cannabisnews.com: Cohen Plans To Push Legalizing Medical Marijuana Cohen Plans To Push Legalizing Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on November 17, 2004 at 07:57:30 PT By Holly Edwards, Staff Writer Source: Tennessean After watching several friends suffer the side effects of cancer treatment, state Sen. Steve Cohen said he plans to make the legalization of medical marijuana one of his top priorities next year.The proposal probably will face stiff opposition in the state legislature, where the Republican Party is enjoying its first elected majority in the Senate in more than a century. ''I don't think I'd be willing to consider it,'' said Sen. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, who is vying to become Senate speaker. ''There's not enough medical evidence to support that, and most law enforcement agencies would be opposed to it.''Cohen, D-Memphis, said he believes people who are sick and suffering are being denied a drug that could help them.''When you see somebody whose life is ending, and you know there's something that would ameliorate their pain and make life less ghastly, it's incumbent upon all of us to allow it,'' Cohen said. ''There's no reason why society should not allow drugs that can be helpful.''In a 2003 report, the American Medical Association cited studies showing that compounds in the drug can help people suffering from a wide range of illnesses, from glaucoma and AIDS-related weight loss, to epilepsy and the nausea associated with some cancer treatments.But the association also said there are health risks involved with marijuana and recommended that the National Institutes of Health fund further research into medical uses of the drug.State Rep. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, a nurse who was recently elected to the Senate, said legal prescription drugs are available for those conditions.And, echoing the argument of other opponents, Black said she believes medical marijuana is being used as a ploy by those who want to legalize the drug completely.''The whole issue is a ruse for saying marijuana should be a legal product,'' she said. ''We have perfectly sound, legal medications that doctors can prescribe that will take care of anything marijuana can take care of.'' Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/cohen.htmSource: Tennessean, The (TN)Author: Holly Edwards, Staff WriterPublished: November 17, 2004Copyright: 2004 The TennesseanContact: letters tennessean.comWebsite: http://www.tennessean.com/Related Article & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmUnlikely Allies Back State on Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19641.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by billos on November 17, 2004 at 17:26:47 PT Do I see this right? Ms Black says: 'We have perfectly sound, legal medications that doctors can prescribe that will take care of anything marijuana can take care of.''Take care of Anything that marijuana can take care of?Is she really saying that marijuana has medical benefits? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on November 17, 2004 at 08:48:58 PT TN invite Leap for more events all over your State Nov 30 04 Madison/Goodletsville Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Madison Tennessee USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge lunches with members of the Madison/Goodletsville Rotary to discuss issues related to the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 30 04 Dickson Rotary 06:30 PM Howard Wooldridge Dickson Tennessee USA The Dickson Rotary welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for dinner and discussion of the failure of drug prohibition. http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ekim on November 17, 2004 at 08:44:34 PT listen to these Law Men and Women Nov 17 04 Political Awareness Club of Canada College: "Social Issues Awareness" 12:00 PM Martha DeWolfe Redwood City California USA Political Awareness Club of Canada College will sponsor numerous speakers on "Social Issues Awareness". Marti DeWolfe explains LEAP and the Drug War. Nov 17 04 Broomfield Lions Club 06:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Broomfield Colorado USA Sweeping away the lies, distortions and myths surrounding the war on drugs, Board Member Howard Wooldridge meets with members of the Broomfield Lions Club. Nov 18 04 LovelandThompson Valley Rotary 01:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Loveland Colorado USA Full of love for the land and his fellow human beings, Board Member Howard Wooldridge visits with members of the Loveland Thompson Valley Rotary for discussion of the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 19 04 Aurora, CO Gateway Rotary 07:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Aurora Colorado USA Showing the way through the gates of truth, Board Member Howard Wooldridge meets with members of the Aurora Gateway Rotary to discuss the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 19 04 Johnstown Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Johnstown Colorado USA The Johnstown Rotary welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for lunch and discussion of viable alternatives to the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 19 04 National Council for the Social Studies Annual Convention 09:00 AM Jim Gierach Baltimore Maryland USA National Council for the Social Studies Annual Convention. Nov 19th-20th. 9am-6pm. Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. Speaker Jim Gierach and Speakers Bureau Coordinator Mike Smithson will exhibit to the 3500 attendees of the convention explaining how LEAP speakers would be great in the classroom environment to teach about modern drug prohibition. Nov 20 04 Students for Sensible Drug Policy Annual Convention 02:30 PM Jim Gierach College Park Maryland USA Students for Sensible Drug Policy Annual Convention. Nov 20th. 2:30pm-3:30pm. Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. “Legalziation vs. Decriminalization” Debate between LEAP Speaker Jim Gierach and Dr. Mark Klieman, UCLA School of Public Policy. http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Max Flowers on November 17, 2004 at 08:38:13 PT Wake up, Senator Ramsey "There's not enough medical evidence to support that"WRONG - I'm not sure if this guy is lying or ignorant and uninformed, but there is plenty of medical evidence. There are LOTS of studies. Medical science done outside of the USA is JUST as valid, perhaps more so since it is often unencumbered by the corruption of interests that happens here."...and most law enforcement agencies would be opposed to it."WE THE PEOPLE don't care what law enforcement agencies are opposed to! They are servants, not lords and princes. WE run this country, not law enforcement. Law enforcement are the EMPLOYEES of the PEOPLE.This guy needs to be slapped awake by some facts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Craiig on November 17, 2004 at 08:08:08 PT the red herring don't have to inhale, just eat hash cakes. so suck on that prohibnumbnuts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Craiig on November 17, 2004 at 08:06:07 PT shoots himself in the foot... ''We have perfectly sound, legal medications that doctors can prescribe that will take care of anything marijuana can take care of.''so he's saying marijuana CAN take care of it! The ignorance is slowly faiding away. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by sam adams on November 17, 2004 at 08:05:06 PT red herring? "Opponents of medical marijuana say it would make no sense for a doctor to recommend that a sick, weakened person regularly inhale smoke laced with carcinogens."Speaking of red herrings - it's so funny that always accuse of us of being dishonest, but it's the prohibitionists that consisently use a patchwork of lies and false principles, not us.Doctors don't want someone to inhale smoke, but they're fine with recommending meds to frail sick people that destroy the lining of their digestive tract, and damage the kidney and liver, to the point where tens of thousands of patients die each year from the damage caused by their legal, regulated, well-researched prescription drugs.When I was on Vioxx, I had to go in twice a year to have blood drawn for liver & kidney function checks. Of course, Vioxx was discovered to be so deadly that even these tests weren't preventing people from having heart attacks & stroke.No one has ever died from inhaling the carcinogen-laced marijuana smoke. Not one person.Not one medical marijuana state has legalized recreational marijuana.So whose argument is a red herring? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment