cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana and Its Witless Enemies










  Medical Marijuana and Its Witless Enemies

Posted by CN Staff on February 29, 2004 at 07:46:33 PT
By Steve Chapman  
Source: Chicago Tribune  

Modern cancer treatments have saved countless lives, but they can be a cruelly mixed blessing. Chemotherapy, often indispensable in curing cancer, sometimes is enough to make you ill, causing violent nausea and vomiting.Luckily, there is a well-established and safe remedy recommended by many cancer physicians that sometimes provides relief when nothing else can. Not so luckily, the remedy is marijuana.
Under federal law, cannabis is forbidden--even for therapeutic use by seriously ill people who have no more interest in getting high than they do in bungee jumping. The Bush administration, in its generosity, is willing to let these patients have any medicine except the one they need.In the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, John Kerry and John Edwards often sound nearly indistinguishable on the issues. But when it comes to medical marijuana, there is plenty of space between them. Edwards sounds like President Bush, while Kerry has dared to suggest that the established federal policy has been a grave mistake.Under the Carter administration, the federal government recognized the medical potential of cannabis and set up a "compassionate use program" that not only allowed some patients to use pot but gave them a supply. This humane concession, however, didn't survive the first Bush administration, which slammed the door on new patients.Anyone expecting better from Bill Clinton, that child of the '60s, was doomed to disappointment. The president who didn't inhale made sure no Republican could portray him as soft on drugs. His administration refused to change federal policy and vehemently crusaded against state measures legalizing medical marijuana.The current Bush administration has been equally horrified by the idea that marijuana could be anything but evil. Not long after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when you might have thought the Justice Department had more urgent priorities, federal agents continued raiding "cannabis clubs" that furnish pot to patients whose doctors have prescribed it, in accordance with state law.As if it weren't enough to dictate what goes into patients' mouths, U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft also took it upon himself to dictate what could come out of doctors' mouths: The administration made it illegal for physicians to prescribe or even discuss marijuana with their patients as a treatment.But the administration's campaign has lately run off the rails. Last year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the policy was unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court let that decision stand. Then, the same appeals court ordered an end to the prosecution of California cannabis club patients and suppliers.The court ruled that the matter was a state concern beyond the legitimate reach of the federal government. Conservatives, who have often applauded the Supreme Court's decisions reinvigorating the power of states against the encroachments of Washington, were surprised to find that the same doctrine could be used to corral a conservative administration.But that hasn't stopped the president's lieutenants from pursuing their vendetta. Andrea Barthwell, deputy director of the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy, denounced the 9th Circuit's reasoning. "There is no scientific evidence that qualifies smoked marijuana to be called medicine," she declared.Her opinion rejects the view of many medical professionals, including those at the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, which has called for rescinding the federal ban. It also ignores a 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences, a federal body, which recognized "the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."It's true that there may be safer and better ways to ingest the drug than by smoking it. But anyone who believes that should favor extensive federal research into alternative systems--something that has not been of great interest to the Bush administration.The next administration might be better, or it might not. John Edwards has rejected marijuana as medicine while endorsing the federal raids on cannabis clubs. John Kerry, however, supports federal legislation allowing the medical use of marijuana with a doctor's approval. Asked last year if he would halt the Drug Enforcement Administration raids, he didn't give one of those long-winded answers that Edwards has mocked. His reply was a model of brevity: "Yes."On this issue, Kerry is in perfect step with public opinion. Ten states have legalized medical marijuana, and more than 30 have passed resolutions in favor of it. Polls indicate that the great majority of Americans think cannabis should be available for whatever medical value it has.But Bush and Edwards want to continue a vindictive policy that ignores the experience of medical professionals, shortchanges science and treats suffering people as criminals.It's enough to make you ill.Note: Anti-drug advocates continue to ignore credible science.Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)Author: Steve Chapman Published: February 29, 2004Copyright: 2004 Chicago Tribune CompanyContact: ctc-TribLetter Tribune.comWebsite: http://www.chicagotribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:IDEAL Reformhttp://www.idealreform.org/Illinois NORMLhttp://www.illinoisnorml.org/Marijuana By Prescription Only http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18412.shtmlMarijuana is Not Medicinehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18366.shtmlJohn Kerry and Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18324.shtml

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Comment #47 posted by gloovins on March 02, 2004 at 05:09:39 PT
This is a new one
"Once you alter the perception about marijuana as a medicine," he said, "then you're going to make it much easier to change drug laws with regard to the exchanging of needles, with regard to how we prosecute drug users." WTF? Has ANYone out there ever heard this argument before? Cannabis leading to needles???? THIS WAR ON DRUGS IS NOW OFFICIALLY INSANE PEOPLE...
vote sanity Mich residents,
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Comment #46 posted by kaptinemo on March 01, 2004 at 18:00:57 PT:
Everytime we hear of these FotF types
I keep thinking about the line from the Rage Against the Machine song "Bulls on Parade":"Rally 'round the family,
with a pocket full of shells."Some 'family values', to deny the sick and dying their medicine. Some 'compassion'. (Spitting sound)Yeshua must need celestial cananbis to keep from barfing when He hears about the 'good works' being done in His name...by people such as they. 
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Comment #45 posted by FoM on March 01, 2004 at 15:35:05 PT
News Article from Focus on the Family
Court Turns Down 'Medical Marijuana' CaseBy Keith Peters, Washington, D.C., CorrespondentMarch 1, 2004Liberal appeals court stands by approval of medical marijuana. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to grant the Justice Department a new hearing to ban marijuana for so-called medicinal purposes.The case involves two women who claim their chronic illnesses are relieved by smoking marijuana. The Bush administration asked the court to reconsider its ruling allowing California residents to use the substance — a request the court refused.The Justice Department is now considering what's next. "We are reviewing the 9th Circuit decision and we have made no determination as to what our next step will be at this time," said Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller.One of the options is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court. But culture commentator Bob Maginnis doesn't think that's going to happen because, according to the polls, it's an issue that divides the American people —"especially in the West where the president needs the votes of those high population states like California."But Maginnis added that it's important to continue prosecutions because the controversy is being fueled by a small group that wants all drugs legalized. He calls it the proverbial camel's nose under the tent."Once you alter the perception about marijuana as a medicine," he said, "then you're going to make it much easier to change drug laws with regard to the exchanging of needles, with regard to how we prosecute drug users." Copyright: 2004 Focus on the Familyhttp://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0030994.cfm
Medical Marijuana Information Links
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Comment #44 posted by sukoi on March 01, 2004 at 15:21:05 PT
Virgil
"I see that dana and Ddc condensed some accumulated knowledge for presentation in the new thread. Sukoi looks like he is going to make some converts with his presence on the Internet also. 
I am totally impressed by the depth of many people on the cannabis issue as seen in the Kerry threads. I need to transfer the threads to a Word file for future reference. The call for reform continues to spread and the truth is growing in the number of people becoming educated and the depth of knowledge and the conviction for working for change. CP is doomed and I now I wish there were some way to get Souder out of office".Just wanted to say thanks for the comment, it means a lot coming from someone with your obvious knowledge and experience. I certainly hope that you are right!!! 
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Comment #43 posted by kaptinemo on March 01, 2004 at 14:10:38 PT:
Welcome to the leading edge of the bell curve
Think about it. Why does it take so long for these things to happen, for these people to come around, when it is as obvious as the noses on their faces that the system cannot continue as it has because it's breaking down?Reformers are usually on the leading edge of society's issue 'bell curve' because they deal with the results of the broken system every day. They see how it's broken, and what's needed to fix it. Yet these supposed great mental lights of public servants, people we pay to be intelligent and capable, are *only just now* tumbling to things that are literally painfully obvious for us. And stumbling as they tumble, for they still think they can arrest their way out of a problem that never had to be.As usual, the wrong people are drawing civil service paychecks.
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Comment #42 posted by paulpeterson on March 01, 2004 at 06:47:00 PT
Two years later
I was bugging the Chicago Tribune (and Sun Times) two years ago for SOME coverage, so as to gain an assist in my own advocacy to use the current MM law in Illinois (with SHALL mandates, but without enough specifics to convince any agency to buck the feds then, at least). Finally, I just stopped trying. It sounds like they must have read my stuff, at least, or enough like it to at least watch the story for gaining momentum, which this story is all about, and about time, eh?With the introduction of new legislation in Illinois, this promises to be a big year in the land of Lincoln. Thanks for signing in on our side, finally, finely. PGP
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Comment #41 posted by kaptinemo on March 01, 2004 at 04:22:26 PT:
There's *one* simple explanation why, JRBD
And as usual, it comes doen to economics. Our economy has been on a 'war footing' since 1941. To feed that beast, you have to have conflict of one sort or another. If you don't, you *will* have a depression of the 1929 sort, not the mild ones we call 'recesions'; *real* 'boom and bust'.Back towards my last days of working for Uncle, I began to see less generals and admirals walking through the visitor center doors...and more Fed LEO's. Remember all the talk about the 'Peace Dividend' that we were supposed to receive from a reduced tax burden, since the need for a huge military had been eliminated by the collapse of Soviet Communism? It was at that point we began all these weird operations like inserting ourselves into places whose strategic importance was questionable from a *threat* standpoint (like Serbia and Bosnia; what could they possibly do to the US?) but if you look at it from an economic one, it was a flimsy excuse to maintain that huge military. With the Cold War winding down, it was inevitable that Uncle find a new 'boogeyman' to scare the people into justifying their continuing to fork out their hard earned bucks in tax dollars to keep the overheated military/industrial complex machinery oiled, and keep the rest of the subsidiary economy trundling it's merry way. The DrugWar was a poor, ramped up substitute until the War on Terror came along. To prove that neither was actually legitimate, look at how fast the latter was spot-welded to the former. Neither one has been especially effective, yet billions upon billions continue to be spent on both.Many years ago, I read a book called "Report From Iron Mountain" by Leonard Lewin. It was published back in 1967, and has recently been reprinted. I strongly suggest people take a look at it.Lewin, much later in life, said that what he wrote was satire, but his 'satire' contained about 98% truth in that he practically prophesied what would happen to the economy should the Cold War end; namely, that another 'boogeyman' (my term, not his) would have to be found and fast to keep the country from crashing and burning economically. And it did. And *we* are the new 'enemy' as a result.
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Comment #40 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on March 01, 2004 at 01:39:44 PT
Lenny Bruce didn't plan to OD
If the illegal drugs of today - the hard ones, the ones you can OD on - were available over-the-counter, then an addict could be sure to get the same dosage level every time. The variety of purity kills many addicts, like Lenny Bruce, when they get a batch that's purer than they anticipated. It's like expecting sherry and getting 151 rum... only you can't taste the difference until it's too late. People might still OD, but I bet you'd cut down on the accidental ones. Plus, in safe-injection sites like some of the saner countries have, the addict will be under the eye of medical professionals if an OD does occur. That's my thoughts; I would never care to do any of these harder drugs, but I don't see why the government exacerbates the problem instead of trying to reduce it.
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Comment #39 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 22:19:58 PT
My sister knew she needed help
She just didn't want it. 
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Comment #38 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 22:19:41 PT
EJ About Drugs
I want to try to explain about how I feel about illegal drugs. Cannabis isn't in this picture in my mind. Back in the early 70s when Meth was popular for one reason or another I went to a self help organization. It was in a building in the center of a city that I lived near. It was a place to talk and meet other people who were into drugs of some sort. All different looking people but mostly people who looked like hippies from back then. That is where I was told how they treated someone caught with Meth. They would be arrested but would be sent to a self help group like the one I'm talking about. They considered excessive Meth use a medical problem and the group would help you talk about why you got in the jam that brought you to the group. It was a nice place. We don't have organizations like that now and that would help. There was no drug testing either.
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 21:46:40 PT
Virgil 
I've enjoy the cannabis posts on Kerry's board. I hope they keep going. I like reading them. Show them what we are made of! I'll be a cheerleader from the sidelines only! LOL!Puffa Puffa Thingy!!!http://www.iowapresidentialwatch.com/cartoonarc/puff.htm
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Comment #36 posted by Virgil on February 29, 2004 at 21:34:43 PT
The new thread at the Kerry forum
I see that dana and Ddc condensed some accumulated knowledge for presentation in the new thread. Sukoi looks like he is going to make some converts with his presence on the Internet also. I am totally impressed by the depth of many people on the cannabis issue as seen in the Kerry threads. I need to transfer the threads to a Word file for future reference. The call for reform continues to spread and the truth is growing in the number of people becoming educated and the depth of knowledge and the conviction for working for change. CP is doomed and I now I wish there were some way to get Souder out of office. 
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 21:30:16 PT
I Agree
EJ I don't think a person should go to jail either if they are addicted. They need help but they need to know they need help. 
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Comment #34 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 21:19:41 PT
FoM
My sister is in alcohol rehab, her boyfriend drank himself to death and left her homeless.So how am I supposed to feel about drugs? I have to feel like, it's really not worth putting some people in prison because other people don't want to live enough to stop whatever they are doing that hurts them.
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 20:48:12 PT
sukoi
I read the comment on the thread you posted on hemp on Kerry's Board. I guess deep down inside I can't care too much about drugs because I've been affected by illegal drugs. I've lost people from ODs and having them more available wouldn't have helped them. I've never seen Cannabis do that to anyone. I really wasn't sure until I read that comment why I avoid drug issues but that made me realize why I avoid the subject.
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 20:13:21 PT
Virgil
Thank you. I really appreciate how you find information from other countries. I checked out the web site. I wish we could grow Hemp here. It would be ideal as horse bedding and I know plenty of places that would appreciate a low dust bedding. All we grow out here is grass and more grass. Not the good kind though. Just the stuff that has to be mowed all the time! LOL!
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Comment #31 posted by Virgil on February 29, 2004 at 19:43:01 PT
Spannabis was last weekend
Europe gives the progressive meaning of hempfest as demonstrated in this post from hempcity about a cannabist from France driving down for the hempfest in Barcelona last weekend. Pictures of Spannabis can be seen here- http://www.spannabis.com/ The following comment comes from http://www.hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=312&highlight= I will thank Amstony and inform of this comment here at Cnews.Hi everybody I was there !!! I'm a french smoker and Barcelona is not so far from my home, so saturday the 21st, I jumped into my car with a good friend and drove to Barcelona. It's a damn big city but I didn't lose my way to "palau san Jordi" right next to the football stadium (A match was played later in the evening, and thousands cars were parked everywhere in the street anarchically... I thought " where's mine ?") Cheap ticket, a friendly heavy smell once you're inside ... Yeah, VIVA ESPANA !! 
So many stands to see, all those crazy things we used to see on the net but this time that wasn't virtual !!! In fact I felt a little bit at... home (normal ... for home-growers) My friend had a little piece of really good hash. We taken a lift at "The Plantage" stand while discussing with a really friendly guy of the staff, with longs dreadlocks and a glass of spanish wine, I don't remember his name unfortunately... We tried some strange machines, we took a ton of flyers, catalogs, stickers, rolling paper, roots booster, filters tips... and we drunk only 2 beers (a little bit expensive : 3€) , but it's not too bad after all. We saw Nol and Jose, they were discussing with thousands of people, I would have liked to speak with them but they seemed to be really occupied... maybe next time. thanx a lot for the pics of spannabis, guys !!! 
I'll remember it ! 
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 19:10:49 PT

sukoi
Thanks! Very good information. I'll try tomato soup tomorrow. I'm half watching the Oscars. Since they are on a 5 second delay now it might be a little boring but so far it's good. The only movie I saw that was nominated was Seabiscuit and I really liked it. I watched Nemo and that won an animation award. The animation dazzled me. 
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Comment #29 posted by sukoi on February 29, 2004 at 18:48:31 PT

Hemp
I don't know about an email news group, but here is some info about hemp (as if you haven't already seen it)! Tomato soup always makes me feel better for some reason, but then again there is other plant life out there that is much, much better!
Hemp
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 18:38:33 PT

sukoi 
Thanks again! Maybe it will last but maybe it won't. That would be nice if he dropped in here. He has a very good web site. I'm still sick but I'm getting better. I get short of breathe very easily but I'm sure it will go away soon. Nasty cold I got here. Thanks for asking.
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Comment #27 posted by sukoi on February 29, 2004 at 18:27:28 PT

FoM
We'll see how long it lasts, it could get interesting or it could get buried. I guess we'll find out soon enough! Also I had a bit of a conversation with Pete Guither (from the "Drug War Rant") this morning, he said that he might be dropping by here when he gets a chance! BTW, I hope that you are feeling better!
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 18:23:49 PT

A Question
Is there a hemp e-mail newsgroup? I would probably enjoy reading about Hemp. I really don't know. 
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 18:18:53 PT

sukoi 
Thank you! That was very kind of you. I'm serious when I say I don't post on other boards. I do post on a board I like about Neil Young but politics are off topic and I like that. It's a place I can just have fun. That's a nice break for me and I really like the Neil Fans I've met.
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Comment #24 posted by sukoi on February 29, 2004 at 18:15:03 PT

FoM
I changed my mind: http://forum.johnkerry.com//index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=8464
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 17:57:17 PT

sukoi
Thanks anyway. It really isn't something I am interested in doing. I keep busy with what I do. It seems that most activists that concentrate on medical marijuana as the first step don't post much on message boards. They do a lot of work but it isn't visible. I think we will win in the future and hopefully before much more time. It's really ok. I probably won't check the boards very often since it isn't really what I find interesting. Most of it I know and I want to learn new things. I do get a email group from Canada about medical marijuana that is very active and very good so I keep busy learning from them. 
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Comment #22 posted by Virgil on February 29, 2004 at 17:22:25 PT

Video of Democratic debate from NY
http://wcbs.dayport.com/viewer/content/special.php?Art_ID=8838&Format_ID=2&BitRate_ID=8&NoAds=true This may be for broadband only. It comes from DU saying it is a broadband video using Windows Media Player.
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Comment #21 posted by sukoi on February 29, 2004 at 17:15:36 PT

FoM
You should just jump in there and start a thread on whatever you are passionate about (you can be completely anonymous). I could probably start those threads, but "my" passion is outright legalization! I know that MMJ is the first step and that hemp is all around a good thing, but to be quite blunt; that is not my goal. If you or someone else were to start a thread on ANY subject related to cannabis, I would certainly jump in and give my support! I hope that you understand. Besides, from what I've seen, any thread about MMJ or hemp would probably be closed and merged into the WOD thread; but try it, I'll be there!!!
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 16:30:36 PT

sukoi an idea
I've been looking around trying to find a board where hemp for fuel would fit. What do you think about this section of Kerry's web site? For hemp being used as fuel enthusiasts this might be a place to comment. Just an idea.http://www.hempcar.org/A Cleaner and Greener America:
http://johnkerry.com/issues/energy/http://forum.johnkerry.com//index.php?showforum=8
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 14:54:05 PT

sukoi a question
I have a question for you. First thank you for using this article on the thread at John Kerry's board. I really appreciate it. What I would like to ask is this. Since John Kerry has voiced a little in our favor concerning medical marijuana is there any chance that a medical marijuana only thread could be made. Just for medical marijuana issues so it doesn't get confused with drug issues? I skip over quite a few posts to find one about MMJ.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 13:56:13 PT

Thanks Virgil
That's the board I thought you were talking about when you addressed Joe Citizen. I did a quick look and nothing seemed interesting to me. Did I miss the debate today? They are talking like it's over. I don't turn my tv on much these days. I watch a DVD or listen to music or work on one of my web pages. The news is too crazy for me. 
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Comment #17 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 13:52:21 PT

An old Afghan saying Virgil
There once was an Afghan who waited 100 years to take revenge on his enemies, and even then they called him an impatient man.That's the country where cannabis indica first evolved.
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Comment #16 posted by Virgil on February 29, 2004 at 13:48:15 PT

FoM, do you mean DemocraticUnderground?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=latest_threads DemocraticUnderground is just a little over 3 years old and it has grown into a fairly large website.This is the best thread in the last few weeks on Kerry and it says he is in on a different group seeking World Domination than PNAC- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=326015&mesg_id=326015I do not write anymore at DU. All I wanted to do was interject some cannabis perspective and once I did that, my work was done. You do not have people waiting to defend the drug wars with mountains of minutae like you do at FreeRepublic. The subject of pot has eroded into acceptance as the cannabis is so mainstream and the Friday night thread by the stoner at the computer has become all to commonplace to attract attention.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 13:29:05 PT

Virgil
Do you have a link to the message board you are talking about? I've been there before but I get lost in it all. Thanks.
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Comment #14 posted by Virgil on February 29, 2004 at 13:22:59 PT

He has had 19 years to lead
Oh, and to Virgil: If Kerry came out and blasted the scheduling system, called for massive government research programs into cannabis medicine, and demanded a huge prisoner release and amnesty, just how long would he last as a candidate? It sickens me when the Kerry patrol start in on Kerry leadership at DU. If he had lead anyone anywhere, why are we now here? There is legislation in the House calling for Schedule 2 and it is no liberal idea. It is the least practical thing to do. As for everything else, that is why Kerry is not the friend to cannabis that his people would have you believe. It is not that he should now call for Schedule 2. It is that he had not signed on to adhering to the guidelines anytime in the past 19 years.For the most part, Kerry will be status quo on the drug wars. It will be public opinion that changes any politicians mind and sound government is not nearly important as getting elected and selling out to get re-elected. It is not public service these days. It is self-serving that makes Congress go.The one thing I am sure about Kerry is that he is not wonderful. The fact that he has not long ago called for Schedule 2 shows who his master is. It is the plutocratic aristocracy that threatens the whole world. That is why he does not call for Schedule 2. It is not bold. It is the right thing to do. He will not do it because he is status quo, that will only yield to the strongest of winds. Reason or right have nothing to do with it.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 12:06:34 PT

EJ About Montel
Brian Taylor asked me what I felt was important in cannabis related news a while back. I sent him what I felt at the moment and it is in Cannabis Health Magazine this month. Here it is.http://www.cannabishealth.com/issue_09/index.html#news
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 12:02:52 PT

sukoi 
I believe that the Chicago Tribune is on our side. We are living in a history making time. Do I dare call it our time? 
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Comment #11 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 11:22:29 PT

Maybe it's a Montel effect
Montel has such a conservative reputation, and he's on DAYTIME TV -- he's made medical marijuana a safe topic for the mainstream press.Daytime TV is the most conservative programming. Montel coming out on daytime TV -- that reset the bar on the social appropriateness of discussing this topic.Medical marijuana is no longer something that has to be kept out of family hour. Or family newspapers.
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Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 11:16:15 PT

Maybe
one of the publishers or editors got cancer or knows someone who did?That's probably the secret behind many of our our conversions in the upper echelon.
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Comment #9 posted by sukoi on February 29, 2004 at 10:55:10 PT

Is it just me
seeing what I want to see or is the Chicago Tribune becoming more and more pro cannabis?
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 10:28:24 PT

Hi EJ
Yes it was snappy and good! We're winning. The closer we get the more impatient I'll become I think. 
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Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 10:27:50 PT

With Clinton, every day was V-Day
"Anyone expecting better from Bill Clinton, that child of the '60s, was doomed to disappointment. The president who didn't inhale made sure no Republican could portray him as soft on drugs. His administration refused to change federal policy and vehemently crusaded against state measures legalizing medical marijuana.
"What other V-words can we use to describe Clinton's war against us?vehement, venal, vindictive, vicious, very stupid, very bad for gore...
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Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on February 29, 2004 at 10:24:22 PT

GOOD MORNING 
Wow that was a great snappy headline.With a great snappy article under it.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 10:03:26 PT

JoeCitizen
I know you are right. There is no easy way out of Iraq. I remember when Bush started the bombing of Baghdad I said to myself well that is that. It's too late now. This will take many years to get resolved. We can't pull out of Iraq without a massacre. That's reality. If Kerry mentioned Cannabis now it would be very bad for him. Cannabis will only be a small part of this election but as the year goes by it will need to be addressed by Kerry and Bush. PS: I don't like fighting as you all know I'm sure. I believe in peace and love and hope. I'm a flowers in my hair type person.
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Comment #4 posted by JoeCitizen on February 29, 2004 at 09:50:58 PT

FOM, the War is a complicated issue
"I want yes and no to mean just that. I do not want Iraq to be a center for this election year. We can't fix the war but we have needs here for the citizens that need serious attention."That is all very true, but the worst thing about this War that Bush stuck us into is that there's no easy way out. Kucinich makes it sound like the UN is ready, willing, and able to take over peacekeeping in Iraq. The fact is, not only do they NOT want to, they are probably incapable of it. Do you remember what happened in the supposedly "safe area" of Srebrinica under UN control? Slaughter.Extricating ourselves from Iraq without letting it slide into either fascism or Islamic theocracy will be hellishly difficult. But we now have a duty to the Iraqi people, because we created this mess.By analogy, if I decide that the alcoholic wife/child beater next door has to go, and I kill him or run him off, I can't then just walk out on the wife and children. Who will protect them, or pay their bills? Their situation was bad before and they hated it, but starving and being defenseless wasn't what they wanted, either.We'll be cleaning up Bush's mess for decades, and any plan that tackles the enormity of this problem SHOULD be pages and pages. It's just not a simple thing.Oh, and to Virgil: If Kerry came out and blasted the scheduling system, called for massive government research programs into cannabis medicine, and demanded a huge prisoner release and amnesty, just how long would he last as a candidate? Don't you think the Bush people would immediately paint him as an insane liberal and destroy his credibility with mainstream voters (not you and me, we have a very issue-oriented take on this.)Do you remember how Michael Dukakis was destroyed by a SINGLE prisoner release (Willie Horton, anyone?) How would letting tens of thousands of prisoners out play in the media?The fact is, until you, and I, and NORML, MPP, Cannabisnews, and every other source of truth and accurate info do our jobs better and more completely, the American people remain far too ignorant to withstand a full-bore dose of truth. Truth is scary, and most folks can't handle it. They run for comfortable lies.We have to keep spoon-feeding them truth in little bites, and breaking down the massive edifice of lies that the prohibitionists have built in their mind for the last century. Then we a man running for President can finally speak the truth and stil get elected.PeaceJC
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 29, 2004 at 08:45:55 PT

I'm Getting Impatient
Is there a debate on tv today? I read about Kerry's plan with Iraq and I don't like it. Anytime I see words and words and more words I get uneasy. The more words the more chance of loopholes. I want yes and no to mean just that. I do not want Iraq to be a center for this election year. We can't fix the war but we have needs here for the citizens that need serious attention.
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Comment #2 posted by Virgil on February 29, 2004 at 08:21:35 PT

How do you justify injustice?
Any candidate that would actually be candid would have to refuse to answer the question because the truth makes the lawmakers out to be the criminals. The worst part of the the medical prohibition is that the plant should have always remained free. Any discussion that does not draw on the fact that federal prohibition and its related hedgemony that brings us prohibition under a total blanket with no light, only scratches the surface. Total prohibition seeks to keep out all light that hides the truth.This is an excellent article and it is delightful to see the Silence Plan lose another little skirmish. It still overplays the Kerry friendliness to Medical Miracleplant. A true champion of medical Miracleplant would start with the premise that the greatest wrong of prohibiting medical uses is that federal prohibition was all wrong to start with. That is the foundation of the medical prohibition and what makes it all so horrible.Kerry has not called for removal of cannabis from Schedule 1. Kerry has not called for true research in the spirit of GW Pharma by the National Institutes of Health over the 19 years in the Senate or presently. How is it that a $100 million dollars by GW Pharma outproduced the $28 billion yearly budget of NIH on bringing the miracle of cannabis to legitimate medicine.To show enlightenment on the medical front, someone would have to denounce the malicious and vicious nature of the government policy and denounce the refusal to follow the common good in that policy. A candidate would just need to be candid and say it is all wrong and must immediately be set right. He would call for release of all people imprisoned over the issue and removal of such convictions from people's records.To get 100 on medical Miracleplant a candidate would have to be enlightened enought to see that it is so ubiquitous a cure that its true value lies in being free and that it is so safe that it does not need access to be granted by a physician at all and there should be Free Cannabis For Everyone. There should also be the medical path best exhibited by the GW path that brings the insurance companies and doctors together for those that need what that path can deliver.Question #1- How do you justify the injustice and can you be a candid candidate this one time?
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Comment #1 posted by mamawillie on February 29, 2004 at 08:07:54 PT

I'm glad to see this article....
John Edwards needs to understand it is his position on medical marijuana that has lost him many democratic voters, and could possibly have lost him the nomination.
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