cannabisnews.com: Doctors Organization Scales Back Proposal Doctors Organization Scales Back Proposal Posted by FoM on June 19, 2001 at 14:50:19 PT By Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer Source: Associated Press A proposal to endorse the limited use of medical marijuana for seriously ill patients was rejected at the American Medical Association's annual meeting. An AMA committee on Monday voted against the proposal and the groups's House of Delegates on Tuesday approved a revised policy that did not support medical marijuana use. Under the new policy, adopted without debate, the AMA endorses "the free and unfettered exchange of information on treatment alternatives." The previous policy simply endorsed additional research into its effectiveness and safety of medical marijuana use. The proposal to support some use of medical marijuana was put forth by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs. Dr. Melvin Sterling, a member of the council from Orange, Calif., told a committee Monday, "This report is about the relief of suffering; it's not about getting high." But others testified they were concerned that the AMA's endorsement would have led to more widespread use of medical marijuana than the proposal intended. Also Tuesday, the 547 delegates approved a resolution calling on the AMA to ask the Boy Scouts to reconsider its ban on homosexuals. But the measure deleted language that said the Scouts' ban on gays risks driving youngsters to suicide. The committee that heard the proposal cited a lack of scientific testimony in doing so. The AMA also, for the second year in a row, rejected a resolution asking it to endorse a moratorium on executions. Opponents called it a legal issue, not a medical one. The AMA did reaffirm its opposition to physicians participating in executions. Complete Title: Doctors Organization Scales Back Proposal on Medical Marijuana Source: Associated PressAuthor: Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical WriterPublished: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Associated Press Related Articles:AMA Council Still Supports Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10103.shtmlAMA Discusses Marijuana Medical Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10075.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by soundoff on June 20, 2001 at 11:00:44 PT Great Idea, I'm Doing It No turn it off at the breaker so it is truly a black out. Your food will be fine for three hours. You can also wait to take a hot shower in the morning. Follow this link for alternative energy products>>>>>>>>>>>>> [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by dddd on June 20, 2001 at 05:15:41 PT quack.....quack ..These ducks in the AMA are just more creatures inthe government/pharmco funded zoo......they are littlemore than phony puppets,and when their strings arepulled,they have little choice of what to decide..........they just follow the script,or hit the road.....Most of the three letter agencies have strategicly installedpuppets.....If you want to get upset,,check into the FCC,,,FTC,,FDA,,etc.....ddddROLL YOUR OWN BLACKOUT, JUNE 21: In protest of George W. Bush's energy policies and lack of emphasis on efficiency, conservation and alternative fuels, there will be a voluntary rolling blackout on the first day of summer, June 21 at 7pm - 10pm in any time zone (this will roll it across the planet). It's a simple protest and a symbolic act. Turn out your lights from 7pm-10pm on June 21. Unplug whatever you can unplug in your house. Light a candle to the sun god, kiss and tell, make love, tell ghost stories, do something instead of watching television, have fun in the dark. http://www.rollyourownblackout.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Harvey Pendrake on June 19, 2001 at 21:35:39 PT Logic? "The AMA also, for the second year in a row, rejected a resolution asking it to endorse a moratorium on executions. Opponents called it a legal issue, not a medical one."Okay.But opponents of the medical MJ endorsement said, "they were concerned that the AMA's endorsement would have led to more widespread use of medical marijuana than the proposal intended."Meaning what? Some people who weren't actually dying might get a 'script for medical pot? That sounds like a LEGAL issue, not a MEDICAL one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Dan B on June 19, 2001 at 20:37:50 PT: No Big Surprise I think everyone predicted that the nation's largest medical association--America-My-Ass (AMA)--would side with the pharmaceuticals industry and against the will of the American people. Today's AMA is as much to blame for the current war on cannabis as anyone. Anyone with a working brain (a minority in this country, I realize) who reads this article should plainly see that what drives the AMA is not the health and well-being of all Americans. Rather, they are driven by a combination of political correctness, drive to increase membership roles, and money.Think about it: if the AMA were really concerned about making medically available any drug that might be abused, they would never endorse Ritalin, Xanax (as has already been mentioned), hydrocodone (which, by the way, never worked for me; cannabis was far better at releiving my pain after surgery), or any of the SSRIs (Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac).NOTE: I once took Zoloft for about nine months for depression, but I decided to taper off until I could quit entirely because the doctors and Pfizer kept telling me that "many people will need to take SSRIs for the rest of their lives." By the way, Pfizer has doctors recommend their little series on dealing with depression for anyone taking Zoloft, and if you continue to take Zoloft faithfully and do all of the little lessons, you get a reward when you finish the program. As I recall, the program takes about 6 months. Way to keep people hooked, Pfizer). Nope, it's not the possibility of people abusing the medical system that worries the AMA; it's pissing off the pharmaceuticals industries that has them running around like thousands of blind chickens seeking the same kernel of corn.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Neil on June 19, 2001 at 19:10:33 PT Another rewrite in order A proposal to endorse the ninth and tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution was rejected at the American Medical Association's annual meeting of cowards. An AMA committee on Monday sheepishly voted against the proposal and the groups's House of Idiots on Tuesday approved a revised policy that did not support the United States Constitution. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by The GCW on June 19, 2001 at 19:09:58 PT Lookinside----Regulated. It's all regulated to the point where it is more and more difficult to as much in life w/o it being regulated.+ we are calculated.And they will use: laser guided automatic weapons, (from Kubby's dilema at: http://www.hempbc.com/articles/1996.html. )for compliance. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by lookinside on June 19, 2001 at 18:54:54 PT: i grew up in a time... when doctors were gods...my family doctor is considered tobe a great medic...(my family has been going to the samedoctor's office for over 80 years)...but he got my wifeaddicted to xanax...it's recommended for treatment not toexceed 6 months...she's been taking it for 15 years... did imention he was a top dog in the AMA for awhile? did imention his refusal to write a med pot recommendation for mywife? her rheumatologist and dr. tod did that...he is a goodman, but inflexible...he has lost his ability to takealternative medicine seriously...also fear of deviating from"standard" practice for fear of malpractice suits... the medical establishment is so entrenched with the bigpharmaceutical companies, that ANY movement toward aholistic approach is difficult...it's a money driven business... all we can hope is that Dr. Russo and others like him canexpose the new generations of medics coming up to a larger,healthier world... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by doug smith on June 19, 2001 at 17:44:35 PT: very angery i thank that no commite goverment or not should have the power to tell people that they cant have a natural herb that is for medical pourpes to stop there suffering,natural herbs are better for you then all the pills that are being prescribed each day for such outragus prices,,,i have to go but i will be back 2 morow..........SKUD1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Pontifex on June 19, 2001 at 16:39:28 PT: First, do harm "The one thing government does well is break your leg, hand you a crutch and say, 'See, if it wasn't for us, you'd never be able to walk.'"-- Harry Browne, Why Government Doesn't WorkAnd the one thing the AMA and Pharmaceutical companies do well is restrict access to healthful medicines, and say, "See, if it wasn't for your Travilol cocktail with benzo-a-pyrene ligatase, you'd never be able to breathe with all the muscle relaxants we've been prescribing for your lower back pain."If cannabis ever becomes legal and cheaply available, a lot of pharmaceutical companies are going to take a massive hit in revenue. And the doctors who prescribe drugs to deal with drugs to deal with drugs to deal with symptoms lose out, too.So please, don't expect leadership from the professional medical community on this one -- rather look to genuinely humane physicians like Dr. Russo. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 19, 2001 at 16:26:35 PT AMA I guess I didn't expect anything different then what they said. I am very happy that the VA is helping my husband but they do not want him taking any herbal suppplements not even Milk Thistle. The doctor said it could raise his liver enzymes and I thought oh my how will they ever learn that there is more to medicine then drugs. I'm glad you aren't a part of the AMA Dr. Russo but even if you were you would stand out for what is right. I know that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on June 19, 2001 at 15:49:06 PT: AMA Ain't What It Used to Be AMA president Woodward opposed and denounced the 1937 laws creating the tax on cannabis.AMA president Fishbein still recommended cannabis for menstrual migraine in 1942, a year after it was removed from the National Formulary.By the time I graduated from med school, the AMA was populated with attitudinal dinosaurs. I am proud to say that I have never been a member. Now you know why. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on June 19, 2001 at 15:23:00 PT AMA endorses ... the AMA endorses "the free and unfettered exchange of information on treatment alternatives." Can we dis-endorse the AMA as quacks?If, quote: "A proposal to endorse the limited use of medical marijuana for seriously ill patients was rejected at the American Medical Association's annual meeting". Then do they so endorse caging humans for for the un-endorsed?Does it seem that this decission by doctors, is harmful to the people they ultimately wish to free of harm? Does the medical profession fail the citizen on this issue? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Cuzn Buzz on June 19, 2001 at 15:21:09 PT Spineless Drug Company Whores What?We're supposed to be surprised by this?Not even a blip on the screen.These clowns (I apologize to any real clowns for this remark)know who butters their bread.When they dope your children with Ritalin, and hand out Oxycontin like party favors we know exactly whose pocket these guys are in.The pharmacutical manufacturers thank you.The rest of us curse you for the spineless ba$tard$ that you are. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment