cannabisnews.com: Group Works To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana





Group Works To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on September 30, 2002 at 10:19:39 PT
By Jeff Niese, The Morning News
Source: Morning News
Fayetteville -- A Nevada ballot initiative legalizing the use of marijuana could help efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Arkansas, said a local legalization proponent. Denele Campbell, executive director of the Fayetteville-based Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas, said efforts nationwide to legalize the use of marijuana are helping to destroy stereotypes about the drug. 
"Nevada can help get rid of the mythology out there," Campbell said. "That is our biggest challenge." A year ago, the drug-reform group started gathering signatures in an attempt to get the issue on November's ballot. They've since abandoned the petition drive in favor of getting legislation passed by the Arkansas General Assembly next year. State Sen. John Riggs, D-Little Rock, introduced a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients. The measure is in the interim committee of the judiciary. Riggs, however, lost his re-election bid this year and proponents now need someone else to sponsor the bill next year. The bill is modeled after an Oregon law, Campbell said. Oregon has not had the problems with the Drug Enforcement Administration that states like California have had, she said. A 1996 state ballot initiative legalized some marijuana use by ill patients in California, as long as they used the drug under the supervision of a doctor who could vouch it was for medically legitimate purposes. Since then, eight other states, including Nevada and Arizona, have passed similar initiatives through legislation or ballot actions. The DEA, however, has raided several California marijuana pharmacies since 1996, the most recent on Sept. 5, when armed agents raided a medical marijuana collective in Santa Cruz. The move sparked protests from patients, activists and local-government authorities. A measure on the Nevada ballot would make the state the first in the country to allow adults to possess marijuana -- up to 3 ounces, enough for maybe 100 joints. People over 21 would be allowed to smoke it in their homes but not in cars or public places. Pot would be sold in state-licensed smoke shops and taxed like cigarettes. But the Bush administration remains opposed to the measures, saying that federal laws criminalizing marijuana use and distribution supersede individual states' efforts to legalize it in certain circumstances. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld that view in a ruling last year. Campbell, however, said efforts around the country to legalize marijuana help to educate people in Arkansas about the issue. Campbell is confident that, once people study the issue, they will favor legalization for medical purposes. "Once they learn the facts, they're in support of it," she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.Note: Bill Tapped For Legislature Next Year.Source: Morning News, The (AR)Author: Jeff Niese, The Morning NewsPublished: September 30, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Stephens Media GroupContact: news nwaonline.netWebsite: http://www.nwamorningnews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:ARDPArkhttp://www.ardpark.org/NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Pictures From WAMM Protesthttp://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmAmsterdam of the Westhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14268.shtmlOne Puff At A Time - Economist UKhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14262.shtmlThe Thrashing of a Dying Dinosaur's Tail http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14202.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by freddybigbee on October 01, 2002 at 12:23:05 PT:
migraines
I too once sufferred from migraine headaches. Not any more, though!
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Comment #5 posted by charmed quark on September 30, 2002 at 18:51:33 PT:
Didn't see any mention of Cannabis
But as you said, did see the Botix mention, one of the few treatments I haven't tried for migraines. People say cannabis is dangerous, they should try Topomax (and anti-seizure drug) for migraines - you totally lose your short term memory, see double, and it doesn't work.For some migraineurs, cannabis is cheap, effective and with far fewer side effects than the standard drugs. Plus, it is the only thing that works for me. I think it should be one of the first drugs tried when treating migraines!-Pete
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 30, 2002 at 12:31:02 PT
Dr. Russo
I am very high strung and keep much of my frustration bottled up and years ago I got what I called sick headaches where so much as a slight movement of my head would make me sick to my stomach. I then was given Fioricet and that drug stopped my headaches but I became dependent on the drug. For years now no more headaches and no Fioricet either.Free! Free! Free! at last!
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo MD on September 30, 2002 at 12:20:15 PT:
Botox
Botox is fairly unimpressive in its efficacy for headaches, and costs a few thousand dollars every few months. The alternative treatments I discussed were far cheaper, and arguably much more effective. That's show biz!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 30, 2002 at 12:11:32 PT
Dr. Russo
I see Botox was mentioned in the article. Botox but no Cannabis. Unbelievable. I'm not sure if my father in law still gets Time but I'll check.
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on September 30, 2002 at 11:46:14 PT:
Unrelated
Does anyone get Time magazine? I recently did an extensive interview with them on alternative treatments of headaches, particularly cannabis. None of this was included in the online version that just came out. I doubt it is in the print version either. When a few huge conglomerates own the media and are receiving tax dollar-fueled ads from ONDCP and PDFA, censorship reigns supreme.
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