cannabisnews.com: Voting on Pot Issue





Voting on Pot Issue
Posted by CN Staff on October 12, 2004 at 08:28:05 PT
By Allison Farrell of The Standard State Bureau 
Source: Montana Standard 
Helena -- In the last few months of his short life, Travis Michalski of Helena had lost a third of his body weight. His skinny frame was wracked with so much pain, he couldn't bear his families' hugs. And the powerful medications his oncologist gave him to combat the torment of terminal cancer wouldn't stay down.Chemotherapy, which Michalski started immediately after he was diagnosed with the rare blood cancer called Hodgkin's disease, found him vomiting the very day he began treatment.
He couldn't even stomach his anti-nausea medication.So Michalski did some Internet research, and soon took to smoking marijuana to calm his digestive tract. The drug also took the edge off the anxiety he dealt with every day, knowing he would die and leave his 8-year old son behind.Michalski told his parents about his choice, and they didn't object.‘‘It wasn't a hard decision,'' said his mother, Teresa Michalski of Helena. ‘‘But it was a scary decision.'' Teresa Michalski was worried the police would find out, and would force her 29-year old son to spend the last few months of his life in jail. She was afraid the family would lose their house. She feared their daughter would lose her federal student loans for college.But she couldn't say no when she saw how the illicit drug eased his suffering. And she said she can't believe some Montanans are opposing a ballot initiative seeking to legalize the medical use of marijuana here.Ballot Initiative 148, which Montanans will vote on in the general election Nov. 2, would protect patients, their doctors and their caregivers from arrest and prosecution for the medical use of marijuana.‘‘What in their head gives them the right to tell a patient they can't use it?'' Teresa Michalski asked. ‘‘If the doctors weren't so afraid of the repercussions, they would be endorsing this.''Passage of the measure would make Montana the 10th state to allow medicinal use of marijuana. Medical marijuana was approved by voters in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. In Hawaii, a law was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in 2000. In Vermont, a law was passed by the Legislature and allowed to become law without the governor's signature in May 2004, the Marijuana Policy Project reports.The measure is being financially backed by the national Marijuana Policy Project out of Washington, D.C. Paul Befumo of Missoula, treasurer of the Marijuana Policy Project of Montana, is traveling the state this fall to stump for the initiative.Proponents of medical marijuana say smoking the plant relieves nausea, increases appetite, reduces muscle spasms, relieves chronic pain and reduces pressure in the eyes. It can be used to treat the symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma, among other diseases, they say.While a recent Lee Newspapers poll shows that 58 percent of likely Montana voters approve of the measure, marijuana supporters face tough opposition.Among their staunchest opponents are the White House and federal law.Opposition Just last week, the White House sent U.S. Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns on a multi-city tour of Montana, where he spent the majority of his time talking against the ballot measure. He said the legalization of medical marijuana sends the ‘‘wrong message'' to children.And he went on to say that federal law, which still prohibits the use and possession of marijuana, trumps any of the permissive laws states pass.‘‘There is no safe harbor,'' Burns cautioned. ‘‘If this initiative passes, the (Drug Enforcement Agency) is not going away. It is still illegal in the U.S. to possess marijuana.''Opponents of the measure also say the medical argument for marijuana is bogus.Burns said the marijuana lobbyists in Washington, D.C. are ‘‘conning'' people into believing there are benefits to the drug. He said no credible medical authority, such as the American Medical Association, has ever endorsed the drug.‘‘There are better and more effective treatments than marijuana,'' Burns said, brushing aside the argument that pot makes terminal patients ‘‘feel good.''Burns said heroin also makes people ‘‘feel good,'' but doctors don't prescribe it.Roger Curtiss, director of alcohol and drug services for Anaconda and Deer Lodge County, said he's seen the negative effects of pot firsthand on the state's youth.‘‘With all the data available to me, with all the lives that have been ruined by drugs, I certainly have a perspective on why medical marijuana is not the ideal medical alternative for individuals in Montana,'' Curtiss said.For starters, Curtiss pointed to new data recently released by the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that shows children and teens are three times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana use than for alcohol use.And they are six times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana use than for all other illegal drugs combined, he cited. Burns said the number of children using marijuana would likely increase in the wake of the legalization of medical marijuana.Finally, opponents argue that the legalization of medical marijuana would precipitate a law enforcement nightmare.‘‘There's no way to regulate dosage and it would be really difficult to regulate the lawful growing of it,'' said Rep. Jim Shockley, R-Victor. Curtiss and Shockley are formally opposing the ballot initiative.Curtiss said the ballot measure is really an attempt to do away with U.S. drug laws.‘‘What they're really trying to do is do away with drug laws,'' Curtiss said. ‘‘And they're trying to get their foot in the door.''Whether or not the federal government has the right to prosecute medical marijuana patients in states where the practice is permitted is a decision that will soon be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court.The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the right of two California women to possess and grow marijuana for their medicinal needs. The U.S. Justice Department appealed the case, which the U.S. Supreme Court will hear in coming months.‘‘That would mean the federal government can't prosecute people in medical marijuana states for possession within the bounds of the state's statutes,'' said Befumo, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project of Montana.Befumo said the U.S. Supreme Court would not be tossing federal drug law out the window, but would be defining federal jurisdiction.‘‘That would be excellent,'' Befumo said.Note: Montanans must decide if legalizing marijuana is right for patient relief or if it sends the wrong message.Source: Montana Standard (MT)Author: Allison Farrell of The Standard State BureauPublished: October 12, 2004Copyright: 2004 Montana StandardContact: editor mtstandard.comWebsite: http://www.mtstandard.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Montana Careshttp://www.montanacares.org/Deputy Drug Czar Opposes Legalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19612.shtmlMontana To Vote on Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19528.shtmlMedical Marijuana Vote About Legalizing Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19431.shtml 
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Comment #8 posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2004 at 16:49:14 PT
Montana
This article makes me want to say a lot of things, but I'll leave it at this: Walters and Burns: Prepare to LOSE!
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Comment #7 posted by observer on October 12, 2004 at 13:13:49 PT
content analysis
[3]
He said the legalization of medical marijuana sends the  wrong message'' to children.
(Sentence 3) re: "children", "message" - Prohibitionists are champions of "the child", "kids", "children", etc. Only continued or increased punishments of all adults caught using "drugs" will send the correct "message" to children. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) re: "legalization" - With God on Their Side (prohibitionists assure us), only the continued rooting out of the sinful drug users (total prohibition) will do. All else is portrayed as the slippery slope to total legalization of all drugs for toddlers. (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm ) 
 
 
[8]
Burns said the marijuana lobbyists in Washington, D.C. are  conning'' people into believing there are benefits to the drug.
(Sentence 8) re: "marijuana lobbyists" - Because they hold differing opinions on drug policy, say prohibitionists, "legalizers" should be silenced or jailed. (Dissent Attacked (propaganda theme 8) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme8.htm ) 
 
 
[9]
He said no credible medical authority, such as the American Medical Association, has ever endorsed the drug.
(Sentence 9) re: "American" - The health of the "community" (read: government) is assured, prohibitionists explain, because drug users are punished. Jailing drug users is thus painted as upholding society. (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm ) 
 
 
[13]
For starters, Curtiss pointed to new data recently released by the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that shows children and teens are three times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana use than for alcohol use.
(Sentence 13) re: "Addiction" - Drugs, scream prohibitionists, cause all bad things in life: crime, violence, insanity, etc. If not for prohibition (i.e., jailing drug users), then criminality, violence and psychotic behavior would explode upon the land, the prohibitionist assures us. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm ) re: "Substance Abuse", "marijuana use" - "This strategy equates the use and abuse of drugs and implies that it is impossible to use the particular drug or drugs in question without physical, mental, and moral deterioration." [W.White,1979] (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "children", "teens" - Prohibitionists play on parental fears by exaggerating the dangers to children of drugs. Adults must be jailed (reason prohibitionists), because kids might be corrupted with drugs. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[14]
And they are six times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana use than for all other illegal drugs combined, he cited.
(Sentence 14) re: "marijuana use" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[15]
Burns said the number of children using marijuana would likely increase in the wake of the legalization of medical marijuana.
(Sentence 15) re: "children" - Prohibitionist propaganda continually whips up parental fear, invoking lurid images of children corrupted by drugs. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) re: "legalization" - Drug policy options are presented as either total prohibition, or as total "legalization." No middle ground is contemplated in the "zero-tolerance" world of prohibition. Absolute prohibition executed with religious fervor and purpose! (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm ) 
 
 
[16]
Finally, opponents argue that the legalization of medical marijuana would precipitate a law enforcement nightmare.
(Sentence 16) re: "legalization" - Onward prohibitionist drug warriors, fighting the epidemic and scourge in the battles of the war against drugs! (Drugs declared evil by politicians, that is.) (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm ) 
 
 
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Comment #6 posted by dongenero on October 12, 2004 at 12:35:56 PT
great!
I love Monty Python. That is a great reference kaptinemo.Goneposthole,
I love this analogy. Interesting how something like that could be so staunchly defended and then look ridiculous in harsh light of history.
Hopefully the issues we are addressing here will look as obvious in the light of history.
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on October 12, 2004 at 12:13:31 PT:
To answer your question, Don Genaro
Every time I am forced to ponder the same question, I can't help but think of the character "Mr. T. F. Gumby", of Monty Python fame:http://www.mwscomp.com/mpfc/gumby.htmlUnfortunately, there really are such examples of the American version of the species running loose...and voting; 'their brain hurts', and has largely been excised by watching too much TV and not being able to discriminate facts from the fictions.
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Comment #4 posted by goneposthole on October 12, 2004 at 11:04:34 PT
apocrypha and anachronisms
‘‘There is no safe harbor,'' Burns cautioned. ‘‘If this initiative passes, the (Drug Enforcement Agency) is not going away. It is still illegal in the U.S. to possess marijuana.''Similar apocypha existed in 1856:‘‘There is no safe harbor,'' Preston Brooks cautioned. "It is the rule of law that forbids one to teach a slave to read and write. The legal slave trade and the rule of law are not going to go away. It is still illegal to teach a slave to read and write.""It's the law," he huffed.After which, Congressman Brooks proceded to beat Senator Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane until he was unconcious.O, ok, it's just in the apocrypha, but freedom meant just as much or more back then. Freedom is not going to go away. Have a nice day.
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Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on October 12, 2004 at 10:47:52 PT
dongenero
You asked: - Do people really give such little critical thought to issues that they buy into this tired, old government propoganda? -Sadly, in many cases I think they do. It's done willingly and subconsciously I suspect, a sort of mass hypnosis, self-imposed, motivated primarily by the desire to keep cushy government jobs.
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Comment #2 posted by global_warming on October 12, 2004 at 10:05:21 PT
Hope they see the wisdom
"Whether or not the federal government has the right to prosecute medical marijuana patients in states where the practice is permitted is a decision that will soon be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court."I hope the Supreme Court see's the wisdom of a free society and strike down all the drug laws someday, so that people do not have to put with such pretentious jack asses that have been spawned by this insane drug war and the inane and pompous proffessionals that hover around the fat paycheck of this war on people.Let the DEA become big brother role models for these youth gang members, let the drug counselors get jobs selling produce at the local merket.
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Comment #1 posted by dongenero on October 12, 2004 at 09:07:37 PT
the same old lame propoganda
"Opposition Just last week, the White House sent U.S. Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns on a multi-city tour of Montana, where he spent the majority of his time talking against the ballot measure. He said the legalization of medical marijuana sends the ‘‘wrong message'' to children."Yes, it would show our children that we treat terminally ill people with compassion rather than forcing them to suffer because we are demonizing a natural herbal medication."There are better and more effective treatments than marijuana,'' Burns said, brushing aside the argument that pot makes terminal patients ‘‘feel good.''Burns said heroin also makes people ‘‘feel good,'' but doctors don't prescribe it."Pain medication doesn't cure the underlying problem neither does anti-nausea medication. It does reduce pain and allow people to keep food down. No heroin isn't prescribed currently but morphine is and so is synthetic heroin....Oxycontin. Just ask Rush Limbaugh. These are harsh, dangerous medications. Often with significant side effects.‘‘With all the data available to me, with all the lives that have been ruined by drugs, I certainly have a perspective on why medical marijuana is not the ideal medical alternative for individuals in Montana,'' Curtiss said.Tell that to Travis Michalski. He obviously tried Mr. Curtiss' preferred methods. It's easy to tell this ill people what they should do when you are perfectly well.
How about idf we leave that to the doctors, giving them every possible option to consider?"For starters, Curtiss pointed to new data recently released by the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that shows children and teens are three times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana use than for alcohol use."This is because they are referred to treatment by the courts in order to avoid a criminal record. It's more likely to be marijuana than alcohol with teens because marijuana is unregulated and therefore more available, via the black market, to teens than alcohol is."And they are six times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana use than for all other illegal drugs combined, he cited. Burns said the number of children using marijuana would likely increase in the wake of the legalization of medical marijuana."On what do you base the guess that use by children would increase due to the fact that marijuana would be usable by terminally ill patients. Is it because of the glitz and glamour of terminal cancer? Use would remain the same for children, I would guess, because that same black market for recreational marijuana would still exist. I don't see cancer patients affecting that at all.‘‘There's no way to regulate dosage and it would be really difficult to regulate the lawful growing of it,'' said Rep. Jim Shockley, R-Victor. Curtiss and Shockley are formally opposing the ballot initiative."That's one of the beauties of marijuana. There is no known lethal dose. You can't even say that for aspirin. People using medical marijuana can self titrate. That's the beauty of it. Regulating it is a problem? Maybe we need to get some competent people into these state government positions then. I mean if you can't regulate government policy then, what are our elected officials even doing there?‘‘What they're really trying to do is do away with drug laws,'' Curtiss said. ‘‘And they're trying to get their foot in the door.''And finally, the sky is falling.Do people really give such little critical thought to issues that they buy into this tired, old government propoganda?
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