cannabisnews.com: Marijuana, Medicine and D.C. Marijuana, Medicine and D.C. Posted by FoM on October 02, 1999 at 08:37:28 PT By Peter McWilliams Source: Washington Post National Drug Policy Director Barry McCaffrey says he opposes the D.C. medical marijuana initiative because it " 'flies in the face' of findings by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine." His statement is untrue. The executive summary of the report speaks for itself:"The combination of cannabinoid drug effects (anxiety reduction, appetite stimulation, nausea reduction, and pain relief) suggests that cannabinoids would be moderately well suited for particular conditions, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and AIDS wasting. The psychological effects of cannabinoids, such as anxiety reduction, sedation, and euphoria can influence their potential therapeutic value."Until a nonsmoked rapid-onset cannabinoid drug delivery system becomes available, we acknowledge that there is no clear alternative for people suffering from chronic conditions that might be relieved by smoking marijuana, such as pain or AIDS wasting. One possible approach is to treat patients as [single-patient trials involving] an oversight strategy comparable to an institutional review board process that could provide guidance within 24 hours of a submission by a physician to provide marijuana to a patient for a specified use."The Office of National Drug Control Policy's latest wave in its $1 billion advertising campaign has the theme "Honesty: The Anti-Drug." Perhaps Director McCaffrey should follow the advice of his own copywriters.PETER McWILLIAMSLos Angeles Saturday, October 2, 1999; Page A20 © Copyright 1999 The Washington Post CompanyMcWilliams.com http://www.mcwilliams.com/The Institute Of Medicine Reporthttp://www.marihemp.com/marimed.htmlAIDS Patient Pins Hopes on Pot Ruling - 9/20/99 http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2951.shtmlWho's Minding the Rights of California's Sick - 9/16/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2908.shtmlPresident Vetoes D.C. Budget Bill - 9/28/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3057.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on October 03, 1999 at 14:31:20 PT The Big Lie, American-style... Well, McCaffrey's done it again. I'm sure any student of history would recognize the pattern: think back to Nazi Germany. A little corporal with big ambitions said it best; "If you repeat an obvious lie and say it is the truth long enough and loud enough, people will begin to believe it is the truth."Well, McCaffrey certainly has the resources to blast out the same kind of Hitlerian verbal manure at full volume. But he doesn't have the guts to come out from behind his office door and engage in a debate with reformers. As Jack Herer pointed out so long ago, the world would see that this particular 'emperor' truly doesn't have any 'clothes'... or integrity to admit the paucity of ethics in this wretched War on (Some) Drugs. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by BigAb on October 03, 1999 at 06:58:53 PT: McCaffery This man would truely be speachless if it were'nt for his lying with every word out of his mouth.....What a sad state of affairs we've come to in this once great country when instead of addressing REAL, IMPORTANT, LIFE or DEATH situations we have to hear a liar blow B.S. about how the entire world of pot smokers is out to "hook" Little Johnnie ...... when little johnnie has probable got a better stash than I do hahahaha [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: