cannabisnews.com: Prescription Pot? Only from Bayer and Government





Prescription Pot? Only from Bayer and Government
Posted by CN Staff on July 19, 2004 at 07:57:28 PT
By Christopher Largen
Source: Ventura County Star 
The truth really is stranger than fiction. My best friend and co-author, George McMahon, is one of only seven citizens who can legally smoke marijuana in every state of the union. In fact, the U.S. government has provided George with 300 prerolled marijuana cigarettes each month for 14 years, through a program called Investigational New Drug, administered by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Our government has grown and distributed medical marijuana since 1978. The federal patients use marijuana to treat diverse symptoms of pain, spasms, nausea and glaucoma-related ocular pressure.
Of course, officials won't yet admit their appointed "demon weed" is a medicinal herb. They call the IND program a "research" project instead. However, in 26 years of the program's existence, no government research has been conducted regarding the recipients of the federal marijuana. Perhaps certain officials don't want to empirically quantify what they already suspect: Marijuana is good medicine, particularly when compared with the often-toxic drugs promoted by pharmaceutical industry lobbyists (well-known in political circles as deep-pocketed campaign contributors). Had government officials performed the vital research, they would understand why McMahon is alive today. Prior to his acceptance in the IND program, George had been through 19 major surgeries, was declared clinically dead several times, took 17 prescribed substances on a daily basis and was confined to a wheelchair. For the past 14 years, George has smoked 10 marijuana cigarettes each day. During this time, he has had no surgeries or hospitalizations, he no longer takes any pharmaceuticals (aside from the occasional aspirin or antibiotic), and he is fully ambulatory. He is living proof that marijuana has medical value, yet, many federal legislators refuse to admit it. They stubbornly persist in criminalizing patients, spreading misinformation, defying the express will of the people and denying the states their constitutional authority to resolve the issue independently. Despite our national hypocrisy regarding medical marijuana, the international medical research on marijuana is astounding. In the United Kingdom, Bayer Corp. is partnering with GW Pharmaceuticals to create Sativex, a natural marijuana extract inhaler that works like a bronchial inhaler, only sublingually. Sativex relieves symptoms immediately (similar to smoking a marijuana cigarette), without the negative ramifications of smoking. The medicine requires no cleaning or rolling. Sativex is portable and can be used discreetly, without a strong odor. For many sick and dying patients in the United Kingdom, Sativex will be ideal. The European free market is operating in accord with sensible public policy in order to provide patients with quality medicine. American patients, however, will be thrown in jail if they use Sativex. Adding insult to injury, Bayer is a major financial contributor to Partnership for a Drug Free America -- an organization that claims marijuana has no medical value. It's enough to make a person sick, especially if they are compassionate and reasonable. The medical marijuana issue is not about recreation -- it's about patients with painful, debilitating, and life-threatening symptoms. The American public is certainly capable of making this common-sense distinction between use and abuse. Perhaps that's why national polls repeatedly demonstrate 75 percent to 80 percent approval for the decriminalization of medical marijuana, in spite of the constant flow of government-sponsored "reefer madness" rhetoric. During my travels across the nation, I've spoken with several legislators who claim they are hesitant to change the medical marijuana laws because they don't want to "send the wrong message" to children. As a father who delivered both his children with his own (trembling) hands, I can empathize with this concern. I don't want my children misusing any substance, be it alcohol, morphine, or marijuana. But if my children ever become sick, then I want them to have access to any medicine, including marijuana-based remedies, which will ease their symptoms and improve their quality of life. And I hope they will never be marginalized, ostracized, or criminalized for the treatment of their disease. In a laudable but misguided attempt to administer equal justice under the law, our legislators have taken a one-size-fits-all approach in response to therapeutic marijuana. But doctors acknowledge that each person has unique physiological, psychological, and environmental circumstances. One man's poison is another man's salve. This applies to herbs, drugs and delivery systems alike. Perhaps one day our national leaders will mature enough to grasp this simple principle and implement meaningful reform. Until that day, I'll keep my hopes high by repeating the words of Robert Randall, the first recipient of federal marijuana: "History indicates the most trivial of facts can implode the most powerful dogma." -- Christopher Largen, of Denton, Texas, is co-author of "Prescription Pot: A Leading Advocate's Heroic Battle to Legalize Medical Marijuana" (New Horizon Press, 2003). His articles on health and disability have appeared in dozens of publications internationally.Complete Title: Prescription Pot? Only from Bayer and the U.S. GovernmentSource: Ventura County Star (CA)Author: Christopher LargenPublished: July 18, 2004Copyright: 2004 The E.W. Scripps Co.Contact: letters insidevc.comWebsite: http://www.staronline.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:GW Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.gwpharm.com/George McMahon's Home Pagehttp://www.trvnet.net/~mmcmahon/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmThe Cannabis Conundrumhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18285.shtmlSpeakers Discuss Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17650.shtml
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on July 19, 2004 at 19:40:30 PT
"If just one child is saved"
For Heaven's sake. VictoriaCharityAlbertoEzekielThe list is long, bloody, and exceptionally ugly.This war ought to end if just one child is saved from being needlessly killed by law enforcement activities.
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on July 19, 2004 at 19:34:01 PT
Victoria and Charity
http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/415834|top|07-19-2004::11:49|reuters.html
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 19, 2004 at 16:39:04 PT
Thanks sukoi
I appreciate the link. 
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Comment #13 posted by sukoi on July 19, 2004 at 16:35:03 PT
FoM,
When I read the article, I didn't consider it as a book promotion but I certainly understand your point. It isn't specifically cannabis related, that's why I posted the link and not the article. It's entirely up to you, I just wanted you to be aware of the article and to post it if you wanted to. Keep up the great work (you and everyone else here!!!). 
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Comment #12 posted by goneposthole on July 19, 2004 at 15:33:55 PT
Here's what an implosion looks like
"History indicates the most trivial of facts can implode the most powerful dogma." Two individuals that I once knew are no longer on this mortal plane. Both the victims of suicide and both had prescriptions for Prozac.Anecdotal evidence, not always scientific, but evidence enough that one pays attention.Prozac is 'medicine'. Yeah, right.Implosion, explosion super nova size, doesn't matter.Cannabis IS medicine, much to the chagrin of the prohibitionist.Thanks for the cannabis.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 19, 2004 at 15:30:33 PT
sukoi 
I'm not sure about the article. I've posted a couple articles by Joel promoting his book. I hate to seem to be pushing someones book rather then cannabis issues if that makes sense.
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Comment #10 posted by sukoi on July 19, 2004 at 15:24:01 PT
An Eye Opener
FOM, I thought that you might want to post this article, it is not specifically about cannabis but it is eye opening:“Kill zone” by Joel Millerhttp://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39486 
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Comment #9 posted by ron on July 19, 2004 at 14:59:59 PT
Unfortunately, hypocrisy is not treasonable,
but it is tax deductable.Bayer is a major financial contributor to Partnership for a Drug Free America -- an organization that claims marijuana has no medical value.
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Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on July 19, 2004 at 14:56:17 PT
I agree about the tar
The tar in the smoke does cause a lot of irritation even though it's not going to end in cancer.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on July 19, 2004 at 14:46:22 PT
Actually ....
Dr. Russo's studies take up less space than that...maybe an eighth of the total book. It's a good book.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on July 19, 2004 at 14:41:09 PT
Dr. Russo's studies
take up about a fourth of the book...maybe a third. 
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on July 19, 2004 at 14:21:42 PT
The book is really good
It will touch your heart...from the visit to Graceland...to the police calling his wife hideous names because he was smoking his legal pot.It's sexy, too. His “sexy wife” hadn’t read it the last time I spoke to her about it. She was embarrassed. But he brings up something important…the sexuality of the ill and handicapped. It’s amazing…things most people never think about. I hope she doesn’t get angry with me for that comment.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on July 19, 2004 at 14:11:53 PT
George and Chris are fine guys
Buy their book.George doesn't have to help like he does...but he does. I love that about him. I haven't met Chris but George thinks he's a fine fella...so I expect he is. The book is definitely worth reading and giving as gifts to the uninformed…the ones not afraid to own it.
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Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on July 19, 2004 at 09:11:27 PT
Dankhank
I would assume he refers to the tars, hot gases, etc. I know I certainly had to quit smoking it and take up vaporizing because of those negative aspects and what they were doing to my lungs and throat.
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Comment #2 posted by Dankhank on July 19, 2004 at 08:42:45 PT
And ...
What the hell are the "negative ramifications of smoking pot" besides landing in jail?
Eat the negative ramifications!!!!
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Comment #1 posted by medicinal toker on July 19, 2004 at 08:14:32 PT
not immediate
"Sativex relieves symptoms immediately (similar to smoking a marijuana cigarette), without the negative ramifications of smoking."My understanding is the efects of Sativex take 20-40 minutes to be felt. It certainly isn't immediate.
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