cannabisnews.com: Decision To Smoke Pot Shouldn't Involve Doctor





Decision To Smoke Pot Shouldn't Involve Doctor
Posted by CN Staff on May 12, 2003 at 07:24:02 PT
By Jeffrey A. Schaler
Source: Baltimore Sun 
The attempt by drug policy reformers in Maryland to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes is bad medicine masquerading as harm reduction. Marijuana is no more a medicine than is water. It is neither safe nor dangerous, good nor bad. Marijuana is a plant that people have a right to grow, purchase, sell, own and ingest as they see fit. 
Anything can be labeled a medicine, just as anything can be diagnosed as a disease - provided the people applying the label and diagnosis have the authority to do so. It all depends on who says something is medicine, who is using it and for what purposes it is being used. Is water a medicine? Yes and no. If a person is dehydrated, water becomes a life-saving medicine. Most of the time water is not medicine, despite the fact it is essential to our survival and consumed regularly. Is water safe or dangerous? People can safely drink and swim in it. When people consume too much water they may suffer from electrolyte imbalance. A person can drown in water. Does that make it dangerous? No. It all depends on how you use it. Is water good or bad? The question is meaningless. Just as dangerous and safe are not properties we can detect through water analysis, there is no goodness or badness we can detect in water. Water is just water. A priest sees "holy" water. An atheist sees "plain" water. Doctors and scientists cannot tell the difference, only priests and theologians can. How can they tell the difference between holy water and secular water? By who uses the water, by the ways in which they use it, by the way it has been blessed and consecrated. The same is true for marijuana. Medical marijuana advocates argue that marijuana is a panacea. Prohibitionists argue that marijuana is a panapathogen (something that causes illness). Who is right? Neither. It all depends on how you use it. Marijuana is no more medicine than water is medicine. And marijuana is just as dangerous as water. So why all the fuss about marijuana as medicine? The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. Could it be because those who hold that marijuana is medicine, safe and a panacea are not far away from those who think marijuana is bad, dangerous and a panapathogen? Both sides attribute nonexistent qualities to marijuana. Is the fuss because people who want to smoke marijuana need it to treat any number of diseases such as glaucoma or multiple sclerosis or the nausea that often accompanies chemotherapy? Of course not. Plenty of effective drugs are available for these diseases and conditions. Medical marijuana advocates hide behind sick people in order to get marijuana without penalty in order to get high. They believe the laws against marijuana possession and use are inhumane - and the laws are inhumane, but not for the reasons they state. The medical marijuana pushers lie about the drug just as much as the prohibitionists do. The medicinal marijuana argument is as red a herring as they come. People have a right to use marijuana or any drug in any way they see fit - as medicine, as religious ritual, or simply to make themselves feel good, as long as they don't hurt anyone else in the process. However, the medical marijuana peddlers are not satisfied with such an honest and principled stand. They trust doctors to make lifestyle decisions for them. They want doctors in charge of who gives them their recreational drugs. Medicinal marijuana peddlers fear autonomy and embrace the paternalism of the therapeutic state. Medicalizing marijuana, like medicalizing behavior, is bad medicine. Two wrongs don't make a right. The best solution to the harm created by drug prohibition is repeal of drug prohibition in its entirety. And that is a federal issue, not a state one. Note: The author teaches psychology at Johns Hopkins University and is the author of Addiction Is a Choice (Open Court Publishers, 2001).Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)Author: Jeffrey A. SchalerPublished: Monday, May 12, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Baltimore SunContact: letters baltsun.comWebsite: http://www.sunspot.net/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmStanding Up To Bullies http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15893.shtmlGOP Leaders Press Ehrlich To Veto Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15873.shtmlDrug Czar Calls Marijuana Bill Immoralhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15791.shtml 
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Comment #11 posted by paulpeterson on May 16, 2003 at 09:20:32 PT
GOTTA LOVE THIS GUY
He comes out and totally "debunks" the "medical marijuana myth" (in his own mind, that is) but then shows his true colors as a TOTAL LEGALIZER. I like this guy. He has singlehandedly gotten BOTH SIDES MAD AT HIM with one article! That is genius. This is a good thinker. Don't yell at him too bad. Over
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Comment #10 posted by Imprint on May 12, 2003 at 19:26:53 PT
FoM
Got it. thanks
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 12, 2003 at 19:09:57 PT
Imprint
Maybe this will help you understand what I mean. I believe that people socially smoke to relax and see the world thru rose colored glasses for a while. That eases the mind and can make a person have a healthy outlook on life. Health of the mind is as important as health of the body I believe. 
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Comment #8 posted by Imprint on May 12, 2003 at 18:52:00 PT
"cure"
Well, that’s a good point. What do I mean by “cure”? I guess it’s like this; I get a infection and I take antibiotics to “cure” my infection or I get a headache and I take some aspirin and it “cures” the headache; now, I don’t know if this is medically accurate or not, its just how I see it. Once the headache is gone I wouldn’t continue to take aspirin. But, I can’t bring this point up without acknowledging that ultimately we all die so “cure” in that context doesn’t work; the word “cure” has no meaning then. But, to say “cure” in the context of removing the aliment would be fair. So, I guess that’s what I meant. I’m searching for this mysterious aliment that recreational users have and don’t realize that they have. The ailment that completes the argument that, “All marijuana use is medical”. It seems like recreational pot use is different. Now, the only pot smoking folks I’m exposed to are recreational for sure and they don’t’ wait for any kind of medical sign to light up. No tummy aches, no headaches, no moodiness. It’s more like this, “Hello “fill in name”, how is it going. Hey, lets go smoke a joint”. It’s completely and totally social. Now, when I see one of my buddies I don’t feel like taking aspirin (I guess it might depend on the buddy, ha). And this leads me back to my point. I think there is an argument that says, biologically humans seek mind-altering activities and when it comes to pot, recreational users (consciously or not) want to consume socially because it enhances the experience. I guess I’m finding it hard to see the medical link in recreational pot use. 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 12, 2003 at 17:21:59 PT
Imprint and afterburner
Very Good! What you said makes sense to me. We are complex creatures. I agree with the mind expansion concept. Imprint I'm not sure what you mean about a cure. I don't believe that Cannabis cures anything but helps with symptoms of a disease. Cannabis can slow down the deterioration that comes from being ill. It makes a persons quality of life better. So in that way it cures but we all will ultimately die. 
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Comment #6 posted by Imprint on May 12, 2003 at 16:59:24 PT
Maybe my libertarian leanings show
If I remimber right, I heard discussions (TV & talk radio) about the book this guy wrote (“Addiction Is a Choice”). This is a different way of looking at the problem of addiction for sure. But, I think that is why this article is written the way it is. I think he sees this a little more basically than we do. As anti-prohibitionist’s we see the pieces (i.e. medical, recreational, spiritual, et.) but he sees no need to make these distinctions. It’s more fundamental, it’s about a plant and the freedom to use it as we see fit.  And in a most fundamental way he is right. One of his last statements was “The best solution to the harm created by drug prohibition is repeal of drug prohibition in its entirety.” Makes sense to me. Also, I really like the question of “is ALL marijuana use medical?” With no obvious medical aliments, pot really does make you feel good so, does that say you were ill anyway and pot made you better? And if you continue to smoke pot (to feel better) then does that say you aren’t cured? Nearly all (if not all) animals seek to alter consciousness so, could it have more to do with a biological drive we have rather than being ill? I sure don’t know. I just have questions.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on May 12, 2003 at 16:10:23 PT:
This Article Is Just a Twisted Version of SOL...
the Schedule One Lie: Cannabis has no medical use. Most non-medical users respect the needs of medical users, unlike this twisted prOhibitionist. I agree with FoM that all use of cannabis is medical: spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional. What is wrong with feeling good? The Declaration of Independence states that "the pursuit of Happiness" is an "unalienable Right." Do we celebrate Independence Day in vain? To me Independence Day is our proudest national holiday, a day to spend among WE THE PEOPLE."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." -The Declaration of Independence http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/declaration/declaration_transcription.htmlAbout the title, Decision To Smoke Pot Shouldn't Involve Doctor, the federal government tried to prohibit doctors from recommending medical cannabis, and the US Supreme Court wisely struck down this abridgement, not only of free speech, but of a doctor's professional responsibibility to his/her patients and to the Hippocratic Oath!ego transcendence follows ego destruction, heart by heart, vote by vote, until eventually there is no problem.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 12, 2003 at 13:11:40 PT
Medicinal Cannabis
Cannabis is a medicinal plant. The reality is that if Cannabis helps a person not be so uptight or helps them quit hard drug use or deal with a crisis a little better then it is a medicine. If a person just wants to smoke for fun, why do they want to smoke just for fun? To feel better is my answer. That means that when you look at the Cannabis Plant all Cannabis use is medicinal but some reasons are more obvious then others like helping control nausea.
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Comment #3 posted by Imprint on May 12, 2003 at 13:00:49 PT
Very Interesting 
A very interesting way of looking at this issue. Right now the marijuana movement rests on the shoulders of the doctors and scientists. As long as these folks produce positive results the prohibitionists are on their heels. But to respond to this threat the prohibitionists drum up their own doctors and scientists to refute these positive results. The whole issue of Marijuana now revolves around the efficacy in medical claims. We have moved away from the basic issue here; the issue this article brings up. Marijuana is a plant that naturally occurs; just like water is a natural occurrence. Depending on many things, marijuana is no more harmful or helpful than water.  This is the fundamental argument that needs to be won. For the individual that deals with a debilitating illness this doesn’t matter; marijuana helps them and that’s the only proof they need. And this makes marijuana a medical issue today; the urgency, people suffer now; they need marijuana today. But for the big picture, well, maybe medical marijuana is a red a herring. For the big picture, I think were fighting for freedom, not just one plant. A plant I happen to care about, thank you very much. One last thing. I have lost count of the number of times people have told me to go find a doctor to give a fake medical condition to and obtain a medical marijuana card. I just don’t like this option. I want the big picture (smoke my heart out), but I just can’t cross this line of ethics. People have gone out of their way to give me information on doctors and locations and such and I just can’t bring myself to do it. Since marijuana (in this situation) is being used in a medical context, I feel I need to respect the process for medical marijuana. I’d like to know how others feel about this. Maybe I’m just not looking at it the right way. Could it be the other way around? Should all recreational users run out and get a medical marijuana cards to flood the medical market making marijuana even more common place? Just curious.  
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Comment #2 posted by observer on May 12, 2003 at 12:55:30 PT
silly broadbrush
''Medicalizing marijuana, like medicalizing behavior, is bad medicine. Two wrongs don't make a right. The best solution to the harm created by drug prohibition is repeal of drug prohibition in its entirety. And that is a federal issue, not a state one.''That's a silly "all-or-none" argument. His broad brush "Medical marijuana advocates hide behind sick people in order to get marijuana without penalty in order to get high." Is a sweeping and false generalization. It would be like saying "Doctors just want to make lots of money." Are there some docs in it just for the money? Sure. Are all like that? No. Note: prohibitionists are jailing people, medical marijuana activists are seeking to carve out some legal shelter for sick people. Let's see Jeffrey A. Schaler tell an MS patient like Jacki Rickert that she's just in it for a buzz. Let's see Jeffrey A. Schaler visit a compassion club and tell that chemo patient or that HIV patient they just want a cheap high. Jeffrey A. Schaler's all wet.Medical marijuana is showing people that the government has been lying to them. It is an incremental strategy for reaching sanity; a drug policy where people are not jailed for what they injest. Shouting that half a loaf is worse than none at all won't cut it.
http://immly.org/
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Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on May 12, 2003 at 09:39:58 PT
Still not legal
I would like to point out that the legislation under consideration does not make medical cannabis legal. The fine for medical cannabis use, if you are caught, is $100. This is a reduction from the normal $1000 fine for non-medical use. In any case, cannabis for whatever use is still illegal.
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