cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana? No Medical Marijuana? No Posted by CN Staff on March 14, 2004 at 09:11:20 PT By Assemblyman Daniel J. Burling Source: New York Daily News There is no lack of emotion and hype in the New York City Council's ongoing debate over using marijuana in the treatment of certain cancer cases. What's missing is sound science, good medical care and real compassion for patients' suffering.The Council's Resolution 71 urges the state Assembly and Senate to pass a bill that legalizes possession of up to a half-pound of marijuana for "medical use." But there is no reasonable medical evidence to suggest that smoking marijuana is a safe and effective alternative to established, conventional, approved drugs. Pro-marijuana forces, backed by fringe groups like NORML, the Marijuana Reform Party and the Marijuana Policy Project, contend that so-called "medical marijuana" would ease suffering in diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma. But the American Cancer Society, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology worry about the side effects of the 400-plus chemicals contained in the drug, and point to the availability of FDA-approved drugs that have yielded proven results. These drugs are dispensed by pharmacists who closely monitor accuracy, potency and the possible effects of intermixing medicines.Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/mmjno.htmSource: New York Daily News (NY)Author: Assemblyman Daniel J. BurlingPublished: March 14, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Daily News, L.P.Contact: voicers edit.nydailynews.comWebsite: http://www.nydailynews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:MPPhttp://www.mpp.org/NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Marijuana Reform Partyhttp://www.marijuanareform.org/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMedical Marijuana? Yes http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18498.shtmlPols Stoke Debate on Medical Pot Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18390.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by jose melendez on March 15, 2004 at 16:04:28 PT legal drugs cause liver and brain damage, suicides Perhaps Burling's career distributing dangerous, deadly drugs pays too well to point out that the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor Prozac, along with Ritalin and Adderal are specifically permitted by the F.D.A. for daily use by kids.Some are smart enough to avoid taking the pills. Ritalin, a powerful amphetamine has been traded in schools for cigarette and beer cash for many years . . .I hear first year pharmacy grads get big bucks now.Got hypocrisy? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Truth on March 15, 2004 at 08:17:56 PT I wonder how much money has this pharmacists has gotten from the drug manufacuturers over the years, does this influence his writting? Will folks growing their own hurt his profits? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Robbie on March 14, 2004 at 12:24:47 PT A disconnect? How can they repeatedly lie about the effects when there is such demonstrable proof that allowing people to have it far outweighs the potential side-effects, especially considering the actual side-effects are unknown.Far more dangerous chemicals are used by Americans on a daily basis, and there isn't a clamor abour their side-effects...they all have the FDA stamp of approval which can mean next to nothing.It's culture wars (like gay marriage) It's about "old hippies smoking pot", when the truth is that the only people with the actual problem are the puritannical moralists who claim to be about small government all the while they peek into your bedrooms. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment