cannabisnews.com: Marijuana: Therapy or Recreation? Marijuana: Therapy or Recreation? Posted by CN Staff on February 12, 2008 at 08:53:45 PT By Tim Carpenter, The Capital-Journal Source: Topeka Capital-Journal Kansas -- Junction City Police Lt. Mike Life viewed consideration Monday of medical-marijuana legislation as a wacky ploy to seek legalization of pot in Kansas."Marijuana is not medicine," Life said in testimony to the Senate Health Care Strategies Committee. "There is a well-financed and organized pro-drug legalization lobby whose strategic ploy is to appeal to your compassion for sick people." Former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan, on the other hand, said he couldn't imagine how federal government officials slept at night knowing pot could alleviate pain of people battling severe disease."I find it almost unbelievable that our federal government continues to let its citizens suffer," said Stephan, who added that he opposed general legalization of marijuana.That is a sample of conflicting opinion offered to members of the Senate committee on a bill creating a "medical necessity" defense for a person arrested for possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia. Under the bill, a physician licensed to practice in Kansas could issue written certification that a patient was receiving therapeutic benefit from smoking marijuana.Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, and chairwoman of the committee, said support in the Legislature for the bill was modest at best. Existing medications are sufficient to avoid problems that might be created by authorizing use of marijuana, she said."I really don't see this as necessary," she said.The Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition is campaigning for the bill to provide legal protection for patients who use medical marijuana and for physicians who recommend the substance as part of a treatment program. The coalition has 800 members, including patients, doctors, nurses, caregivers and families."They are not aging baby boomers over in Lawrence," said coalition director Laura Green. "They're not a bunch of stoners from Haysville. These are citizens who believe seriously and terminally ill people should be allowed to use marijuana if their physician believes it will help."She said the proposed bill was similar to a measure passed 89-32 by the House in 1995, but not considered by the Senate.Dr. Eric Voth, a Topeka physician who has opposed medical use of marijuana for 30 years, said no serious medical group supported the coalition's new bill. His list of opponents included the Kansas Medical Society, Kansas State Nurses Association, Kansas State Board of Healing Arts and Kansas State Board of Pharmacy.He said the bill would weaken the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's capacity to safeguard consumers from flawed medical practices."Allowing such legislation to become law is riding a wave of emotion and mob psychology that has been carefully crafted, financed and driven by the marijuana lobby," Voth said. "It is no different than the disinformation campaign that the tobacco lobby fought for years to manipulate the public."Note: Officials argue bill that would make medical marijuana a defense.Newshawk: Fight_4_freedom Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS)Author: Tim Carpenter, The Capital-JournalPublished: Tuesday, February 12, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Topeka Capital-JournalContact: letters cjonline.comWebsite: http://www.cjonline.com/Related Articles & Web Site:KSCCChttp://www.ksccc.org/MMJ Bill Unlikely To Advance in Kansashttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23674.shtmlBill Would Allow Judge To Consider Illness Defensehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23642.shtmlBill Seeks Medical Defense of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23636.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #23 posted by Hope on February 13, 2008 at 14:01:33 PT "pro-drug legalization lobby" I have a hard time not hating them for this, I get so angry.They've been told... but they won't understand. It's NOT "Pro-drug". It's about what they are doing to people in the name of their deadly and dangerous Prohibition. It's about egregious and heinous injustice. On one hand I could care less if it's "legalized". As long as they stop hunting and pursuing and bedeviling and doing all the other merciless crap they do to people over their so called war on a substance. Legalization wouldn't matter if prohibitionists were forbidden, by law even, to persecute people over it... that would be a huge step towards sanity. Legalization is only a word that would be a sign to hold up, a dang MESSAGE to those who would hurt people like they are doing now as prohibitionists, to stop it. Stop it now! Quit authorizing government goons to break into people's homes and kill and imprison people over it. Stop taking their possessions because you're so angry at them. Stop it and I don't care what you call it. Just stop it. Stop killing and hurting people out of your insanity and lack of common sense and respect for the dignity of others. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Yanxor on February 13, 2008 at 13:37:24 PT The pigs, the. "There is a well-financed and organized pro-drug legalization lobby whose strategic ploy is to appeal to your compassion for sick people."There is a well-financed and organized anti-pot legalization lobby whose strategic ploy is to maintain exorbitant funding by having no compassion for people in general. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on February 13, 2008 at 09:38:04 PT So true, GCW. "The cannabis issue exposes the kind of person people are." [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by afterburner on February 13, 2008 at 09:34:44 PT "The emphasis on speed is counterproductive. It's an invitation for error," Five-year-old took wrong medication for two months By KEVIN MCCOY AND ERIK BRADY, USA Today Posted: 2008-02-12 14:27:03 http://coaches.aol.com/kids-and-family/feature/_a/five-year-old-took-wrong-medication-for/20080212115409990001Think of the children. What kind of messages do pharmaceutical errors send to the chidren? [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on February 13, 2008 at 06:13:13 PT gloovins I watched the election returns last night until I could barely keep my eyes open I was so tired. I love having a little hope for a better tomorrow. It is good to be noticed. I can relate to that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by The GCW on February 13, 2008 at 04:46:33 PT This cannabis issue exposes people. The cannabis issue exposes the kind of person people are.Instead of: -"There is a well-financed and organized pro-drug legalization lobby whose strategic ploy is to appeal to your compassion for sick people." It should be: -There is a well-financed and organized pro- hibition lobby whose strategic ploy is to perpetuate bigoted, discriminatory laws to insure police state jobs, control people and continue bringing down the country etc. etc. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by gloovins on February 13, 2008 at 00:18:25 PT It's nice to be noticed... & good to hear 2008 has been good too.It certainly is shaping up to be an interesting election. I think Obama's got a good chance vs. McCain, just my thoughts if it goes that way. Much love to all - :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on February 12, 2008 at 14:21:29 PT AP: MMJ Bill Goes To Senate Committee Tuesday, February 12, 2008TOPEKA (AP) -- A bill that would create a defense for people who use marijuana because of medical problems has little hope of getting out of a Senate committee, the panel's chairwoman said Monday.Supporters and opponents of the measure offered their views to the Senate Health Care Strategies Committee, chaired by Susan Wagle.''This bill isn't on my agenda,'' the Wichita Republican said. ''In the last five years, there have been so many more drugs available to cancer patients.''Supporters included former Attorney General Bob Stephan, who said the bill doesn't legalize marijuana but would provide a defense for those with a chronic or debilitating disease if they have a written statement from a doctor that using marijuana could help them.''This is nothing new. Marijuana has been used by people with severe illnesses for a long time,'' he said.Also supporting the bill was Anthony Buckland, a Shawnee County resident, who said his 16-year-old stepdaughter has cancer and marijuana would help her depression and nausea and be cheaper than the medication she's using.Speaking against the bill was Dr. Eric Voth, of the Institute on Global Drug Policy, which advocates policies to curtail illegal drug use. He said a dozen other states have such proposals on the books.''In other states it's proven to be a get out of jail free card,'' said the Topeka physician. ''There is a science behind the issue and it's not behind smoked pot.''He said the legislation is ''part of a national movement to legalize marijuana.''Chris Schneider, Wyandotte County district attorney, said even if the legislation was enacted, it still would be illegal to purchase marijuana.Copyright: 2008 Associated PressComplete Article: http://www.arkcity.net/stories/021208/com_0003.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 12, 2008 at 13:33:10 PT gloovins It's nice to see you. It has been a good 2008 so far. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by gloovins on February 12, 2008 at 13:21:29 PT This cop... really? : "Marijuana is not medicine," Life said in testimony to the Senate Health Care Strategies Committee. "There is a well-financed and organized pro-drug legalization lobby whose strategic ploy is to appeal to your compassion for sick people." C'mon Life, you know you are not a doctor... A LEO loses so much crediblity when they start to talk about medical issues and other non-law enforcment topics. The FDA? WTF? Just as previously mentioned in post #5, this agency the FDA is one of the most corrupt, useless agencies out there. Paid for by US, too. A damn shame. This is one of the safest, most benign herbs on the planet and all law enforcement can do is beg to keep the status quo. More guns more laws, less freedom, more listen to us, we are right, the "marijuana" legalizers are wrong, the children, car crashes (like drunks aren't a 1000% more a problem - in multiple situations) *yawn*Anyway, the veil of lies that law enforcement have draped over the eyes of the People in the last 75 years is being lifted and the People are seeing for once, the TRUTH! Cannabis IS medicine and The People are informed. Let there be light, let truth ring out and let We the People hear it.Hope all are having a great 2008! God Bless and peace to all.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 13:14:54 PT website http://www.lonestar925.com/pages/main/Now... they're playing Born To Be Wild. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 13:07:59 PT uh oh I must have given you the wrong lone star radio station. Workin on it.I don't believe Alan Jackson is sing that song. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 13:06:25 PT "The Sky is Burning" "I believe my soul's on fire." [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 13:04:52 PT Just heard some Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Hmmm. Something missing, guys. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 13:03:56 PT Strengthening Beats and Rythyms and words... http://www.lonestar92.com/Usually. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 13:03:01 PT Some of you might can listen http://www.lonestar92.com/This station is usually uplifting, somehow, (good and great beats) and encouraging... or something.I'm listening to it now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 12:41:13 PT The Allman Brothers Band The Seventies.Just heard, apparently, a new version of the old Allman Brothers Band. They sing, "People can you feel it? There's Promise everywhere?"Was that in the original?Or did they just sing, "Love is in the air"? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on February 12, 2008 at 11:47:31 PT GIMME SHELTER Composed during the The Sixties, mentioned earlier in this thread.Paraphrase from ZZ Topp. We got some bad storms out there folks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on February 12, 2008 at 11:38:30 PT He ‘said’… He ‘said’…There they go again, saying things.Dr. Eric Voth says…“He said the bill would weaken the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's capacity to safeguard consumers from flawed medical practices.”The FDA is doing a fine job of that all on their own.I’m thinkin Vioxx, and other proceedures that are ‘ok’ today, and end up being harmful and sometimes deadly are ‘not ok’ tomorrow…Lot's of people talkin, yet few of them know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by runruff on February 12, 2008 at 11:03:40 PT: I ment to post this here. Gazooks! Gad, how it irks me the way LEOs spout their opinions about what is medicine and what is not medicine. What Hubris! What egos! Who do they think they are? I woke up this morning with a swollen foot so I called a cop.Last night someone was trying to break into my house so I quickly called my doctor!Marajuana is not medicine. They show their ignorance. They speak against some of the finest scientific studies ever conducted.They speak against thousands of years of constant usage.They speak from that proverbial anatomically southern dark place. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on February 12, 2008 at 10:43:57 PT England I don't know anything anything about these guys and why they haven't received more PR, great job guys!http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n160/a03.html?251700 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by user123 on February 12, 2008 at 10:35:40 PT: Protect the Mortgage Like the title of the book - What's the Matter with Kansas? "Allowing such legislation to become law is riding a wave of emotion and mob psychology that has been carefully crafted, financed and driven by the marijuana lobby," Voth said. "It is no different than the disinformation campaign that the tobacco lobby fought for years to manipulate the public."...........and yet, we still aren't arresting people for smoking cigarettes. (nor should we) [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on February 12, 2008 at 09:18:31 PT Kansas great! If I ever have to go to Kansas I'll be sure to go to Haysville! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment