cannabisnews.com: Mass. Should Legalize Medical Marijuana
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Mass. Should Legalize Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on February 24, 2012 at 15:34:29 PT
By James DeBlois
Source: Herald News
Massachusetts -- As a cancer survivor, I have personally witnessed the pain and suffering associated with chronic and terminal illness. As a Massachusetts resident and taxpayer, I believe it is long overdue that we pass medical marijuana laws as other states have. Marijuana increases the quality of life for those suffering from chronic and terminal illness and the tax increases will benefit everyone in Massachusetts. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine found that marijuana benefited individuals who suffered from physically devastating medical conditions.
As a result, marijuana laws now make it legal to use the drug to treat the suffering associated with certain illnesses. These laws ensure that patients suffering with medical illness are protected against arrest and prosecution along with their physicians and care givers. What we have now are pharmaceutical companies that pander to agencies that profit by providing overpriced medications that have more side effects than treatment possibilities.  We need only to look at other states that are already reaping the benefits of legalization. According to the Gazette in Colorado Springs, taxes brought in tens of thousands of dollars per month: In April 2010 alone, sales were in the amount of $1.6 million. This doesn’t take into account the ripple effect it could have here as it did in Colorado where an increase in construction of facilities created more jobs for electricians, laborers and other construction-related occupations. TIME, a partnership of CNN Money, stated that in March 2011 alone, San Jose, Calif. brought in $290,000 in tax revenue, further demonstrating the benefits marijuana brings to local communities. CNN Money estimated that Massachusetts could bring in as much as $18.4 million annually. This is a prime opportunity to advocate for the legalization of marijuana for medical use and follow in the footsteps of the 16 other states. Contact The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition at: http://www.masscann.org/ They can help get you involved in supporting the issue. Contact your Massachusetts senator and representative to ask that they support Bill No. H3885: The Petition for an Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana Bill.  James DeBlois, of Rehoboth, is a Masters of Social Work candidate at Bridgewater State University.Source: Herald News, The (Fall River, MA)Author: James DeBlois, Guest OpinionPublished: February 24, 2012Copyright: 2012 The Herald NewsContact: editor heraldnews.comWebsite: http://www.heraldnews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/viORsqKJCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #10 posted by museman on February 26, 2012 at 09:18:07 PT
us and them
We are all victims of broken culture. Them and us. Too few can get out of their own personal perceived need for whatever and recognize the pain and suffering of another- except at a comfortable distance. Crying at movies and such may show sensitivity, but it doesn't show compassion, mercy, generosity, forgiveness, or most paramount; Love.Too many of us broken people latch on to the ways of the world as taught in ignorance and error by the preceding generations. And by the time we've had our spirits broken so we could join the rest of the broken society, we've been programmed, punished, beaten, and our natural sense of right and wrong displaced by this corrupted system of 'checks and balances' that is hailed by the rulers (them) as the 'correct way to be.' -including the kind of cold, ruthless, inhumane treatment by so-called 'caregivers' whose "care" is all about their paycheck and little else.Just on this site, the record, the sharing of the suffering and pain we have had to endure is a cry for attention and help that is just not in true existence in our society, except as rare examples. As it is, there is little any of us can do except sympathize and say a few comforting words. The ones who have the responsibility to help or assist -because it is supposedly their 'job' or 'profession' are irresponsible because of their self interests, which they place in higher priority than those they supposedly serve. Thus the claims they make about 'service' 'justice' 'fairness' 'equality' etc, etc, are simply all just hypocrisy and lies, period.Many more fortunate people who have had medical 'care' all their lives - full dental coverage, including braces, and such, do not understand pain because they usually don't get the experience -of real, or constant, unrelenting pain- like what George, I, Hope, and many others endure daily.I have had these people look down their noses at my pain and say things like; "Well, he obviously deserved it." or "What a crybaby, wah." and many other stupid unfeeling thoughts and mockeries. Because they haven't had the experience.Many believe that the cops are our 'protectors' until they find the need to wonder who will protect them from the cops.Those who get relief from their suffering seem to forget quite quickly that others suffer as well.Our society is broken. It cannot be repaired with corrupted and broken tools and systems that only further contaminate the corruptions -like baling out the banks instead of GIVING THE RESOURCE DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE FROM WHO IT WAS ROBBED IN THE FIRST PLACE!For those who look upon the face of Love and set their goal and intention towards it, there is reward and compensation for the suffering put on us by the irresponsible members of our society -who have the resource, the tools, and supposedly the knowledge to make things better, but who choose to make the temporary self-gratification instead of the long term process of positive change. Unfortunately, that 'reward' cannot be measured in social, economic, or materialistic terms (mammon) but only in wealth of Spirit, understanding, Grace, and the fulfillment that comes with.As long as we measure our worth and accomplishment by the erroneous standards of this corruption, how could anyone ever be satisfied with the results?Pain, however, is a great teacher. Better than any we ever knew in the various 'academic' institutions that rob us of our humanity for the sake of making good obedient drones to fill the ranks of the slaves. Pain is good for 21st century man, because we have forgotten who and what we are. Pain reminds us.Those if us who had to sit and wait in silent suffering in the emergency room, while 'THEY" drive by in their u-know-whats will learn what THEY refuse to acknowledge, and in the end our pain will give us the tools to rise above the trite and paltry values of things, into the deep, eternal understanding of BEING. That understanding is the foundation of a new world.LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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Comment #9 posted by George Servantes on February 26, 2012 at 06:24:03 PT:
Paul Pot
I know all this from my own experience. I suffer from chronic pain that makes me feel I live in hell. Doctors wont prescribe morphine even thought I have a well documented severe war injuries and 100% disability, doctors still treat me as an drug addicts. It's ridicules. When I asked them for Cannabis as a alternative, they finally gave me recommendation for Cannabis and it's not from pot doctor recommendation. But still I live in a corrupted state of Maine where they have not opened any dispensary in Southern Maine where's the most populated part of the State and it's been over 2 years since it's legal. They just opened a few dispensaries in some remote rural areas where few people live. I hate when it's legal but they ignore it and time is just passing by in my own agony from pain.
Can you just imagine this corruption that I don't have access to Cannabis while it's all completely legal and I have a legal recommendation. These prohibitionist legislators are finally gone crazy they don't even follow their own laws no more. So if you want to be legal, they'll make it legal but you'll have no access to it. Same is thing with morphine, it's inhumane to let people be in pain just so they continue their one of so many wars.
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Comment #8 posted by The GCW on February 25, 2012 at 20:13:13 PT
Mo good
Seattle Mayor Says Time to Legalize Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2012/02/23/Seattle-Mayor-Says-Time-Legalize-MarijuanaBy Phillip Smith, StoptheDrugWar.org - Thursday, February 23 2012 
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on February 25, 2012 at 19:54:38 PT
Another reason to legalize the SUPERPLANT
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2012/02/25/Suicide-Rates-Fall-When-States-Legalize-Medical-Marijuana-Says-New-Study-Suicide Rates Fall When States Legalize Medical Marijuana, Says New Study-(WOW)By Scot Kersgaard, Colorado Independant - Saturday, February 25 2012
 
Tags: Headline News,legalization,MEDICAL MARIJUANA,state law,suicide,USA.Passage of a medical marijuana law is associated with reduction of suicides by 11% in young adult malesA University of Colorado economics professor has co-authored a study, just released by the Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn, Germany that concludes that suicide rates among young males declines markedly after states legalize medical marijuana. Professors at Montana State University and San Diego State University were also involved in the study. The study is titled “High on Life: Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide.”CU Denver professor Daniel Rees and his coauthors don’t say conclusively why suicide rates fall. They offer evidence that marijuana acts as an antidepressant when used moderately, but also note that using marijuana in larger amounts can actually lead to depression.They also note that the sale of alcohol to young males declines in states that legalize medical marijuana and note that alcohol is a known depressant the use of which can lead to suicidal thoughts. Rees did not return a phone call seeking comment.from the study:Using state-level data for the period 1990 through 2007, we estimate the effect of legalizing medical marijuana on suicide rates. Our results suggest that the passage of a medical marijuana law is associated with an almost 5 percent reduction in the total suicide rate, an 11 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 20- through 29-year-old males, and a 9 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 30- through 39-year-old males.We conclude that the legalization of medical marijuana leads to an improvement in the psychological wellbeing of young adult males, an improvement that is reflected in fewer suicides.Cont.
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Comment #6 posted by ekim on February 25, 2012 at 18:08:53 PT
Stossel on now Dir tv ch 359
great show
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Comment #5 posted by ekim on February 25, 2012 at 10:11:53 PT
John Stossel show was great- will ck for reruns
http://www.drugwarrant.com/2012/02/dig-deep-into-a-prohibitionist-and-you-may-find/comment-page-1/#comment-107791
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on February 25, 2012 at 09:01:50 PT
You're so right, Paul Pot.
My prayer and fervent wish is that the entire world would heed your wise words.
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Comment #3 posted by Paul Pot on February 24, 2012 at 22:05:46 PT:
freedom from pain
''Freedom from Pain'' Aljazeera. Have tissues handy if you watch this.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/07/2011720113555645271.htmlThis is the suffering caused by the drug war.
People the world over cannot get any medication to ease the agony of their last days just so a bunch of uniformed thugs can persecute anyone they chose to discriminate against in the pretence that they have helped someone. This is torture and murder of the weakest members of our community as the result of widespread persecution and that is a crime against humanity. Denial of cultural bonds with plants and crops, denial of economic reliance on plants and crops, picking out ethnic minorities for persecution, like singling out blacks and Latinos for pot or Chinese or Muslims for cannabis or opium, all constitute acts of genocide.Cannabis and opium can grow like weeds and should be growing like weeds everywhere so that everyone has cheap and free access to the worlds safest and most important drugs when they need them.$300 000 000 000 is what goes into the black drug market each year. That's what we just hand over to the worst people on earth to do what ever they like with. That money buys guns, cops, court officials, politicians or their lives and corrupts the worlds financial institutions. Your money is no longer safe in your home or your bank, you lose it either way. And you pay higher taxes and insurance premiums, all to service the drug war.The drug war is a disaster beyond compare. Please do what ever you can to get reform in your state. There is already a ballot initiative in Washington, 2012 will be an awesome year for drug law reform.Support a ballot initiate, write to your rep and newspaper, just talk about it.Legalize! Apologize! Compensate!
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Comment #2 posted by ekim on February 24, 2012 at 18:26:03 PT
Bill did not say any thing about cellulose 
i am saying we should get info about Hemp not Bill.
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on February 24, 2012 at 18:22:26 PT
2 say nothing about the huge impact Hemp will have
I wonder if Hemp has been submitted as a fuel feedstock at NREL National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden Co.They have said that they have used Switchgrass as a feedstock for cellulose ethanol.Wilth Bill O'Riley sayen tonight we ship a lot of oil out of this Country cause they can get 106
a barrel.The question is is how much can you make cellulose ethanol for a gallon.
The jobs would be here and the money would stay here.Please read this comment at Petes site about the use of Hemp./http://www.drugwarrant.com/2012/02/law-abiding-citizens-have-no-reason-to-be-interested-in-knowing-whats-in-the-constitution/comment-page-1/#comment-107922then ck this bit of news -- we need schools maken this 
cellulose fuel to run the buses on get the students thinking and experimenting.Come on when was the last time we had the chance to use a plant that has been outlawed for 70 years that Helped Make this great Country,http://brownfieldagnews.com/2011/07/01/dupont-danisco-cellulosic-ethanol-takes-next-step/this cellulose plant is being built in Iowagee wooda like to have asked those Gop candidates who would
be for Hemp for non food cellulose feedstocks.
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