cannabisnews.com: Med Marijuana OK, Says TMA





Med Marijuana OK, Says TMA
Posted by CN Staff on May 28, 2004 at 07:51:46 PT
By Jordan Smith 
Source: Austin Chronicle 
On May 14, during its annual state convention, the Texas Medical Association unanimously - and without discussion - adopted a new policy recommendation supporting the right of doctors and patients to discuss medical marijuana as a viable treatment option, without fear of recrimination by authorities. The TMA delegates also reaffirmed the association's call for further research on medicinal marijuana, "including well-controlled studies in patients who have serious pain-related conditions," according to the report of the TMA's Council on Scientific Affairs, which was approved by the TMA delegates. "Paramount is support for physicians to discuss with patients any treatment option available and to do so without recrimination for the physician and/or patient."
Noelle Davis, executive director of the fledgling group Texans for Medical Marijuana, was thrilled. "The most important thing is that they acknowledge that marijuana is a viable treatment option," she said. "This is most important because the federal government says that medical marijuana is a cruel hoax. So when this body passes [this recommendation] without a peep, that tells me it is a viable option." The quickly adopted policy recommendation wasn't really a surprise, says TMA spokesman Brent Annear, because doctors "vehemently" protect their right to discuss any topic of importance to their patients. "It's really a patient's free speech issue," he said. Still, approval by the nearly 40,000 member group - the country's largest and, arguably, most powerful state medical association - could be politically potent ammunition for TMM as it pushes for the passage of a state law protecting medical marijuana patients. "This is absolutely a step in the right direction," Davis said. Newshawk: VitaminTSource: Austin Chronicle (TX) Author: Jordan Smith Published: May 24, 2004Copyright: 2004 Austin Chronicle Corp. Contact: louis auschron.com Website: http://www.auschron.com/ Related Article & Web Sites:Texas Medical Associationhttp://www.texmed.org/ Texans for Medical Marijuana http://www.texansformedicalmarijuana.org/ New Group Backs Medical Marijuana in Texas http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18431.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #8 posted by dapoopa on May 28, 2004 at 11:22:20 PT:
Continue targeted support
Very encouraging news from Texas...let's keep the momentum going. Last week I donated $100 to the Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org) and urge others on this board to take the plunge and pledge what you can to support this organization. Rob Kampia has my utmost respect for taking on blowhards like Marc Souder live and in person on the floor of Congress. We have got to support people with such courage, who are staking their careers at this point on an issue so important to all of us.And MPP is evidently way behind in their annual fundraising goal, which is a shame. Guys like Rob deserve much more support, and they will hopefully get it. Particularly in such a crucial election year.
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on May 28, 2004 at 09:19:18 PT
Will this get press anywhere else in Texas?!
Austin is a pretty liberal city, highly cultured in art and music. Some joke that 'the only thing wrong with Austin is that it's in Texas.'It may very well be the only place in the state where this news is heard.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #6 posted by dididadadidit on May 28, 2004 at 09:01:18 PT
Texas? (Almost) No Way!
Texas get compassionate? The state whose ex-governor holds the record on executions (and is proud of it, even mocking Carla Fay Tucker’s clemency plea)?The guiding philosophy of the Bush regime is driven by the philosophy of the fundie American Taliban. These so called Christians have an overriding fear that somewhere, someone is having a good time and a stop must be put to it. Illegalize the offending activity and use that mile wide mean streak to punish severely any who disagree. The old south, the 11 states of the confederacy, have a greater concentration of these fundies than the rest of the nation, as a glance at a map shows the 10 states with some cannabis medical relief to all come from the other 39 states. Over 25% outside the confederacy, 0% inside.That cannabis might be used medicinally does not matter to these sadistic worshippers of pain. Along with whatever relief that might be provided, the patient might actually enjoy his medication just as a recreational user and we surely can’t have that. Going beyond cannabis as pain relief, moves are afoot to crack down on what is thought to be overprescription of narcotic relief for pain. Let those in pain suffer, it must be good for their soul, or something. If a dent can be made in the solid south, we are indeed on the way to rational dealing with our issues. Have snowballs taken to thriving in hell? I’ll hope for the best, but not hold my breath.Question.
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on May 28, 2004 at 08:58:22 PT:
The Great Lab Coat Insurrection builds
The Feds got the first chunk sliced off their posteriors when they tried, immediately after the passage of Prop(s)200 and 215 into law, to intimidate doctors into not 'recommending' cannabis. Losing on First Amendment grounds, their contempt for the (mostly honest) medical establishment thus revealed, they were forced to grumble quietly and try to propagandize more stealthily. This effort includes subtle - and occasionally, quite blatant - scurrilous attacks on the reputations of physicians who support MMJ.Even as late as last April in DC I witnessed "Dr." Barthwell, in a room full of MMJ activists, call a doctor's professionalism into question when Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access mentioned that her doctor had made such a recommendation. When Sherer challenged Barthwell on the implication, Barthwell began backpedalling to regain her balance after dipping dangerously close to slandering a physician's professionalism.Many medical professionals have been watching this issue very closely, and are bloody sick of this treatment by the Feds. They've seen members of their profession hauled off to jail for (properly) treating pain patients. Consider this latest event as being a means of 'sending a message' to those who seem too busy furiously telegraphing their own to listen. In as socially conservative a State as Texas. In der Schrubbenfeuhrer's own backyard.
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Comment #4 posted by Ganda on May 28, 2004 at 08:46:29 PT
THEY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS
FREE SPEECH(sp?) AND SENSIBLE ADVISE SHOULD BE OUTLAWED.
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on May 28, 2004 at 08:45:41 PT
What's wrong with these doctors? 
Nothing a good prison term wouldn't fix!  (I'm channeling John Ashcroft today)Anyone see or read "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" recently? More and more it reminds of America today - the ignorant masses seizing control (through the Communist party, Republicans, what's the difference?) and persecuting the intellectuals.Police in my city make 80,000-100,000 per year on average. That's without college education, folks. Don't forget fishermen have much more dangerous jobs and make way less money. No bribes on a boat, either.
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Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on May 28, 2004 at 07:58:36 PT
What a diss to Bush!
Bush's opposition to medical marijuana has been repudiated by three Republican governors (California, Maryland and Vermont) and now the doctors in his home state have told him he's full of beans.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 28, 2004 at 07:57:18 PT
News Article from The Associated Press 
Cancer Patient Gets Probation For Growing, Smoking PotMan Says He Needed Drug To Stimulate AppetiteFriday, May 28, 2004 CINCINNATI -- A cancer patient who said he smoked marijuana to stimulate his appetite while undergoing chemotherapy was sentenced to three years of probation.Carter Singleton, 65, of Mount Healthy, could have been sent to prison for five years. He pleaded guilty last month to a charge that he grew marijuana."I find there to be substantial mitigating grounds," Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge John Andrew West said after sentencing Singleton on Thursday. "The circumstances are unlikely to reoccur and he shows genuine remorse." Singleton said he weighed 230 pounds before beginning chemotherapy, then lost 80 pounds. A friend suggested he try smoking marijuana to help improve his appetite, and Singleton said it worked.He grew the drug in his basement until a neighbor thought a flickering light was a fire and called firefighters, who found the marijuana.Singleton's cancer is now in remission, and he told the judge he won't do anything illegal again."You don't have to worry about me, I'll do what the probation officer says I have to do," he told the judge.Nine states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes with a prescription, but it's illegal to grow or use it in Ohio.Copyright 2004 by The Associated Presshttp://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/3356951/detail.html
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