cannabisnews.com: Speaker: Legalizing Pot a Bad Idea 





Speaker: Legalizing Pot a Bad Idea 
Posted by CN Staff on January 26, 2005 at 08:23:29 PT
By Scott Richardson 
Source: Pantagraph
Bloomington -- A former policy adviser to President Bush on drug issues spoke in the Twin Cities on Tuesday to urge straight talk to combat the movement to legalize marijuana.Addressing a group of drug educators, community leaders and city officials, Dr. Andrea Barthwell, a physician with more than 20 years experience treating addiction, termed medical use of marijuana a "Trojan horse designed to lead to the legalization of a dangerous drug."
Barthwell, a finalist for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate that Illinois Republican leaders eventually gave to Alan Keyes, worries a well-funded lobby is pushing for the medical legalization of marijuana.Though medical use of marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, more than 10 states allow the practice based on a doctor's recommendation. Medicinal use of marijuana also has been debated in Illinois in recent years."We're very concerned," said Barthwell, the former deputy director of demand reduction for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, who is making an 18-city tour of Illinois."No city, no state is better off with more drugs available to their young people."Synthetic versions of marijuana have been approved to treat nausea for chemotherapy patients and anorexia in AIDS patients, she said. But that's a far cry from "gulping" smoke from a crude cigarette, she said."I doubt it was in the scheme that the Great Creator would put one plant on Earth that could cure everything wrong with you," said Barthwell as the audience laughed.Barthwell fears parents of the Baby Boomer generation are seduced into supporting marijuana's legalization based on their own youthful experiences -- when just one in 10 people who tried marijuana went on to use other illicit substances, she said.They are likely unaware the potency of marijuana has risen dramatically over the years, she said."What we're really worried about is that parents don't understand how big a problem marijuana is. They are turning their heads," she said.Equally troubling is that children are being introduced to the drug, mainly by their peers, at ever younger ages -- sometimes as young as ages 9 and 10, she said."The number of young people under age 18 initiated to marijuana on a daily basis (in the United States) would fill a large suburban high school," Barthwell said. "Half of the kids have tried (illicit) drugs before leaving high school. That's unacceptable."However, Barthwell said, children respond to drug education. As evidence, she said the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy exceeded Bush's goal to reduce illicit drug use by young people by 10 percent in two years.She said she expects the administration to reach the president's objective of a 25 percent reduction in the first five years of his tenure.Barthwell said she supports the Bush administration's strategy that combines drug prevention and treatment with law enforcement and drug interdiction.Source: Pantagraph, The (IL)Author: Scott Richardson Published: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The PantagraphContact: bwills pantagraph.comWebsite: http://www.pantagraph.com/Related Articles:Speaker: Pot Potency Higher http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20160.shtmlSanity In Chicago - AlterNethttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19568.shtmlChicago Wants Laissez-Faire Approach To MJhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19554.shtml 
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Comment #29 posted by b4daylight on January 28, 2005 at 18:13:34 PT
spin it
"No city, no state is better off with more drugs available to their young people."
And in the 34 years this is what they have done to us amazing truth being spoken here...But that's a far cry from "gulping" smoke from a crude cigarette, she said.Why are non doctors and patients the only ones who know you can use it by vapor, eating, or oils applied to body?You would think you would be at least a little adept on your job and that goes for the DEA too....These uses have been around for 3,000 years"Trojan horse designed to lead to the legalization of a dangerous drug." 
This did not happen to Morphine, because that is dangerous Doctor.Get real lots of things are dangerous until you tell me it has any short term effects that resemble Crack, Heroin, or Meth I will listen. "I doubt it was in the scheme that the Great Creator would put one plant on Earth that could cure everything wrong with you," said Barthwell as the audience laughed.Now she doubts god lol... I doubt her not god. 
I find something else interesting because maybe we might found out that it cures allot of things like cancer. Yet with her administration we may never now because they block research to find out how convenient to say that doc. "What we're really worried about is that parents don't understand how big problem marijuana is. They are turning their heads," she said.Again more truth people are turning their heads to the problems prohibition on marijuana causes. "The number of young people under age 18 initiated to marijuana on a daily basis (in the United States) would fill a large suburban high school," Barthwell said. "Half of the kids have tried (illicit) drugs before leaving high school. That's unacceptable."Ohh this sounds so PHD... a number (like all of the other missing numbers) a large suburban high school (so inner city schools are out Huh?) 50% tired illicit drugs umm well all drugs are illegal for students under 21? Wake up and smell the addicting coffee, grab a puff on a cigarette, and slam a shot of alcohol, before you run over to the gambling hall my friend what is not dangerous.
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Comment #28 posted by gloovins on January 27, 2005 at 23:49:54 PT
mmmm, maybe barfwell heard my comment here...
"Our creator gave us cannabis, Nixon the DEA. Who do you trust..?"Makes ya wonder who's lookin in....?
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Comment #27 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 27, 2005 at 14:04:39 PT
Marijuana Is Sooooooo Strong Now!
Ya know, no matter how strong the pot is, if I smoke a little too much it puts me right to sleep. Yeah, that makes marijuana sooooo dangerous now, right?**whuuuuuh*cough*bullshit*cough*whuuuuuh**
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Comment #26 posted by siege on January 26, 2005 at 19:26:28 PT
Drug cops 
The Drug cops where at school today the grandson said they give there little talk on drugs and then asked how many kids had smoked marijuana and (none) did the boy said that about 1/2 the class doze, no one wanted to get in trouble so no one smoked any thing so there you go Barfwell...reduce drug use by young people by 10 percent in two years.
troubling is that children are being introduced to the drug, mainly by their peers, at ever younger ages -- sometimes as young as ages 9 and 10, she said.
The Gov't failed to give the Kids the truth about marijuana so let it be ON your head ( Barfwell )
and HONDCP.
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on January 26, 2005 at 19:21:23 PT
Barthwell
Mayan, that was a great post to her. Thank you.Something odd to me...I don't recall Barthwell being an M.D. before. I thought we had talked about that. That she actually was only a doctor, in the sense that she had a doctorate in psychology.Now all of a sudden, she's an M.D.? I missed something.
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Comment #24 posted by mayan on January 26, 2005 at 17:59:19 PT
E-Mailed Barfwell...
You said...
 "I doubt it was in the scheme that the Great Creator would put one plant on Earth that could cure everything wrong with you." Oh, really?
 Well, I doubt it was in the scheme that the Great Creator would put zealots like yourself on Earth that would lock others in a cage for using this plant. 
 Shame on you for being a pharmaceutical puppet at the expense of the sick and dying! I will pray for your soul.                     
                      - me
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on January 26, 2005 at 17:22:26 PT
News Brief from The Associated Press
Dutch Magazine Includes Marijuana SeedsAssociated PressJan. 26, 2005 AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A Dutch magazine was including an unusual freebie with its latest issue - two marijuana seeds in a small plastic bag.Nieuwe Revu Editor-in-Chief Mark Koster said the move was a publicity stunt accompanying the Jan. 26 issue, which advocates legalizing marijuana and other banned substances.Although Holland is famous for tolerating the sale of small amounts of marijuana and hashish in coffee shops, both are technically illegal and the government prosecutes possession of more than several grams."We're saying, stop the war on drugs, which costs a fortune and there are no results," Koster said.Koster said public prosecutors usually ignore the sale of marijuana seeds and had not contacted the magazine about the stunt. But several major supermarket chains either removed the seeds or kept the issue off the shelves.He said the seeds were "OK" in quality."We had an expert test them, and he said they were a 4 out of 5," Koster said.Copyright: 2005 Associated Press 
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10741237.htm?1c
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Comment #22 posted by 420toker on January 26, 2005 at 17:20:22 PT
rather not her hometown
Sorry I got to typing fast and didnt read what I typed, she is not from Texas she "worked" for UT San Antonio for a while but I think she is from Il.
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Comment #21 posted by goneposthole on January 26, 2005 at 17:19:51 PT
I will respectfully disagree with Andrea
The cannabis market may approach some 20 billion dollars.  At 2,000 USD per pound (much too expensive) wholesale value, that represents some 10 million pounds of pot each year bought and sold on the streets of the average US city. Can it get anymore prevalent? That is 200,000 lbs for each state. I'd say that's quite a bit a cannabis floating around the neighborhood.If it were legal, most of the problems surrounding its use would go up in smoke faster than the last pinch it I had. That was several days ago, now. You can't smoke it all of the time. It's fun.I say, "legalize." She can find something else to do; nothing lasts forever. A change will do her some good, too.Tonight, I think I'll have a Harvey Wallbanger. That'll get your engine revving. With any luck, it'll happen soon. Drinking booze is fun sometimes, too.
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Comment #20 posted by 420toker on January 26, 2005 at 17:14:59 PT
Barfwell
This is the lady (crackerjack box MD) who told a group of officers in Michigan that the problem with Austin (my and her home town) is it has too many pot smoking hippys. We were on the international list of best places to live in the world at the time.Moron nuff said, please email your complaints to Andrea G. Barthwell, M.D., (02), CSAT-NAC
President
Encounter Medical Group
1010 Lake Street, Suite 210
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
(708)383-2700; Fax (708)383-2959
E-Mail: agbmd aol.com
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Comment #19 posted by jared3602 on January 26, 2005 at 15:37:15 PT
Greatest plant ever.
"I doubt it was in the scheme that the Great Creator would put one plant on Earth that could cure everything wrong with you," said Barthwell as the audience laughed.There are over 200 different chemicals in cannabis way more then any other plant. Cannabis has over 10,000 uses in our society.It seems to me that this is the most advanced plant in the world and that God gave it to us to use in all of its glory.
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Comment #18 posted by cloud7 on January 26, 2005 at 14:52:31 PT
...
"No city, no state is better off with more drugs available to their young people."As though any of us fighting for a change in drug laws would like to see more young people doing drugs. This is not what we are fighting for, not what would happen and is nothing but slick pandering to the fears of middle America.
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Comment #17 posted by siege on January 26, 2005 at 14:16:09 PT
Republic of China Barthwell
 Alcohol and Addiction Treatment Professional Delegation
to The People’s Republic of ChinaDelegation Leader: Andrea Barthwell, M.D.
Past President, American Society of Addiction Medicine
 Program Dates: July 31-August 12, 2005A delegation of professionals specializing in alcohol and addiction treatment has been selected to participate in bilateral exchanges with their professional counterparts in China, under the auspices of People to People Ambassador Programs.http://www.ambassadorprograms.org/upcomingprograms/medical/andrea_barthwell.asp
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Comment #16 posted by dongenero on January 26, 2005 at 14:08:48 PT
kaptinemo
right on kaptinemo!
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Comment #15 posted by kaptinemo on January 26, 2005 at 13:17:12 PT:
Roxane, huh?
Roxane and Unimed are major producers of Marinol; can anyone say "conflict of interest"? 
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Comment #14 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on January 26, 2005 at 13:02:22 PT
LTE
Sirs,  When Andrea Barthwell says, "No city, no state is better off with more drugs available to their young people," does she really think about what she's saying? Under current laws, people under 21 have a much easier time acquiring marijuana than alcohol. Why? Because alcohol vendors check IDs and face criminal penalties for selling to minors. Marijuana vendors face the same criminal sanctions whether they sell to adults or children. Not only do kids have an easier time purchasing so-called "controlled substances", but they often turn to selling them as well.  You would think that the people of Illinois would have an excellent perspective on how prohibition laws are enacted with the best hopes, yet inevitably lead to worse ills than those they were trying to prevent.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on January 26, 2005 at 12:27:49 PT
Barthwell
Looking at her face...the mask she wears...I'd say she's hardened herself...stiffened her neck...against any information that indicates she or her colleagues might be in need of a better understanding.She can't grow in understanding or knowledge...because she refuses to.
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Comment #12 posted by Dankhank on January 26, 2005 at 12:23:20 PT
Weep ...
Crocodile tears for the ignorant, hateful synchophants that sell their souls to the devil ONDCP.Now I have to remove Asscrofts photo from my links page ... it was such a good one for him ...Mayhap I will start a page of oldie-but-goodie photos of past govermnent terrorists as they fall by the way side ...For one more look at his ignorant facade go here:http://hbaca.freeyellow.com/LINKS.html 
Truth
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Comment #11 posted by tokenitallup4162 on January 26, 2005 at 11:54:55 PT:
ignorance, will get you everywhere???
yeah, we do have a problem with drugs in our society. so, instead of dr barthwell fixing the real problem, she just falls into the same ole catagory, keep it illegal, so our kids have more blackmarket to go to for any drug. I think they know that by keeping it illegal, they can get more funds for their likens, for any drug issue. how in the hell do these people sleep at night, ohhhh, I forgot, they drink themselves to sleep. this lady has gotten her hat on backwards and I doubt she even knows this. just my opinion. Toker
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Comment #10 posted by darwin on January 26, 2005 at 11:37:59 PT
Dupont and Barthwell
There are tons of connections to Dupont, specifically Robert Dupont and Dupont Pharma. Just do a search on Andrea Barthwell and Dupont. Here are just a few. http://www.asam.org/news/news19.htm "Andrea G. Barthwell, M.D., FASAM, has been voted ASAM's President-Elect in just-completed balloting." & in the same aricle... "State-funded AIDS Drug Assistance Programs in California and New York have added efavirenz (Sustiva®, DuPont), a once-daily anti-HIV treatment, to their ADAP formularies." Also http://www.aidschicago.org/advocacy/barthwell.php "We the undersigned Illinois HIV/AIDS service providers are writing to express support for Dr. Andrea G. Barthwell's appointment as Deputy Director for Demand Reduction of the Office of National Drug Control Policy." & "We offer our unconditional support for her appointment. Sincerely, DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co. 3624 N. Lakewood, 2nd floor, Chicago, Illinois 60613; 773-832-4433; Contact: Larry R. Wolf, Senior HIV Community Manager" Also http://www.asam.org/news/news8.htm Regional Director Alan Wartenberg, M.D., F.A.S.A.M., , reports that Region III held a very successful regional meeting"...."The meeting was staffed by Pat Besinger and Hilding Ohstrom and supported by educational grants from Roxane Pharmaceuticals and DuPont Pharma." This paragraph discusses drug treatment and use... Also http://parentsendingprohibition.homestead.com/2003.html "Marijuana is a drug and not a medicine. We have made time-honored process in this country when we bring medications to the market-place that protects the health of the patient and marijuana has not gone through that test," Barthwell said." and in the same article.... "Dr. Robert L. DuPont, the former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, also condemned Ehrlich's decision. "I think he will come to regret this decision," said (Robert) DuPont, who served as drug czar under Presidents Nixon and Ford. "Medical marijuana is a hoax. It's a Trojan horse for the legalization movement."" 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 26, 2005 at 10:28:30 PT
About The Train Accident
I hope no one here had anyone on the train. They said the car was placed on the tracks on purpose. Things are getting crazy. 
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 26, 2005 at 10:09:12 PT
potpal
I won't miss him at all. I'm being nice too!
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Comment #7 posted by potpal on January 26, 2005 at 10:04:54 PT
Rejoice...
There was some good news yesterday that didn't make it here one way or another and I'd thought I'd throw it out there for your pleasure...John Ashcroft stepped down yesterday...he be gone!And Asa Hutchinson handed in his resignation, supposedly peed he was look over twice to head the Dept of Homeland Security. (He intends to run for gov of LA...)
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Comment #6 posted by potpal on January 26, 2005 at 09:48:46 PT
Stop the war...
I suspect that everybody here frequents other cannabis forums...in any case, this is interesting...http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/371/kcba.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by runruff on January 26, 2005 at 09:39:08 PT:
motivation
Ms. Barthwell sounds like the reincarnation of Henry Anslinger. Spewing whatever retoric suits the moment. She is obviosly politictly/profit driven as none of her arguments make sence to anyone familure with the subject. There were many Doctors and professionals in the nazi regime. Education has nothing to do with integrity.Namaste  
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on January 26, 2005 at 08:46:31 PT:
One more thing
Is she a registered lobbyist? Because ultimately what she is doing is political in nature...just as her last job. She could hide behind the Guv'mint Seal before and get away with her lobbying (only because a Republican controlled Congress refuses to properly investigate Hatch Act violations when its' people were doing the violating!) but now, she's on her own.
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on January 26, 2005 at 08:41:53 PT:
Somebody is footing the bill for her
She's not wealthy enough or altruistic enough to be doing this from her own pocketbook; who's paycheck is she cashing now?
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Comment #2 posted by potpal on January 26, 2005 at 08:39:01 PT
Addiction
Apparently she's addicted to easy drug war money...
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Comment #1 posted by i420 on January 26, 2005 at 08:34:37 PT
Barfalamew
more than 20 years experience treating addiction?? geee did she ever cure any addiction???
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