pain doctors prosecuted for writing excessive numbers of prescriptions for narcotics. Of course, just the fact that they SPECIALIZE in treating pain pretty much assures that they will be prescribing narcotic pain relievers more than other doctors.

I keep hoping that there will be some sanity brought to bear regarding marijuana, which would probably be a great deal safer than morphine. The drug laws in this country are completely unreasonable, but the government keeps the stupid "War on Drugs" going, thereby filling the privately owned, for profit prisons, and making the alcohol and pharmas happy, as well. Nothing seems to be done for the good of the people anymore.

I hope you find the reason for your PN, and that you will find something that will help ease your pain. I'm lucky, in that I'm retired, and my husband drives me to the doctor, and does so much, cleaning house, shopping, just whatever needs to be done, especially when he sees that it's a bad day for me. I'm lucky to have him.

[BridgeTheGap]

6. Agree

More power to Richardson! Some real sanity out there in NM~!

[Veronica.Franco]

5. Marijuana Versus Alcohol Study

The American public, too, is solidly behind medical marijuana. An October 2005 Gallup poll found that 78 percent of voters supported allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana to reduce pain and suffering. Politicians are learning that supporting medical marijuana doesn't cost them support—it gains them votes.

Marijuana Versus Alcohol Study

http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/32/


Think of the help this would be for returning troops ... marijuana mellows ... alcohol has destroyed so many lives ...

[Major Hogwash]

8. Question - does it have to be smoked to be effective?

Or is it effective in pill form?

I know next to nothing about the medical benefits of marijuana.
Before Bush was in office I always thought that the media would inform us of any medical breakthroughs that science had made recently.

But, it appears to me that the drug conglomerates in this country pay big money to keep news of cheaper treatments off of the boob tube and out of our newspapers.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Inhalation is more rapid and effective.

Either through smoking or via vaporizer.

Obviously especially so when the patient is too nauseated to take pills.

[Veronica.Franco]

10. No it does NOT have to be smoked ...

In the BAY AREA we have cannabis candy ... a sweet toffee like product kept in the frig ... it comes in FOUR strengths and I have never consumed more then strength ONE and even at that I ate half of one ... completely happy and pain free for hours ... can't recommend it HIGHLY enough ... :smoke:

[liberal renegade]

15. I would so like to be back in the Bay area

gawd how i miss that place....

[Veronica.Franco]

16. And now you'll think of us even more often ...

Last fall we had a Cannabis Conference in Golden Gate Park ... in October ... it was heavenly ... I bought a FLAT of fudge for Halloween gift giving ... oh my, dark chocolate fudge laced with cannabis in beautiful little decorated jars ... heavenly ... I have to admit I kept three jars for myself ... please join us in October for another ... :P :9

[Veronica.Franco]

11. candy man ...

Marijuana: East Bay DEA Raids Take Out Marijuana Candy Supplier 3/17/06

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/427/oakland.shtml

DEA agents raided a building in the heart of Oaksterdam, Oakland's cannabis friendly near-downtown neighborhood, as well as locations in Emeryville and Lafayette, and arrested 13 people Thursday in what they called "a sophisticated marijuana operation" involving large grows as well as the production of marijuana candy and soft drinks. The main target was Kenneth Affolter, 39, who is allegedly the main man in a company called Beyond Bomb that manufactured the candies.

Agents said they seized thousands of plants from four different grows, a large amount of currency, three weapons, and hundreds of pot-laced candies and drinks. The candies were packaged to parody well-known brands and included products called "Buddafingers," "Rasta Reece's," "Keef Kat," and "Pot Tarts." Soft drinks were packaged under names including "Bong's Root Beer" and "Toka-Cola."

Such products are widely available through (perhaps now not so) mysterious channels in various medical marijuana outlets and cannabis-friendly businesses in the Bay Area and beyond, and provide an alternative to the inhalation of marijuana smoke for people who cannot or will not tolerate it.

"This can be tragic," said DEA spokesman Javier Pena. "A young child or adult could eat one of these and drink one of the sodas. As you can tell, they mimic the brand names."

And now Mr. DEA Man has taken down the candy man. But, don't worry ... he's still around ... ;-)

[EstimatedProphet]

14. My god! think of what could happen!

Someone might actually USE it! That could be so tragic! Because if someone actually USES IT, then they will...uh...um...have USED IT!

It's hard to believe that Mr. DEA-man said something that stupid. But I've known some DEA boneheads in my time, and they can be that stupid and hypocritical.