cannabisnews.com: Government Stand on Medical Marijuana Wrong





Government Stand on Medical Marijuana Wrong
Posted by CN Staff on February 12, 2003 at 12:12:48 PT
By Nelson Randolph Jr.
Source: Ocean County Observer 
I read with interest a recent article about Jim Miller's efforts to secure medical marijuana for his wife, who has been crippled by the curse of multiple sclerosis, which is a painful and debilitating disease.Miller has vowed to continue his crusade to legalize marijuana for the benefit of his dying wife Cheryl and others who are suffering. It is his position that he has received little or no help from government sources in his effort to relieve Cheryl Miller's pain, suffering and other maladies.
This comes, to me, as no surprise.Miller is placing his family and himself at risk even admitting that he has any knowledge whatsoever of possession of a controlled substance or its use.He subjects his loved ones to the whim of some overzealous law enforcement officer who might take it upon himself or herself to strike a blow for the survival of mankind and drag a sick, suffering and dying woman from her home in handcuffs.For those who doubt that the aforementioned scenario could or would take place, it recently did in California, where a sick and dying woman was taken from her home handcuffed in her own bed by law enforcement officers who burst into her home while wearing masks, carrying automatic weapons and screaming obscenities.In 26 years as a policeman I never found it necessary to wear a mask to do my job. All this is and was being done in the interest of public safety and for our own good, of course.Whether or not the prevailing medical community accepts marijuana as having "accepted medical use" is of little or no consequence as it does, in fact, work for some people who suffer from a plethora of medical afflictions.I grow very suspicious when the government does something for my own good or purports to work in my best interest.When I think of some of the best times I have ever had in my life, I recognize that none of them were for my own good. Several states already have approved marijuana for medical use, but the federal leviathan ignores the will of the people; so much for states' rights.Hauling sick people from their beds or locking people away for long periods of time, or anytime, for smoking, eating or possessing small amounts of cannabis in the privacy of one's own home, in the interest of public safety, is government at its worst.We have learned nothing from the 18th Amendment or the prohibition of alcohol in the '20s and '30s. Alcohol, a far worse substance in regard to its destructive effects on society, brought nothing but corruption to law enforcement and the legal system in general. How many people, including those in law enforcement, can honestly say that they would not take the same action that Miller is taking if it were one of their loved ones who were suffering and dying before their eyes (may it never be)? Even now doctors and medical professionals are unable or unwilling to prescribe sufficient analgesics or pain medication to suffering patients because of the thuggish practices of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other state and federal bureaucrats who have taken it upon themselves to decide just how much relief is appropriate for a suffering human being. Once again, I'm certain that they take the position that it's for our own good.After my operation two years ago, on the gurney in the recovery room, I asked the doctor for something for the pain, as my procedure was what I shall cautiously term somewhat invasive. He responded by stating, "Oh, just take some Tylenol." Needless to say, I now have a new urologist.Even if the government refuses to yield to the will of the people and legalize this substance for medical use, it is at least their obligation to not place it on the short list of crimes against the state.Baghdad balks, North Korea threatens and terrorists pour across our open borders every day. Our threat level stands at orange and the federal government suggests that we purchase duct tape and plastic to seal our windows in the event of chemical or biological attack.Surely the authorities have better things to do than spending their time, limited resources and tax dollars pursuing the ill and the infirm.NELSON RANDOLPH JR.Toms RiverEmail Jim and Cheryl: cherylheart excite.com Newshawk: http://www.immly.org/Source: Ocean County Observer (NJ)Author: Nelson Randolph Jr.Published: Wednesday, February 12, 2003Copyright: 1997-2003 IN JerseyContact: lgoodgol injersey.comWebsite: http://www.injersey.com/observer/Related Articles & Web Site:Cheryl Hearthttp://www.cherylheart.orgMedical Marijuana Law Soughthttp://mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n218/a01.htmlMedical Marijuana Takes Center Stage On The Hillhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13529.shtmlMedical Marijuana Ads Play Role in Defeat of Barr http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13831.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by mayan on February 12, 2003 at 18:06:13 PT
Better Things To Do
"Baghdad balks, North Korea threatens and terrorists pour across our open borders every day. Our threat level stands at orange and the federal government suggests that we purchase duct tape and plastic to seal our windows in the event of chemical or biological attack.Surely the authorities have better things to do than spending their time, limited resources and tax dollars pursuing the ill and the infirm."No, the authorities don't have better things to do than harass the sick and dying. After all, the whole purpose of 9/11 was to steal our rights, start wars and transfer wealth. The way out is the way in -9/11 family member verbally attacked by O'Reilly:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/5b/16/200302121033.10bd8a0a.htmlTHE CRIMES OF 9/11: Bush Administration, CIA and FBI Misconduct Caused "Intelligence Failure"(Part 1)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/64/a8/200302120048.89550632.htmlKaminski's Best 9/11 Sites - 4th Edition:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00024.htmMake No Mistake About It - 9/11 Was An Inside Job(The lost voxnyc article that the federales shut down!):
http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:dv2JBpTIZHUC:www.voxnyc.com/archives/00000076.htm+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
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Comment #8 posted by freedom fighter on February 12, 2003 at 17:30:29 PT
Just wondering
Is the cop retired or not?? ff
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Comment #7 posted by charmed quark on February 12, 2003 at 16:56:27 PT:
Welcomed letter of support
Especially since the original article had some very non-suportive statements from the MS Society about Chery's treatment. Apparently the MS Society is against medical marijuana. This in spite of the definitive results from the Phase 3 trials conducted with whole cannabis by the GW Pharmaceutical company.-Pete
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Comment #6 posted by Delariand on February 12, 2003 at 14:12:35 PT
Duct tape
It's gonna take more than a piece, head down to Home Depot and grab a few rolls! I'm getting a posse together to duct tape Dubya, Asscroft and Hutchinson to the Lincoln Memorial to 'send them a message' about honesty ;)
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Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on February 12, 2003 at 13:23:12 PT
Great article
There ARE some very good police officers out there! I would be proud to have this guy working in my town.As for duct tape, I agree that it can boost national security. How about a big piece for Rumsfeld's mouth?
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 12, 2003 at 13:21:55 PT
Just a Comment
The news is slowing down concerning Ed Rosenthal and I've had time to look around the Net and see what is happening on other web sites concerning activism. I am impressed. I see the links that p4me and Gary Storck posted and great infomation and videos. When I check out other web sites I see this unity that I've never seen before. Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part but I feel change is in the air. Battle lines are being drawn in Cannabis reform circles and each issue seems to compliment the other. That is how we will win!
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Comment #3 posted by p4me on February 12, 2003 at 13:05:19 PT
You can put Cheryl Miller;s story on tv
I put this up at yesterday's article about the MPP. http://www.nextplayvideo.com/ is a website informing people about putting programming on public access cable. Jim and Cheryl Miller's story is viewable from a link on the right side of the page. From what I can tell, this program is available for showing on cable access channels if someone sponsors it, with more programs coming.Everyone is always asking what can i do. The biggest problem we have in two words is Controlled Media and now everyone has a chance to break the stranglehold of the monied powers and get some programming onto people's television. The following is copied from nextplayvideo.comAssignment: Drug War videos will soon be available for broadcast on local cable access channels nationwide. As it stands now, regulations require that in order to be shown locally, programs must be sponsored by a local cable viewer — that is, you. "Sponsoring" means little more than calling your local cable provider and asking to have your program aired. Here's how... http://www.nextplayvideo.com/videoactivism.htm
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 12, 2003 at 12:44:15 PT
Gary
I watched the video and it made me cry. Actually tears are welling up in my eyes now just thinking about it. God Bless Jim and Cheryl and you for being such a good friend to them. 
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Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on February 12, 2003 at 12:37:15 PT
Jim & Cheryl Miller: True Heroes!
It is amazing to see the depth of Cheryl's support, all the way to this beautiful LTE/OPED from a courageous police officer willing to risk all to speak the truth.While Cheryl's health is on the brink, she continues to accomplish amazing things, like helping to oust Bob Barr with her award winning commercial, produced by the Libertarian Party, and the great video produced by Peter Christopher and Next Play video, which is now online here: http://drugpolicycentral.com/real/immly/cheryl_56.rm. If you haven't seen it, take 29 minutes and sit down and watch it. It will change the way you think about mmj, even if you already strongly support it.For someone almost completely paralyzed by over 30 years of MS, Cheryl continues to make her mark and inspire others to stand up for patients! Thank you Officer Randolph, and thank you Jim & Cheryl -- you are all heroes!
Is My Medicine Legal Yet?
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