cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on August 03, 2003 at 09:08:27 PT
By Paul Armentano
Source: Newsday
It's ironic that Dr. Andrea Barthwell, deputy director for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, willfully misconstrues the facts regarding the medicinal use of marijuana ["More Tests Needed on Medical Marijuana Use," Viewpoints, July 28 ] mere weeks after Delegates of the American Nurses Association resolved to "support the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana." Whom do you believe? A paid spokeswoman for the drug czar's office, or the RNs who have dedicated their lives to attending the needs of the sick and dying?
The nurses' support for the use of marijuana as a medicine is not based on "misinformation," but rather on scores of scientific studies and patient testimonies demonstrating the therapeutic value of cannabis. But, if Barthwell and the Bush administration have their way, these patients will not only be denied legal access to the one medicine that alleviates their suffering but they will also face arrest and imprisonment. In addition, the Bush administration is now appealing to the Supreme Court to allow the Justice Department to punish doctors who so much as speak to their patients about the medical use of marijuana - a position so extreme that it runs contrary to both the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the latter of which Barthwell formerly served as president.Paul Armentano -- http://www.norml.org/Editor's Note: The writer is senior policy analyst of the NORML Foundation.Washington, D.C. Newshawk: Paul ArmentanoSource: Newsday (NY)Published: August 03, 2003Copyright: 2003 Newsday Inc.Contact: letters newsday.comWebsite: http://www.newsday.com/Related Article & Web Site:IOM Reporthttp://www.nap.edu/html/marimed/More Tests Needed on Medical Marijuana Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16966.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by jose melendez on April 20, 2004 at 09:13:57 PT
malarkey!
Got them on the run.Next I'll expose collusion with drug manufacturing and testing firms, so they can't dismiss these arguments out of hand without breaking the law.From: NewCase.ATR usdoj.govDate: Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:36:04 US/EasternTo: jose xxxxxxxx Subject: RE: spelling correctedAlternate-Recipient: AllowedDisclose-Recipients: ProhibitedX400-Content-Return: AllowedDear Mr. Melendez,Thank you for contacting the Antitrust Division with your concerns regarding drug testing. We understand your concerns, however at this time, your complaint does not warrant action by the Antitrust Division. We appreciate your interest in the enforcement of federal antitrust laws.Sincerely,
New Case Unit
Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice - - -
Notice to Law Enforcement:Everything you say, do, omit and avoid WILL be held against you in MANY courts of law. The jig is up. Instigate the Federal investigation into ONDCP and all drug warriors, or face collusion and obstruction charges yourselves.
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Comment #8 posted by jose melendez on April 19, 2004 at 10:22:15 PT
oops
that link should be http://pipepeace.com/zand not as posted at the end of my comment #7Apologies for my horrid, awful typing skills. Someone please send me an F.M.R.I. kit to control my computers, so I can win this war before this election season, instead of waiting to find out whether the new boss will be 'same as the old boss'.I won't be fooled again. Tell your friends to WRITE often, and VOTE!
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Comment #7 posted by jose melendez on April 19, 2004 at 10:13:54 PT
Barthwell disses Armentano, NORML
I sent this letter to the editor AND to the Justice Department in response to Barthwell's letter disputing Armentano's comments:From: Jose Melendez jose xxxxxxxxxDate: Mon Apr 19, 2004 13:00:03 US/EasternTo: letters veropress.com, NewCase.ATR usdoj.govSubject: spelling correctedApologies for misspelling Dr. Barthwell's name in my previous email. Please note corrected version below.Begin forwarded message:From: Jose Melendez jose xxxxxxxxxxDate: Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:53:07 US/EasternTo: NewCase.ATR usdoj.govSubject: Fwd: price-fixing, collusion complaintThe jig is up:Re:http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n597/a07.html?397Claims by physician and public health official Andrea Barthwell that her duty is to protect our communities from drugs deserve closer inspection and investigation by the Justice Department.Even as she recommends drug testing of our kids, efforts to combat youth marijuana use to date have resulted in pot use rates by high school seniors of well over fifty percent. The specious claim that drug testing, mostly for marijuana, makes our roads safer ignores multiple peer reviewed studies that all conclude that pot users never demonstrate the impairment associated with even small amounts of alcohol.In addition to questionable collusion between Barthwell's office and profitable drug testing firms, there can be no question that the Office of National Drug Control Policy carefully avoids publicizing that drugs approved for daily use by children by the Food and Drug Administration include the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor Prozac, and powerful
amphetamines like Ritalin and Adderal.Prozac and it's very profitable analogues have been associated with youth suicides, and kids have traded Ritalin for beer and cigarette money for years. Considering these facts, it would seem clear that it is ONDCP, and not NORML that is dedicated to making drugs more available in our communities.Even as they discard due process along with our first, fourth and fifth
Amendment rights, drug warriors unconstitutionally (Article III,
Section 3) aid and comfort those who manufacture and sell products shown to harm Americans, products that otherwise would be forced to compete with far safer, raw generic medications and intoxicants.Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act clearly prohibit price fixing or bid rigging agreements, conspiracies or other contracts that restrain trade or commerce between States and foreign nations.Apparently such rules are irrelevant when it comes to protecting the profits, pensions and
paychecks created by billion dollar pharmaceutical, tobacco, alcohol,
incarceration and fatty food industries whose products are indisputably associated with over one million American deaths each year due to complications from their legally taxed use as advertised.Got fraud? Criminalize prohibition. Or, have another drink.See also: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n225/a07.html?54148Jose Melendez- snipBegin forwarded message:From: Jose Melendez jose xxxxxxxxDate: Sun Apr 4, 2004 08:13:20 US/EasternTo: "NewCase.ATR usdoj.gov" NewCase.ATR usdoj.govSubject: price-fixing, collusion complaintI hereby submit this publicly published complaint, and request confirmation of receipt.Jose Melendez the New Case Unit exists to gather information and complaints . . .US FL: PUB LTE: Response To Official 5 of 7 URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n317/a07.html
Newshawk: Kirk
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Mon, 23 Feb 2004
Source: Press Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2004, The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact: laurence.reisman scripps.com
Website: http://www1.tcpalm.com/tcp/press_journal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2977
Author: Jose Melendez
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n289/a06.html?19232
Note: Titled by MAP RESPONSE TO OFFICIAL Had they insisted cannabis has no medical properties under oath, the Office of
National Drug Control's deputy director for demand reduction, Andrea Barthwell,
and Sgt. Brad Fojtik of the Indian River County Sheriff's Office School Resource
Team could be charged with perjury. At a minimum, such fraudulent testimony is correctly dismissed as ignorance. It is
a fact that the THC and CBD in cannabis ameliorate symptoms of nausea, pain and
stress far safer than almost every legal medication or intoxicant on the market,
even if smoked. In fact, two studies prove carcinogenic tumors were reduced when exposed to
cannabinoids. The mantra that medical marijuana is a cruel hoax on the sick and
dying is absurd, perhaps criminal, when one notes that millions die from smoked
cigarettes. That Ms. Barthwell and her paid cronies wage war on American citizens while
turning a blind eye to pending FDA regulation of cancer sticks as medical devices
ought to be the subject of antitrust investigations. Note also that treason is defined by the Constitution as waging war on us, or
providing aid and comfort to our enemies. Marijuana is not legally prohibited, and
compared to incarceration, asset forfeiture and legal poisons, is relatively
harmless. If you really believe all drug use is abuse, have another drink, and
think it over. Jose Melendez, DeLandThey know I'm making a documentary, and are VERY quiet.On another front in the drug war, here's the latest info on how I am addressing the threats, slander and tresspassing on the part of my local misguided boys in blue:htpp://pipepeace.com/z
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 04, 2003 at 09:36:34 PT
Friendly Reminder: The Forgotten War
AIRS: 6-7 p.m. ET Monday-Friday
'The Forgotten War'
Monday, August 04, 2003 Join us for our series of special reports "The Forgotten War" as we look at an addicted nation and the war on drugs. We begin with what is being done to stop drugs from coming into the United States. Deborah McCarthy, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is our guest. http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on August 03, 2003 at 15:11:58 PT
i420
It starts tomorrow night.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 03, 2003 at 14:51:01 PT
i420
We're going to watch it too. Sanho Tree might be in this first part.
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Comment #3 posted by i420 on August 03, 2003 at 14:45:10 PT
Thanks FoM
Thanks for the heads up FoM, got my vcr and blank tapes ready! I take it this is a 5 part series. For Indiana people this will air at 5pm not 6pm.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 03, 2003 at 11:27:35 PT
CNN Special Report: The Forgotten War
AIRS: 6-7 p.m. ET Monday-Friday
'The Forgotten War'
Sunday, August 03, 2003 Join us for our series of special reports "The Forgotten War" as we look at an addicted nation and the war on drugs. We begin with what is being done to stop drugs from coming into the United States. http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on August 03, 2003 at 10:48:29 PT
The important thing about this is
that it appeared at such a popular website. Alexa rates Newsday.com at 1240. Maybe the NORML message is reaching new readers.It does express the NORML position that the feds are wrong in a soft tone. If people are really reading that is all that is needed and Newsday is a good way to break the silence blockade.I cannot understand the use of the word ironic in his opening remark. It is not ironic at all. It is the same old stonewall approach and that is all the prohibitionists mouthpieces can do. My thinking of a title is "Outrage required." Another one might be "Excuse me, but isn't that murder." Maybe NORML should adopt the tactics of the nations political masters and have a puppet organization. It could take a harsher tone. The one thing I am disappointed with NORML over is not showing us video of Jack Herer receiving his award at the last NORML convention or telling us what he said. NarcoNews latest article acts like Lula sold out his promise of reform after a June 20th visit to Warshington. The WOD people act like some kind of sex fiend that must have it and do not care about the means- bribes, coersion, or rape. Screw the world, we must have a War of Insanity.
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