cannabisnews.com: Ignorance Isn't Bliss Ignorance Isn't Bliss Posted by FoM on December 27, 2001 at 12:19:11 PT Sun Editorial Source: Gainesville Sun Voters in California and Arizona touched off a national debate five years ago, when they approved amendments to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes; to relieve patients of pain and suffering. In reaction, the federal government took steps to prevent doctors in those states from prescribing marijuana as a pain-controller and cracked down on "medical pot clubs" in California. But that probably won't prevent medical marijuana initiatives from taking root in other states. The official position of the National Institutes of Health is that there is little evidence to show that marijuana really has value as medicine. But that bottom line comes with a qualification; to wit, there really aren't a lot of studies out there to either prove or disprove the contention that smoking marijuana can be faster and more effective than many prescription medicines in easing the pain of patients suffering from cancer, AIDS or a wide range of other diseases. Most of the evidence is anecdotal. In fact, there have been virtually no federally sanctioned studies on the subject since the early 1980s. Because the federal government controls all of the legally grown marijuana in America, and because a number of federal agencies must sign off on such studies, researchers have not exactly been aggressive in seeking out authorization. But that may be changing. The Drug Enforcement Administration has recently approved two medical marijuana studies and is in the process of sanctioning a third. All three will be conducted by universities in California. Two of the studies will try to determine if smoking marijuana can effectively relieve pain in multiple sclerosis patients, while a third will look at the drug's efficacy in treating a condition common to HIV patients that causes severe pain in the hands and feet. "This is not much yet, but it is a recognition by the federal government that it cannot prevent all work from going forward," Paul Armentano, of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told the New York Times recently. It's clear that the debate over the use of medical marijuana isn't going to go away. Advocacy groups like NORML will continue to support citizens initiatives. And if California and Arizona results are any example, voters appear to be sympathetic to the idea of allowing marijuana use for medical purposes. For their part, officials who take a hard line against drugs cannot simply continue to argue in dogmatic fashion that marijuana has no medical value. In the absence of scientific evidence one way or another, such arguments will ultimately lose credibility. In short, ignorance is not bliss in regard to the issue of medical marijuana. The more researchers learn about the potential medicinal value of marijuana, the better. Whether its made by citizen initiative or via the legislative process, public health policy should not fashioned without benefit of all the factual evidence that can be mustered. Critics say the dearth of research on the medicinal properties of marijuana over the past two decades has been the result of a "de facto" ban on marijuana studies. Whether that's true or not, it is appropriate to move forward with appropriate studies. Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL)Published: Thursday, December 27, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Gainesville SunContact: voice gvillesun.comWebsite: http://www.gainesvillesun.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CMCR http://www.cmcr.ucsd.edu/Medical Marijuana Information Links http://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmAfter Two-Decade Halt, Marijuana Research Is Set http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11578.shtmlDEA Approves UC San Diego Marijuana Study http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11450.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on December 29, 2001 at 09:01:17 PT absolutely Kap The whole tone of this editorial is striving to show that the editors are very fair and omnipotent on the issue. Meanwhile, they directly lie on the conclusions of the federal govt, they lie again saying their is no evidence either way on medical efficacy (actually there is plenty of evidence BOTH ways, more on the pro side of course), and then dismissing the 12-0 record of public votes as insignificant, instead of the being the cornerstone of our culture and society that democracy is supposed to be.You have to realize this editorial now marks the extreme right-wing boundary on medical MJ, they know they're getting their butts kicked, that we will win, and the only thing they can do is stall, baby, stall, but they won't hold out long will they....... [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on December 28, 2001 at 10:19:11 PT: Sorry, folks, you don't quite get it Many of you have commented upon how seemingly stupid the reporter was to have made such a gaffe. And you are right, it's indictive of something much worse regarding the state of mental health in this country when such things take so long to be recognized.But what many of you don't seem to realize is that the entire thrust of the author's article is demonstrating something else: the author's supposed ideological purity.Having worked for the military, I came into contact with people who took great pride that they had never read Das Kapital, despite the fact that it was the cornerstone of the philosophy of their enemies. The underpinning of their opponent's entire society...disregarded as if it were irrelevent. To preserve their ideological wholesomeness in not being infected with 'alien' ideas. The same happened with this editorial. Hence, the gaffe. to demonstrate that same 'ideological purity'...and it's acceptance with the powers-that-be.After all, the editors can't have people thinking they are actively FOR cannabis law reform, can they? Might tick off the local Deputy Dawgs, who can't stand anyone being contrary...right or not. And then the local deputy Dawgs might give their juicy scoops to someone else more vocal about supporting their support of these stupid laws. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by boppy on December 28, 2001 at 08:03:25 PT They don't care about knowing.... That's the real reason, you know. The media is indifferent about the whole issue of cannabis so they research it in a halfass fashion. My kids (who are 21 years old and seniors in college) know more about cannabis than the typical field reporter for the typical TV station. When they do research it they rely on the usual misinformation from organizations like NIDA. They're not even aware of different strains, sativa, indica, etc. It's ALL just "pot". Oh, and it's always "very potent" just like the other buzz phrase, "It sends the wrong message to our children". I sent a message to my children and it's the correct message, not the one that's propagandized by our government. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on December 27, 2001 at 19:51:57 PT It's different for journalists A major media reporter or editor should know more about Europe than someone hired to pour coffee. But mass media marijuana journalism has to be the worst journalism in this country. I'll bet the average coffee pourer has more accurate informaton about weed than the average CNN reporter or editor has.There is dumbing down. But there is dumbing up too. Corporate journalism is I think the latter. It is dumbed up because the higher you go up the media ladder, the less accurate information there is about certain things, like marijuana for instance. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by CongressmanSuet on December 27, 2001 at 19:22:26 PT E. Johnson.... This is just TOO easy...next time you buy a cup of coffee, ask the guy/gal you get it from, who is the President of Russia? The dumbing down of Amerika, its INCREDIBLE! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on December 27, 2001 at 17:36:52 PT They fixed it I guess CNN found out how many people do know about the Marshall Plan, the mistake is now fixed.If only the media were as eager to fix their marijuana-related errors. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on December 27, 2001 at 16:07:09 PT No excuse for such laziness There is no excuse for failing to even get the name of the institution right. The NIH never reported on anything. It was the IOM.These things can be looked up on the Internet.Who the hell gets hired in journalism nowadays? On CNN, they have an interview with Gloria Steinem where she explains that Afghanistan needs a Marshall Plan.Except that the CNN reporter transcribed it as "martial plan". Gloria Stein explains that the Europeans got a martial plan, and Afghanistan needs a martial plan too.They hired someone at CNN who doesn't know what the Marshall Plan was? Pardon me for sounding old fashioned but WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TEACHING IN COLLEGE THESE DAYS???? How to pass a CNN corporate urine test, I guess.Isn't it better to have journalists who know what the f*cking Marshall Plan was than to have journalists with clean pee?I mean, come on, this is just bad. This makes our whole society look dumb. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by krutch on December 27, 2001 at 15:51:57 PT: MJ as Medicine This is an interesting quote:"In short, ignorance is not bliss in regard to the issue of medical marijuana. The more researchers learn about the potential medicinal value of marijuana, the better. Whether its made by citizen initiative or via the legislative process, public health policy should not fashioned without benefit of all the factual evidence that can be mustered."I think the author is being anal retentive. Many herbal remedies and folk medicines are sold and used legally in the US. The efficacy and safety of many of these legal remedies is questionable.The feel good effect and appetite enhancment properties of MJ are well documented. Why should people who are dying have to wait for the lazy assed government to study and pass legislation laws. Is it because of the potential long term effects? If it is this is ridiculious. What do people who are dying care about long term effects?The safety of pot is easily proven. If it was not safe alot more of us 20+ year smoker would have health problems. All that needs to be done is a survey of long term smokers.It is time for the US goverment to stop making people who want to use MJ as medication criminals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 27, 2001 at 13:22:55 PT greenfox I know you're right. I don't need to add anything to what you said. You said it all. You're very right. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by greenfox on December 27, 2001 at 12:41:03 PT BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The official position of the National Institutes of Health is that there is little evidence to show that marijuana really has value as medicine.OK, first of all, this is bullshit. This study, which I have read completely, says the exact opposite. The ONLY thing it says against marijuana is, and I quote, "There is little value in the future for smoked marijuana". This is ONLY in regards to smoked marijuana. And they say this to encourage vaporizer usage over smoking harsh carcinogenic smoke. And you know what? Good for them! THC in its pure form is much safer than the "carrier agent", the smoke itself. But they absolutely do NOT refute the medical value of pot. FURTHERMORE tell my puking girlfriend that pot doesn't help quell her nausea given her Chron's disease. Sorry to swear, but this is such a personal issue, and FUCK these people and their "opinions" which they try to lay on you as if it were scientific fact. I love my country; I fear my government. And how much longer are we going to stand for these lies? How much longer are YOU going to stand for these lies? Just curious.sly in green, foxy in kind, and mad as HELL....,-gf [ Post Comment ] Post Comment