cannabisnews.com: Group Seeks Aid to Legalize Medical Pot Group Seeks Aid to Legalize Medical Pot Posted by FoM on February 06, 2000 at 11:31:39 PT By Rebecca Pilcher Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette A local drug reform group held an open forum Saturday to discuss getting a medicinal marijuana initiative on the Nov. 7 ballot. The group, the Alliance for Drug Reform Policy in Arkansas, shared stories of people prosecuted for using and growing marijuana for medicinal purposes. Attendees also discussed policy for soliciting signatures on petitions. The group hopes to have at least 60,000 signatures on petitions before sending them to the Secretary of State's office, said alliance president Denele Campbell. The petitions need almost 58,000 signatures for the initiative to appear on the ballot. Stories shared Saturday included those of a man with testicular and stomach cancer who became addicted to the prescription painkiller Demerol. He found relief in using marijuana and began growing his own. Police found the marijuana while investigating a burglary. Another account described an alcoholic who used marijuana to relieve his alcohol cravings. He was arrested in 1995 and sentenced to six years in jail, according to handouts the alliance provided attendees. Neither case occurred in Arkansas. Fayetteville alderman Kyle Russell told the group of about 12 people about a California man prosecuted for possessing and growing cannabis, the marijuana plant. The man claimed he needed seven pounds of marijuana a year to help relieve symptoms of his cancer, Russell said. He was registered to have the marijuana but was prosecuted anyway, Russell said. Medicinal use of marijuana is allowed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, D.C. The alliance is modeling its initiative after the one approved by Oregon voters, Campbell said. The initiative calls for a doctor's prescription and for cards to be provided by the state Department of Health to patients permitted to use marijuana. A doctor would have to verify that a patient had a debilitating illness for which he needed marijuana. The Health Department on Thursday issued a statement saying it does not condone the medicinal use of marijuana because of the drug's side effects. Dana Copp, a retired medical doctor, attended Saturday's meeting. He said medicinal marijuana was an issue that needed to be dealt with. He said the federal government could revoke the drug licenses of doctors who prescribe marijuana even if the state legalizes its medicinal use. "We would still have this federal hammer over the head of patients and physicians," Campbell said. According to an Aug. 4, 1997, report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the legalized use of marijuana for any purpose, including medicinal, could confuse children. "The initiatives under way in a number of states have sent a confusing message to our children concerning marijuana that could not come at a worse time. In recent years we have seen drug use by our young people increase at an alarming rate," the statement says. "Among eighth-graders, the use of illicit drugs -- primarily marijuana -- has tripled. This increase in marijuana use has been fueled by a measurable decrease in the proportion of young people who perceive marijuana to be a dangerous substance. With drug use by young people increasing, we must not send a mixed message to our youth about the dangers of marijuana. Our nation's goal must be to reduce, not promote, the use of illicit drugs." Campbell encouraged the group's members to contact U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., to express their opinions on the issue. The alliance can be reached at: arkdruglawreform mindspring.com More information on the government's stance can be obtained at: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/policy/medmj.html FayettevillePublished on Sunday, February 6, 2000Copyright © 2000, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Related Article:Pryor OKs Ballot Title For Proposal On Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3112.shtmlCannabis News Search Of Medical Marijuana Articles Over 1500http://www.alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/asearch?type=all&query=cannabisnews+medical+marijuana Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by RyanL on August 12, 2002 at 11:17:55 PT: Legalize it My Grandpa had some sort of a stomach cancer which made him cough up blood. My Grandma told me that my Grandpa will be recieving illegal marijuana, which actually helped relieve a lot of my Grandpa's pain. Why make something illegal if it can do more good than bad for a person? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: