cannabisnews.com: Pot Issue Elicits Clash of Interests Pot Issue Elicits Clash of Interests Posted by CN Staff on March 15, 2003 at 13:28:28 PT By Liz Heitzman of the Tribune’s Staff Source: Columbia Daily Tribune At one point during the League of Women Voters’ debate on Proposition 1, the ordinance that would soften Columbia’s marijuana ordinances, the discussion turned to whether using marijuana promotes a healthy diet.Lt. Ed Moses of the Missouri Highway Patrol said that those who want marijuana legalized for medicinal use often argue that it helps stimulate appetite for cancer and AIDS patients. But under the influence of marijuana, Moses said, people get "the munchies." "When you get the munchies, you don’t crave nutritious Power Bars or steaks and salads," he said. "You crave junk food. That’s not compassion, that’s cruel."Moses spoke in reference to a provision of the April 8 ballot measure in Columbia that would make possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana a municipal offense similar to a traffic ticket and allow "seriously ill" persons to obtain and use marijuana if recommended by a doctor.Sarah Duff, communications director for the organized group that supports the initiative, asked Moses how he would know what people under the influence of marijuana crave.Moses shot back that he had never used marijuana but that he had observed the devastation the drug had wrought on people’s lives.Moses’ adversary, University of Missouri-Columbia law student Anthony Johnson, responded, "I have never seen a study or seen why marijuana or any other drug would only direct your appetite toward junk food, and I believe it’s been proven marijuana helps with nausea." And so went a portion of the debate last night, during which the main speakers found little common ground and often employed conflicting facts, figures and strong language to make their points.In his opening remarks, Johnson, who drafted the proposed city ordinance, argued that passing the ordinance would free up police resources to go after murderers, rapists and robbers.But Moses said he believes child neglect and abuse would increase if the proposition passes, based on his experience as an undercover narcotics officer.Why should voters allow marijuana use to skirt existing law and regulatory processes, Moses asked. "What other medicine do we hold a vote for?"Rose Wibbenmeyer, a city prosecutor, asked how the legal system would be expected to deal with the revenue shortfall if fines were reduced to $25 for first-time offenders from the rate of $200 to $300.Money would be saved in not taking offenders to jail, Johnson said.Columbia attorney Dan Viets, a longtime proponent of relaxing marijuana laws who helped get Proposition 1 off the ground, said, "That the city court budget is depending on fines to support it is an issue in itself."The discussion did not change Eve Pearson’s mind. "After hearing the discussion tonight, I feel even more against it," said Pearson, who is concerned that passing the proposed ordinance would send a message of drug tolerance to youths. "I just have a very strong concern that people are going to be complacent and not understand the need to get out and vote against this."Pearson said she identified with many arguments presented by Moses, who said that the measure would ultimately lead to more social ills and increased usage.But Amanda Broz, 23, an MU graduate student, said she believed the measure is "something good to support.""I heard a lot of conflicting facts here tonight," she said, "and I think you can sway the facts any way that suits your argument. I think" Moses "used a lot of rhetoric typical of the war on drugs."Broz said she believed Johnson presented a common-sense approach to drug law reform.Before the debate on Proposition 1, Columbia City Council candidates from the Second and Sixth wards fielded questions from the audience. A question about using "green power" - or electricity from wind-powered, solar or other generators - drew distinctions among the candidates. In the Sixth Ward race, Brian Ash said that people should be able to purchase green power if they are willing to pay extra. Ben Orzeske said green power shouldn’t be a priority in tight fiscal times. Austin Hake said Columbia should set the standard and buy "green" power, as long as it is not "incredibly expensive."Note: Proposition 1 focus of contentious forum.Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)Author: Liz Heitzman of the Tribune’s Staff Published: Tuesday, March 11, 2003Copyright: 2003 Columbia Daily TribuneContact: editor tribmail.comWebsite: http://www.showmenews.com/Related Articles:Council Sets Pot Revision for Electionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15253.shtmlCity Council To Vote on Pot-Possession Penaltieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15227.shtml Groups Hope Petition Helps Soften Pot Policieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14445.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by Tigress58 on March 16, 2003 at 18:02:11 PT An interesting thought and conclusion. Mr. Moses,I guess when it comes to munchies and craving junk food, that is a matter in your own opinion and perfered eating habits. Do not pay extra for "green energy!" I am working on my bachelor's degree and thesis project, and have come to some interesting realizations and research:1. The thesis is based on alternative energy, because;2. World-wide crude oil is reaching peak production and will begin to decline, i.e., gas prices and oil based oil products will continue to rise in price as crude production declines and this non-renewable resources depletes to zero;3. When the absolute decline reaches critical levels, life as we now know it will change forever. Other sources will need to be found as fuel for agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, etc. (get my direction?). We will have to harvest solar energy without a doubt. We will also have to refine the crop fuels, and turn waste products (garbage) into methane gas.4. As I understand it, MJ has the ability to provide for a variety of needed resources, i.e., food, oil, fuel, clothing, etc.5. If my experimental project is successful, it should be marketable within five years or less. This also means new alternative housing with an interesting and non-conventional twist.6. Crude oil production decline will become critical by 2020. Keep campaigning to free MJ, we need her contribution too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Virgil on March 16, 2003 at 12:10:34 PT Talk about being dumbfounded by stupidity- Usually the silence is broken with a think-of-the children chant, a mixed-message chant, or the big lie known as marijuana-is-a-dangerous-drug-chant that now has a new chorus saying cannabis causes mental illness. But instead of silence and then the usual noise we are treated to some of the most absurd critical thinking possible that somehow seeks a laugh, but it is just to sad to think that someone could think such stupidity much less get it published. They give this guy a platform when Richard Cowan is the man to talk to instead of the man not to talk to. Talk about an example of controlled media, here you go.Of course what makes this sad for someone that follows the Campaign for cannabis freedom is that I truly wish that hempfoods were available in flour, milk, salad oil, cereal/gruel, hempnuts, vegetarian burgers, and cheese. But no. The aisles are full of junk food with manmade hydrogenated oils that are bad and put there by evil forces. I guess they are trying to save the social security system by killing people instead of pushing back benefits to age 70. There is a shortage of protein for human consumption in the world that hemp could provide. I try to eat tuna for omega3 but now you don't know about the mercury in ocean seafood. I don't know why the big billionaires don't find a starving village and send them hempfood and a doctor and do some studies. We are definitely lacking in research on what hempffods could do for colesteral and for the prevention/reversal of heart disease. http://www.hempoilcan.com/nutri.htmlThe silence and the chants are broken by remarkable stupidity. I am just too dumbfounded to laugh. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by billos on March 16, 2003 at 11:37:40 PT: "munchies" Just think.. ..if the only ramification of drinking alcohol was "the munchies," how many people would still be alive today? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by John Tyler on March 16, 2003 at 05:50:22 PT Cops have slanted viewpoint Moses shot back that he had never used marijuana but that he had observed the devastation the drug had wrought on people’s lives.Cops always judges others from the viewpoint of the lowlifes and criminals they encounter everyday. The devastation etc. he speaks of could just as easily be said about alcohol.After all of these years, I still can't understand the opposition to cannabis, when all of the arguments against it are so baseless. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Kegan on March 16, 2003 at 03:04:07 PT: Junk food Okay... so.... keep pot ILLEGAL....... so that..... people won't crave JUNK FOOD........ which is bad for their health.....But Pop Tarts are legal....... and don't even qualify as real food?Just HOW did we all get so FUCKING SUPID!?!?! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by lag on March 16, 2003 at 01:16:26 PT This is a nonstarter All these people are trying to do is derail the medical marijuana movement. I can't tell you how many times I have rushed to the pantry to grab...cream of wheat (maple syrup and brown sugar) and light pop corn when I have the munchies. That doesn't mean I haven't endulged in the snack food of the same name, but it's not impossible to enjoy a healthy munchie food. Heck...long before I started smoking I ate munchies...more than now, it seems.If McDonalds isn't responsible for what people eat there, then how can they expect that anyone but the individual is responsible for the food they ingest anywhere else. Is this going to be a new ad campaign...sort of an anti-Jared? Bah... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by delariand on March 15, 2003 at 19:29:47 PT I know people have commented on this line, but... "When you get the munchies, you don’t crave nutritious Power Bars or steaks and salads," he said. "You crave junk food. That’s not compassion, that’s cruel."Cause, you've had the munchies SO many times, right? It's clear you've never experienced what your talking about people with the munchies don't crave junk food any more than hungry people do. All you're craving is stuffing your face, with whatever you can get your hands on! Smoking pot doesn't suddenly disable your knowledge of what foods are healthy and what foods aren't. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Big Trees on March 15, 2003 at 15:18:02 PT Is that the dumbest thing I have ever heard? "When you get the munchies, you don’t crave nutritious Power Bars or steaks and salads," he said. "You crave junk food. That’s not compassion, that’s cruel."What is she talking about? Sorry lady but your article is not compassion but curel. I guess the meals in prison are alot better uh........ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by AlvinCool on March 15, 2003 at 15:14:45 PT Junk Food He is so mistaken that people with the "munchies" only eat junk food. He would be correct in that a serious case of munchies always causes people to eat seefood every time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on March 15, 2003 at 14:37:29 PT A proper message... "After hearing the discussion tonight, I feel even more against it," said Pearson, who is concerned that passing the proposed ordinance would send a message of drug tolerance to youths. "I just have a very strong concern that people are going to be complacent and not understand the need to get out and vote against this."I asked my son what kind of message of drug tolerance Ms. Pearson send to youths. He said that, "Ms. Pearson is saying that it is okay to turn him into a snitch so she can fight a ditry war in order to send a proper moral message to the youths."Moral value of this excuse "proper message to youth!" equals NOT MY CHILD BUT YOURS!ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on March 15, 2003 at 14:27:50 PT Lots of compassion "When you get the munchies, you don’t crave nutritious Power Bars or steaks and salads," he said. "You crave junk food. That’s not compassion, that’s cruel."Is that a good reason to arrest and throw somebody in a cage for smoking cannabis? Yes, we are so compassionated that we must put human beings in cage for carrying a plant that cannot possibly kill anyone because it is cruel when you get munchies!!!!.ff [ Post Comment ] Post Comment