cannabisnews.com: Local Medical Marijuana Campaign Targets Congress





Local Medical Marijuana Campaign Targets Congress
Posted by CN Staff on November 21, 2003 at 07:21:48 PT
By Josh Richman, Staff Writers
Source: Oakland Tribune 
Medical marijuana activists are trying to hit four Congressmen where they live, contacting their constituents to blast their voting record with phone messages recorded by two Bay Area women. Registered voters in the districts of Wally Herger, R-Marysville; Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley; Joe Baca, D-Rialto; and David Wu, D-Oregon, began receiving phone calls Thursday morning that told them the lawmakers had voted against a bipartisan amendment to cut off funding for federal raids on California's and Oregon's medical marijuana providers and patients.
The amendment was defeated July 23 on a 273-152 vote. The recorded messages are from Angel McClary Raich -- an Oakland patient now suing the federal government to halt the raids that she says are depriving her and others of medicine they need to survive -- and Marney Craig of Novato -- a juror who says she was "duped" into convicting Oakland marijuana grower Ed Rosenthal this year by a federal justice system that didn't let all the facts be heard. Raich's message in part says, "I'm a medical marijuana patient, and your Congressman ... is threatening my life. My weight has dropped to 98 pounds, and my doctor says that marijuana is keeping me alive. But even though it's legal in California, Congressman ... is supporting the federal government's war on patients like me." And Craig's message, in part, says, "I was one of the jurors in a medical marijuana trial and we were hoodwinked by the federal prosecutors ... Your Congressman ... had a chance to end this federal deception but he voted to let it continue." The campaign is being mounted by Berkeley-based Americans for Safe Access; director Steph Sherer said it will cost under $100,000 raised from among the group's membership to reach more than 600,000 voters. "The issue is gaining momentum," she said Thursday. "This is about compassion for the sick and dying." California and Oregon are among 10 states with laws permitting medical use of marijuana, but federal law still bans the drug for all purposes. These four Congressmen incurred activists' wrath because the federal government has raided or arrested medical marijuana providers or patients in their districts, yet they voted against the bipartisan amendment to halt the raids. Sherer said this is "the beginning of a series of educational campaigns our coalition will be launching," and her organization is developing further ads "we hope we won't have to use" against these Congressmen if they remain unresponsive to the cause. Gallegly and Herger both said the activists are using the plight of the sick to advance the cause of marijuana legalization; both also noted that almost two-thirds of the House voted against this amendment. Gallegly said he doesn't believe his constituents will disagree. "So far today we've been 'deluged' with five calls," he said. "Three of the calls said, 'Congressman, stay your course,' and the other two were confused as to what the message was." Cameron Johnson, Wu's press secretary, said Wu "supports providing Americans with all the medication they need. However, the direct use of marijuana is medically unnecessary and prone to abuse." Baca's office didn't return a call seeking comment.Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Josh Richman, Staff WritersPublished: Friday, November 21, 2003  Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #9 posted by Jose Melendez on November 23, 2003 at 06:37:28 PT
Relief Trumps Fear of Jail
Note Barthwell has modified her argument. Answer all the objections, 
and you have the sale. True or False: Marijuana use, even if smoked, is far safer for tennis elbow than aspirin, alleve, ambien, beer, percocet, vioxx, naprosyn, ketoprofen . . . from:http://www.sunspot.net/news/health/bal-te.md.marijuana23nov23,0,1958281.story?coll=bal-health-headlinesForced to 'sneak' "We're in a better situation than we were, but we're not home free yet," she said. "It's still requiring that you sneak around and hide." Possession of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and Holland fears constantly that the Drug Enforcement Administration will knock on her door. Dr. Andrea Barthwell, deputy director for demand reduction at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, rejects the term "medical marijuana," instead calling it "medical excuse marijuana." She says those who push for laws like Maryland's are "feeding off the pain and suffering of people" in pursuit of their real goal: complete legalization of marijuana. "There's no basis in medical [knowledge] for taking a crude plant material and providing it as medicine," she said. "It has not passed the test of having medicinal value. ... You've created a system where a skinned knee and a tennis elbow will be presented in a court of law to explain marijuana use." State Sen. David R. Brinkley, a Republican who represents Frederick and Carroll counties and one of the main sponsors of the bill, said the current law was the only compromise that would satisfy those legislators who refused to pass anything to contradict federal law - despite laws in several other states that do just that. "The minute that the federal government changes its stance, we can be a little more selective about what we do," said Brinkley, a cancer survivor. But, he conceded, "you're crawling." "You've got to crawl before you can walk before you can jog before you can sprint." It's unclear if anyone has used the law - which went into effect Oct. 1 - as a defense. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. signed the legislation after intense lobbying from the White House and others to veto it. Many people remain afraid to talk publicly about their use of the drug. One man with a serious nerve disorder said he didn't want to give his name because his parents don't know he has turned to it. One with multiple sclerosis said he wanted to talk but works for the federal government - which is a drug-free work zone.  'I was desperate' Lawrence Silberman, 52, has been in remission from cancer - in his case, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - for going on 18 months. But when he was the sickest, on chemotherapy, wired on steroids, he couldn't sleep. He would wake up after an hour or so in bed feeling as if he had swallowed a pot of espresso. Someone suggested he try marijuana. "I would go downstairs around 11 o'clock," said the Burtonsville carpenter. "I would stand on the toilet, turn on the exhaust fan and take one or two puffs on the marijuana and blow it into the exhaust fan." He felt like a teen-ager, sneaking around, but he had teen-agers in the house. "I didn't want to be flagrant. I was desperate," he said. "People have kids who turn them in, for goodness' sake." When Silberman would go for chemotherapy, which would take up to four hours, he would talk with other patients receiving theirs. And talk sometimes turned to the benefits they were feeling from using marijuana. "We were all in the same boat," he said. "Those aren't people who are going to be lying to each other."  Lacks safe, legal source He sees the law as a first step, but he thinks more could be done. For example, there is no safe way for patients to buy the drug, as there is in some states where medical marijuana is legal. He and others must turn to college kids, to the streets, to any number of dangerous ways to obtain what they want. Still, he said, "I don't think you're afraid of going to jail when you've got cancer. It's like 12th on your list." ASKED AND ANSWERED, from:http://www.aarp.org/or/rx/Articles/a2003-09-24-or-rx-consumerguides-arthritis.htmlConclusionsWhile the conclusions of the Oregon Health Resources Commission represent findings for most people taking one of these drugs, these findings may not necessarily apply to a given individual. You should discuss these findings with your health care providers, to find out which (if any) drug is best for you.If you're taking a medication or deciding to take one, ask your doctor and pharmacist three simple questions:Are there other drugs that are used to treat my condition?If there are, how do other drugs compare to this one, for me?If two or more drugs are equally effective and safe, how do the prices compare?Major conclusions of the subcommittee were that:None of the drugs in this study was more effective than any other drug.They were unable to conclude with confidence that COX-2 inhibitors (i.e. Celebrex and Vioxx) provide clinically significant safety advantages.Although the subcommittee raised concerns that there may be increased risk of heart problems with COX-2 inhibitors (i.e. Celebrex and Vioxx) they did not have enough evidence to definitely come to that conclusion.The specific conclusions of the subcommittee were:There is no evidence that any of the anti-inflammatory drugs studied reduces the symptoms of inflammation (which may include pain, swelling and joint stiffness) more than any of the other drugs.There is insufficient evidence that there are any differences among the COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx) in treatment effects and safety.There is not enough evidence to conclude that the COX-2 preferential NSAIDs (Lodine, Mobic, etc.) cause fewer ulcers than non-selective NSAIDs (some brand names are Aleve and Advil, etc.).Even though evidence shows that two of the three COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx and Celebrex) do not cause as many serious side effects in the stomach and intestines as compared with some of the non-selective NSAIDs, limitations of the studies currently available at the time of review precluded a confident conclusion that there are clinically significant safety advantages.Although the subcommittee raised concern that there may be an increased risk of heart problems caused by COX-2 inhibitors, they do not find conclusive evidence for this at present.There is insufficient information to implicate any of the other NSAIDs in causing heart problems nor any NSAID as a cause of kidney and liver problems.There is no evidence that people stop taking any one class of drugs as compared to another because of side effects.There was insufficient evidence that any of the anti-inflammatory drugs provides better treatment results or has fewer side effects for different groups of people based on age, gender, race or ethnicity.
Sick to YOUR stomach?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Virgil on November 21, 2003 at 10:16:06 PT
Yes, EJ. It is serious stuff over there.
I knew a woman briefly from France that came here to teach French. She could not believe how the schools made sports such a big deal. School is like children's jobs in France. My friend that raises rottweilers has been to Germany several times and speaks German and of course has met many Germans in this country at dog shows. He says they not only would not have a problem with a person not having a pencil or a book, it just would not happen. In France at least they are concerned about teaching a person to make a living and vocational training is just the way it is and probably the way it should be. But for sure, the students and their parents take education very seriously- about like some here do high school football.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 21, 2003 at 10:09:42 PT:
Spin In Full Swing
I noticed the congressmen responded with spin and confusing statements. Status quo for them. That's why everyone in office should be voted out and replaced with someone new in every election. This would stop the abuses of career politicians and just maybe, they would represent their constituients, and not their personal bank accounts.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on November 21, 2003 at 09:50:02 PT
Why Europeans know so much more than we do
1. They have good sturdy systems of public schools for children. 2. Kids have to stay in school for the whole working day, they don't get to go home in the middle of the day like American kids do.2. You can get a good college education there for free, without paying tuition. The socialist tendencies in Europe may contribute to higher unemployment and a more difficult climate for business, but they've also produced a far better educated voting public than we have.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Virgil on November 21, 2003 at 08:54:14 PT
Relevant by defeat
The Nazis were beaten on the give away America Bill marketed as the Energy Bill- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=233238The primaries begin in January. The time is now. One reason the Europeans are more knowledgable about American politics is because politics is part of their conversational currency. We have a country to take back and Souder to kick back all the way to Indiana. It is time to get mean. It is time to subject everyone to a conversation on the WOD and ask "Why is marijuana illegal?"You can order your tee shirt at LB&O.sux.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 21, 2003 at 08:36:02 PT
Drug Abuse and Addiction
How does a person abuse a substance? What determines if a substance has abuse potential? I say if you use a substance and you run out of it and you start crawling the walls and all you can think of his getting more of that substance that is a risky drug to use for extended periods of time like Rush Limbaugh and OxyContin. How many people have thought I'd like to smoke a little Cannabis and get busy doing something else and forget to partake? That is not a substance of abuse if you can forget to use it. Back years ago if someone was into heavy drugs they just thought of Cannabis as icing on the cake but not necessary. I hope this makes sense.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Had Enough on November 21, 2003 at 08:26:48 PT
Inside Out
Talk about upside down read this line close,Cameron Johnson, Wu's press secretary, said Wu "supports providing Americans with all the medication they need. However, the direct use of marijuana is medically unnecessary and prone to abuse." VOTE…….VOTE…….VOTE…….
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Virgil on November 21, 2003 at 08:00:19 PT
Way to go Sherlock
We used to say that all the time in the 60's. This is a good move and shows that the media blockade can be had. I would volunteer to make phone calls and I think others would too. I used to think MJ was like firecrackers. No one I ever knew was arrested until last year. You used to could smoke it in the Charlotte Coliseum. People do not hear about people's houses and cars being taken away. People in North Carolina would be amazed to hear that in many states you can lose your drivers license over pot. There is an ignorance on getting kicked out of public housing when you do not even possess MJ. There is an ignorance that I share on the scope of the Rave Act that passed with the Amber Bill. People might not know how their travel abroad is affected with a possession charge. It is even a weakness of the NORML website, that they do not list the true penalties associated with what might be the possession of one seed or roach. There is no one place to tell of people's arresting experience. Maybe MJ.com will start a "Victim's Corner" where the harshness of the law is collected in one place.I know someone that has over 900 channels on a satellite. He could not tell you crap about Colombia, much less Bolovia and Brazil. Instead of elevator music we get elevator news. You sit in front of a box instead of in one and what you see is controlled by someone else whose main goal is just to keep things pleasant, soothing, and uncontroversial.Show the victims of the laws. Tell their stories. The thing that makes laughing grass a dangerous drug is the laws. That wording is still influenced by upside down land so that it does not have to be translated into real and straight thought. The straight thought is Marijuana laws are dangerous They are dangerous to everyone. If only people could sativa on that, we would have it made. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Duzt on November 21, 2003 at 07:30:20 PT
Congresspeople suck
Yep, give them Americans all the Vicodan and Oxycontin they want, it's safe, but keep them away from that extremely toxic, addictive cannabis. What world are we living in? Truth really means nothing anymore and the things these people say are so absurd it's hard to take them seriously. Too bad they rule our lives.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment