cannabisnews.com: Serious Debate Needed on Medical Marijuana





Serious Debate Needed on Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on November 22, 2004 at 07:22:01 PT
By The Editorial Board
Source: Sidelines
Sen. Steve Cohen's attempt to authorize the use of marijuana for medical use should be viewed with open minds, and we hope that our legislators are willing to listen to all sides of the argument concerning this issue. While the general consensus is that there is not enough knowledge on the subject to make a conclusive decision either way, the National Institute of Medicine concluded differently.While there are certainly other pain medications on the market that alleviate suffering associated with cancer and other chronic or simply painful conditions, some have responded well to these medicines, and some have not.
The same is true with marijuana. Both have side effects that are considered undesirable by some, such as disorientation.Marijuana and other substances, such as opiates, both have potential for dependency. However, the general conclusion amongst medical professionals is that adverse marijuana withdrawal symptoms are generally short-lived and has milder side effects than those of opiates (such as Oxycontin), benzodiazepines (such as Valium) and stimulants (such as Ritalin) - all of which are legal for prescription use.By this logic, the government had better get busy outlawing most benzodiazepines, nearly all opiates and every stimulant currently on the prescription market, from Ritalin at the school house to cocaine at the dentist's office.The greater problem is the way that this issue often becomes a debate on full legalization, which should be separated from this dispute. People will lean one way or the other based on how they feel about marijuana as a recreational substance instead of discussing its medicinal use. We need the most concrete answers we can get. Therefore, more research conducted by an unbiased group of medical professionals should be funded, and legislators need to take a non-partisan look at the issue and decide for themselves.If marijuana can alleviate the physical suffering of any sick person who cannot find relief otherwise without severe side effects, our state legislators - who are, above all, charged with the duty of looking out for the well-being of Tennessee citizens - should be willing to consider the issue openly without regard for what the party's press office has to say about the matter. Source: Sidelines, The (TN Edu)Published: Monday, November 22, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Middle Tennessee State UniversityContact: sleditor mtsu.eduWebsite: http://www.mtsusidelines.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmSenator Advocates Legal Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19858.shtmlCohen Promoting Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19837.shtmlCohen Plans To Push Legalizing Med Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19833.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #11 posted by The GCW on November 22, 2004 at 17:16:23 PT
This newspaper's front page has da poll.
http://www.mtsusidelines.com/Do you think marijuana should be legalized for medical use? -Yes. There's nothing wrong with medical marijuana. -Yes. And while they're at it, they can legalize my recreational use, too. I'm going to go through a lot of paper writing out those fake prescriptions. -No. Marijuana should always be illegal. !It's not already legal? (note: 3 of the 4 are good choices... I wont tell You how to vote...)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 22, 2004 at 09:49:54 PT
I See EJ
I think I'm understanding what you are saying. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by BigDawg on November 22, 2004 at 09:30:49 PT
E_J
Interesting theory there E_J.I saw somebody else also posted an interesting theory of CB1 challenged people and conservatism last week.My wheels have been turning over such possibilites all weekend. It just seems to make so much sense.Could the original fight between Cain and Abel have been over a change from hunter/gatherer to agrarian (hemp/cannabis) society?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 22, 2004 at 08:44:06 PT
My Theory
I've always believed that people that went west and kept going until they reached the Pacific Ocean were people who always wanted to know more. They were people who said. This can't possibly be all there is. Let's go check it out. I think that's why people who live in California are so cool. They were trail blazers.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on November 22, 2004 at 08:37:18 PT
Ooops I should say
the migration westward of AMERICANS -- it was both white and black Americans that migrated to the west, I keep forgetting that, having been raised under the American cinema's image of the Old West as being all white.So anyway -- if the CB1 unblocked mice decide to move to a new cage, they leave behind behind a surplus of CB1 blocked mice afraid to leave the old cage, and that could create a political gap between the two cages.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 22, 2004 at 08:35:23 PT
Thanks EJ
Even though I have lived in the country since the late 70s I grew up in a heavily populated area and you see so much change going on all the time that you learn you better adapt. Maybe the south has a lot more space and people can stay stuck in a certain mentality. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on November 22, 2004 at 08:33:20 PT
A lot human behavior can be understood this way
Why have the Western states embraced liberal changes more than the East throughout American history?Because the migration westward of European Americans could perhaps be seen as a genetic migration of CB1 unblocked Americans to the west, leaving the CB1 blocked portion of the population in the comfortably settled East and South.That's why the Western states gave women the vote about fifty years before the rest of the country was ready to take such a radical step towards democracy.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on November 22, 2004 at 08:23:13 PT
I have a theory FoM
Liberals prefer to live in big cities where there is regular contact with new ideas and new people. So they leave the South, and the South ends up populated by people who feel threatened by new ideas and want everything to stay the same.I guess you could say it was a CB1 blocking effect caused by a migration of CB1 unblocked mice moving to a better cage.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 22, 2004 at 08:15:55 PT
I Don't Understand
Why does it seem that the south is not up on important issues like medical marijuana? I love the northern way of thinking and I just don't understand. Most people have cable or satellite tv so it can't be that communications are not up to a certain standard. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on November 22, 2004 at 08:13:58 PT
Tennessee has some progressive history
Tennessee was the state that ratified the 19th Amendment.I read that Rosa Rarks trained in Tennessee at the Highlander Center:http://www.highlandercenter.org/default.aspThey had desgregation workshops in the 1950s:http://www.highlandercenter.org/photo-gallery-archive.asp 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Sam adams on November 22, 2004 at 07:42:20 PT
no freedom left
I find the overall tone of this editorial so sad. What happened to liberty? It's almost as if the government is now the Pope - everyone's personal life now hinges on a decree from the top, with no basis in facts or logic whatsoever (not mention popular vote or opinion).No conduct or behavior is allowed until it has been proven 100% morally correct and healthy by the science and government Establishment. All other actions are banned.Your precinct Master will be by in the morning to collect your urine & hair samples, and review your personal safety gear. No walking the dog without helmet & elbow pads!
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment