cannabisnews.com: Hope Riding on NY's Marijuana Bill





Hope Riding on NY's Marijuana Bill
Posted by CN Staff on June 15, 2007 at 05:47:26 PT
By Jason Del Rey
Source: Newsday 
Albany, NY -- For several years, Cedarhurst resident Sherri Greene has suffered from fibromyalgia, an arthritis-related condition that causes debilitating pain throughout her arms and legs. When the pain is at its worst, Green, 65, can't even grip a telephone. Tired of the ineffectiveness of painkillers, Greene turned to a different kind of drug to ease her pain: marijuana.
"I took two puffs," Greene said, "and it worked wonders." Greene, like others with similar medical conditions, is hoping that a bill currently before the New York State Legislature will pass and legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.The Assembly passed a medical marijuana bill yesterday and sent it to the Senate. But Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) criticized the bill as too broad and said a colleague would soon introduce a rival bill. Earlier this week, Gov. Eliot Spitzer reversed himself and said he would support legalization. However, only four working days are left before the legislature adjourns."If something could help someone in severe pain, why should they be denied it?" said Greene, who also has T-cell lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. "I don't think the government has the right to make that choice."Dr. Robert A. Duarte, director of the Pain and Headache Treatment Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, said Greene is not alone. Over the past year, Duarte said, drug screenings have shown that "a significant minority" of the center's chronic-pain patients use marijuana. "They state that it's helping them with pain control," he said.When patients test positive for marijuana, doctors inform them they can no longer prescribe drugs for them that may interact with the marijuana. They also provide counseling on drug addiction and dependency.Duarte said that while marijuana is an illicit drug, it possesses the mechanism to activate receptors in the brain that can alleviate pain. Still, research has not yet produced "exciting numbers" regarding its medicinal value, he said.The American Cancer Society is looking for more concrete data before considering supporting its medicinal uses, said Keith Harris, media relations director for the society's New York metro region. "Better and more effective treatments are needed to overcome the side effects of cancer and its treatment," he said in a statement. But, currently, "the American Cancer Society does not advocate the use of inhaled marijuana or the legalization of marijuana." Source: Newsday (NY)Author: Jason Del ReyPublished: June 15, 2007Copyright: 2007 Newsday Inc.Contact: letters newsday.comWebsite: http://www.newsday.com/Related Articles:State Finds Its Compassionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23080.shtmlMedical Marijuana Bill: Legalize Ithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23078.shtmlAssembly Set To OK Medical-Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23074.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by potpal on June 18, 2007 at 11:40:53 PT
right on
Squash that lie. Truth will triumph.Never give up, Hope. 
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on June 17, 2007 at 12:45:49 PT
Here ya go! Prohib on foot there.
http://www.moriesianhorseregistry.com/images/moriah.jpg
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on June 17, 2007 at 12:36:30 PT
My imagination....
Somehow...I could see me...flying...on maybe a big black Friesian horse, (giant horse...giant effect) eyes glowing, nostrils flared...thundering through the streets of Albany, right through the Captital's entrance and rearing in circles... in victory!That might get their attention and keep them from tucking it away for another eon.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on June 17, 2007 at 12:28:15 PT
Lol! Potpal.
I thought the same thing....funny.And right across the finish line....I hope!
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Comment #6 posted by potpal on June 17, 2007 at 05:47:56 PT
Hope lives in NY?
Hope? How'd you get them to include you in the headline?
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Comment #5 posted by Max Flowers on June 15, 2007 at 14:02:19 PT
Welcome, NY!
It will be great to have you with us. I believe that with the trauma NY endured six short years ago at the hands of evil, corrupt forces within our own perimeter, there are plenty of people there who could still use cannatherapy today. 
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Comment #4 posted by Storm Crow on June 15, 2007 at 12:15:05 PT
Potpal...
However, I find it encouraging that another article about Rimonabant, a diet pill that is basically an anti-cannabinoid drug, is indirectly pointing out how important cannabinoids are to our well being! Perhaps some of the folks reading it will wonder about it. Fom has it posted now, so I won't post a link. Oh, and that poll from the NY newspaper is now up to 96% in favor of medical marijuana! Send a copy of the results to your favorite politicians! http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/06/13/2007-06-13_spitzer_eyes_joint_decision.html?ref=rss
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Comment #3 posted by potpal on June 15, 2007 at 12:10:43 PT
From your...
keyboard to God's email box.A lil' pre-weekend levity...
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/incarcerex.cfm 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 15, 2007 at 07:53:11 PT
potpal
The north east is really getting it. I hope that politicians are aware of what they say and do about medical marijuana is being watched by many people. Has the north east finally grown up? I hope so. 
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Comment #1 posted by potpal on June 15, 2007 at 07:40:01 PT
coincidence
Is it a coincidence that the ABC McMansion scare story hits the airwaves at about the time the empire state debates medical cannabis?New York can't let the left coast get all the credit. Do the right thing. Go a step further, why don't 'cha. Lead.
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