cannabisnews.com: Panel Kills Drug Bill Panel Kills Drug Bill Posted by FoM on March 11, 2000 at 10:42:57 PT By Michael Dresser, Sun Staff Source: Sun Spot A bill that would have permitted patients with cancer and other diseases to use marijuana to relieve their symptoms and side effects of treatment was defeated last night after an emotional debate in a House of Delegates committee.Turning aside its sponsor's plea for more time to craft a broadly acceptable bill, the House Judiciary Committee voted 11-7, with one abstention, to keep the bill from going to the full House. The legislation, sponsored by Baltimore County Del. Donald E. Murphy, had been the subject of a four-hour hearing last month that brought out cancer and AIDS patients and other witnesses who told committee members that marijuana was the only drug that relieved their suffering.Witnesses who supported the bill included two delegates -- both conservative Republicans like Murphy -- who had cancer. "Each one of us and each one of our constituents potentially could be the victims of cancer or some other debilitating disease for which this drug works like no other," Murphy told fellow committee members.Scientific evidence that marijuana can help certain patients is growing, and earlier this week both houses of the Hawaii Legislature passed separate bills allowing medicinal use of marijuana.The Institute of Medicine, an affiliate of the National Academy of Sciences, reported last year that the drug's active ingredients can ease anxiety, stimulate the appetite, ease pain and reduce nausea and vomiting, thereby helping AIDS and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.But Del. Ann Marie Doory, a Baltimore Democrat, said that while she wanted to be compassionate, "I can't get past the fact it's against federal law."Other opponents cited the lack of mechanisms in the bill for ensuring that marijuana cultivated for medical use would not be diverted to other purposes.Proponents noted the case of Darrell Putnam, a former Green Beret officer and Howard County farmer who turned to marijuana to relieve the nausea caused by chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma."This gentleman was not interested in getting stoned. He did what he did to save his life," Murphy said. Putnam, whose case prompted Murphy to introduce the bill, died recently -- but not before persuading the Howard CountyFarm Bureau to back the bill.If the bill had been successful, Maryland would have joined a half-dozen states -- including Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington -- that have legalized pot for medicinal use. In most of those states, the legalization measures were approved by voters in initiatives rather than by state legislators.In each state, proponents had to overcome the vigorous opposition of law enforcement authorities and the federal government.One supporter of the Maryland bill, Del. Lisa A. Gladden, told committee members that "we need to send a message" to the federal government."If these folks are suffering -- and they are suffering -- they're not concerned if they're going to get addicted," the Baltimore Democrat said. "If they die high, so be it."Fear of Illegal Use:The bill struck close to home for several members of the committee. Del. John A. Giannetti Jr., a Democrat who represents Howard and Prince George's County, said members of his family had used marijuana for medicinal purposes. But he voted against the bill, saying he could not see any way that legalization for medicinal purposes would not lead to illegal use.In the end, Murphy was unable to persuade any of his fellow Republicans to join him. He won the support of six Democrats: Baltimore's Gladden and Del. Kenneth C. Montague Jr.; Montgomery County Dels. Sharon M. Grosfeld and Dana Lee Dembrow; Baltimore County's Robert A. Zirkin; and Prince George's County's Pauline H. Menes.Expecting defeat before the vote, Murphy noted that members were casting ballots immediately after taking a break for pizza."There are a lot of people who can't eat because of their chemotherapy," he said.Originally Published on March 11, 2000 SunSpot is Copyright © 2000 Related Articles:Panel Blocks Medical Use of Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5038.shtmlGOP Lawmaker Wants Medical Use of Marijuana http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3799.shtml Md. Legislator Wants Medical Marijuana Legalized http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3644.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #29 posted by Allen Anything on June 30, 2001 at 11:05:44 PT: Rules and rhetoric... I suppose it would be moot to ask why everybody evades opportunity to discuss pros and cons of law reform. I've heard quite a bit about about the cons. But I suspect certian people are discouraging the fact that certian other benefits are real, yet unrealized. Why should anyone cry about the ozone? We waste paper and trees, why cry about? Hemp crops could easily save many trees and ADD to the oxygen supply and thus spare ozone. Yet, where is the cry for this plight? We could wear clothing made from the material the original flag was sewn from. We could write on paper that the constitution was drafted upon. We could, but we don't because people don't want clean air and better materials from a renewable resource with no by product or waste. People want garbage to breath, wear, and hand out. People who want a cleaner, more efficient lifestyle will support law reform, AND petition to end mindless prohibition. If you want a better place to live, than money will not be the focus, sensibility will be. Wake up people.....you are being lied to. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Barney on April 11, 2001 at 17:29:56 PT: communism It's pretty bad when sick people (AIDS and cancer patients) can't get their medicine due to people in higher offices. I'm sure government officials would have no problem if they were faced with this dilemma. Try to remember these people come election day - they will not get my vote. I'm sure most of this is Democrat, the same way they attack your Second Amendment (the right to bear arms). Let all this be a lesson and vote freedom first. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Doc-Hawk on March 14, 2000 at 03:43:37 PT: Nalepka's email address is wrong. If you change the .org to .com and send it to AmerCares aol.com you will get one of their members. He did not particularly like it when I accused them of using "the shield of 'for the children' and then arresting and locking them up in record numbers." He even asked if I was under the influence of mind-altering substances to question their intent. Interesting, but sad. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by BIG DADDY on March 14, 2000 at 00:19:40 PT: To JOYCE NALEPKA contiued...... WITH SYNTHETIC HERBICIDES,PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS.THE IRONY IS THAT NOW MANY OF THE CANCER VICTIMS CREATED BY THIS DOOM IN SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS ARE TURNING TO MARIJUANNA FOR MEDICAL RELIEF FROM THE SIDE EFFECTS (LIVER&KIDNEYDAMAGE)FROM SYNTHETIC MEDICINE.READ ON THE BACK OF A COUGH MEDICINE BOTTLE ORHEADACHE RELIEVER AND SEE WHAT I MEAN...THE TRUTH IS THERE..WAKE UP AMERICA, OUR GOVERMENT HAS DECLARED WAR ON YOU, THE CASUAL MARIJUANNA USER,THRU PROPAGANDA,FEAR AND IMPRISONMENT. MARIJUANNA THE BIG LIE.. GOD BLESS YOU ALL...... [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by BIG DADDY on March 14, 2000 at 00:08:45 PT: To JOYCE NALEPKA contiued...... ONCE IT'S LEGAL TO GROW CANNABIS,IT CAN BE CULTIVATED BY VIRTUALLY ANYONE!THIS WILL MAKE IT CHEAPER THAN ALCOHOL ORTABACCO.AND ONE LAST POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE. ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT THE SYNETHIC CHEMICAL INDUSTRY RAILROADED CANNABIS PROHIBITION THROUGH CONGRESS IN 1937? THE SECRET MARIJUANNA TAX ACT ENABLED THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY TO CORNER THE MARKET ON FIBER,PAINT ANDPAPER PROCESSING. TODAY ARE SHOPPING MALLS,SUPER MARKETS,CARS AREFILLED WITH CANCERCAUSING SYNTHETIC PRODUCTS,IN PLACE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS LIKE HEMP.THAT WASN'T ENOUGH,HOWEVER.TO FURTHER INCREASE PROFITS,THEY FORCED FARMERS TO GROW NATURAL FIBER AND FOOD [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by BIG DADDY on March 13, 2000 at 23:49:25 PT: To JOYCE NALEPKA contiued...... THIS IS JUST ONE OF MY POINTS.FOR SOME TIME NOW,(OH LETS SAY63 YEARS NOW) HIGH AND LOW RANKING OFFICALS (POLICE&POLITICANS HIDING BEHIND THE SHROUD OF THE U.S.GOVERMENT) HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING MONETARY & ADVANCEMENT FROM THE MOST POWERFUL CORPORRATIONS IN THE WORLD AND SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERYDAY TO KEEP CANNIBIS ILLEGAL. WHY?THEY DON'T WANT LEGAL CANNABIS TO COMPETE WITH SYNTHETICFUEL,FIBER,AND MEDICINE.ALCOHOL AND TABACCO DON'T WANT LEGAL CANNABIS TO COMPETE WITH CIGARETTES AND BEER.(WHICHACCOUNT FOR OVER ONE HALF MILLION DEATHS A YEAR. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by big daddy on March 13, 2000 at 23:33:45 PT To JOYCE NALEPKA PLEASE JOYCE SPARE ME. THE VERY PAPER YOUR READING OFF ISFILLED WITH CANCER/THE INK ON THE PAPER YOUR HANDS ARE TOUCHING IS FILLED WITH CANCER.WHY? CHEMICALS,SOLVENTS TO PROCESS PAPER AND INK, THAT'S WHY. WAIT TILL YOU HAVE CANCER, IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT STORY YOU WEAVE. ASK RANDOLH HEARST/OR DOW CHEMICAL WHY MARIJANA IS REALLY ILLEGAL.BETTER STILL ASK ALL THE PETRO CHEMICICAL AND PHARMICUTICALINDUSTRIES WHY? LET ME ASK YOU THIS.WHY ARE THE TWO MOSTDANGEROUS DRUGS IN AMERICA LEGAL ( TABACCO/ALCOHOL ), WHILETHE SAFEST DRUG REMAINS ILLEGAL? [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Puritan on March 13, 2000 at 13:10:28 PT America Cares (What a laugher!!!) Only thing positive about this site is that it shows we are making a very real impact - otherwise, there we would never see such outlandish nonsense. To all of you who have the insight and courage to challenge the prohibitionists..keep up the good work. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Kickaha on March 13, 2000 at 11:48:54 PT You're Welcome And thank you for this site, FoM. I really had no idea, living in my protected, white, middle-class bubble(Despite living in the inner city with mostly black and hispanic neighbors), the extent of government oppression and outright savagery directed at peaceful US citizens. This site and a couple of others have politicized me on this issue- Not comfortable, but essential. The thoughtful and intelligent people who post here are in the vanguard of the movement to stop this slow-motion holocaust, and I appreciate every one and their efforts; especially yours! [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on March 13, 2000 at 08:23:27 PT Thank You Kickaha! Thank You Kickaha,You said it so well and I agree with you! You spoke The Truth!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Kickaha on March 12, 2000 at 22:08:10 PT The Truth My friend has been HIV positive since 1982 (18 years!), and is still doing fine. Viral load undetectable, at last count. His Doctors and Nurses are astonished. We both believe this is partly because of his Marijuana use, daily since before he was diagnosed. everyone else we knew with HIV, and all the patients he started with at his clinic, are dead. His physicians are fully aware of and support his use. He is extremely intelligent, and manages his own care, but if not for MJ he wouldn't eat, couldn't keep his pills down, and would feel miserable all the time. Instead, we sit around eating pizza and watching movies, which makes him feel pretty darn normal. They'll have to burn me at the stake before I stop helping him acquire a supply when he needs it.I'm sure I'm not the only person in this situation, and for that and many other reasons (Truth, Justice, and The American Way!) we will prevail. We may get the crap kicked out of us in the meantime, but nothing worthwhile ever came easy. We must and will persevere, because any other action would simply be wrong and cast us in the same morally reprehensible light of the long, sorry list of compromisers and quislings responsible for so much anguish throughout history, who chose expediency over truth, safety over compassion, and convenience over justice. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by kaptinemo on March 12, 2000 at 06:39:45 PT: Bring on the wackos! No, I'm not being frivolous. I haven't really been here that long, so I've no idea if the antis have made any appearences before. But one thing I've noticed in my short stay here is that I haven't seen a single anti mouthpiece show up to barf their propaganda on the electronic carpet... until now.We all know why... they're intellectual cowards. Unable to stand and defend their positions because, in reality, their positions are based upon ancient racism and (despite their claims) a lack of scientific proof to back up their arguments. So they resort to the tactics which we have just seen here. What my Marine father used to call s**t-and-run. As briefly irritating as it may be, we should welcome such spectacles; we could all use a good laugh, now and then. The antis are so wonderfully entertaining: hopping about, mumbling their propaganda because they cannot speak properly... having a foot in one's mouth tends to prevent that. Let's see if we can get them to stuff the other foot in as well. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Doc-Hawk on March 12, 2000 at 06:17:21 PT: Joyce Nalepka Hi FoM,I'm sure she does not consider herself a wacko...she is a crusader in the war on drugs. (That does not mean she is not wacko.) She has made her arguments for years and has succeeded in getting the ear of some Prohibitionists because of her position.For a nice thumbnail of her "accomplishments" go to http://www.parentingfoundation.org/Nalepka.ram but take your nausea medication first.I have sent her a short note, but of course anyone as brainwashed as her will not be changed.Thanks for all you do here.Doc [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 11, 2000 at 23:36:19 PT Freedom Hi Freedom,That is a feature to keep the posts within a certain range and security. Can't change that. Sorry.I don't want wackos to come here. We have a fine group of people. I really like it that way!I like nice people! Life is just too hard to spend productive energy unproductively for me these days!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 11, 2000 at 23:27:07 PT Darrell Putman, 49, Advocate for Med. Marijuana Here's another link.Darrell E. Putman, a former Army Green Beret and conservative Republican who turned to marijuana for medicinal purposes to treat his cancer, died Wednesday of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at University of Maryland Medical Center. He was 49.Click the link to read the complete article.Darrell Putman, 49, Advocate for Med. Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4143.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Freedom on March 11, 2000 at 22:44:00 PT This is the story of the man behind this MD Bill. US MD: Editorial: Medical Heritage URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n008/a01.html Newshawk: Rob Ryan Pubdate: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 Source: Frederick News Post (MD) Copyright: 1999 Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company Address: 200 East Patrick Street, PO Box 578, Frederick, MD 21705-0578 Fax: 301-662-8299 Feedback: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/contact/contactfinalnew.cfm?contactletters Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/ MEDICAL HERITAGE The side of Frederick native Darrell Putman we knew best was his involvement with the horse drawn carriages in downtown Frederick. There were his battles with City Hall over fees and licensing requirements, and his competitive battle with another horse drawn carriage company owner. It was this competitor, Shaylene Murphy, who originally started the carriage rides in downtown Frederick in 1984. A couple years later Mr. Putman's Sundance Carriage Company joined the local scene. They vied for customers and Mr. Putman even tried legal means to force Miss Murphy away from a productive spot, claiming she was undercutting his prices. They finally joined forces when both carriage companies were hired for use in Barry Levinson's film "Avalon," became closer than close friends and had two children in a 12 year relationship. That arrangement was formalized in marriage on Dec. 10, less than two weeks before he died of cancer on Dec. 23 at age 49. The side we knew less about was his impressive military background. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after 30 years in the Army, including service in the Vietnam War as a Green Beret. Mr. Putman was also known as a conservative Republican who took a more liberal position on medicinal use of marijuana. It was reported that he smoked marijuana in the final months of his life to regain his appetite and gain weight in preparation for cancer treatments and wanted other patients to benefit from its use. He felt so strongly about marijuana as a help in dealing with his cancer that he persuaded the Howard County Farm Bureau, where he was a director, to endorse his position. Here was a man with solid conservative credentials who discovered late the benefits of marijuana's medical use and found the energy to fight for its legalization. Maybe a change in how we view medical uses of marijuana will be the heritage of this man of many accomplishments. MAP posted-by: Don Beck [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Freedom on March 11, 2000 at 22:37:08 PT Oh my!!! Boot up your RealPlayer, and enter this link:www.americacares.org:7070/video/medical_marijuana.rmI have not laughed so hard in weeks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Freedom on March 11, 2000 at 22:03:06 PT Endnote. FoM, the 8 kb. posting limit forced me to be creative.A few extra kbs. would be nice, if possible. I love the fact these wackos come here, how entertaining and invigorating!Everyone, please, visit AmericaCares.org. See the enemyfor what they are. This is the zero tolerance crew.What a laugh they are. I am glad they read here.We will always link and tell people to visit them, they will try to pretend we do not exist, and will lobby government to criminalize our free speech. Because they know they have not got a prayer in a fair debate and a fair political fight.I never heard of these people before today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Freedom on March 11, 2000 at 21:56:27 PT To Joyce Nalepka, Part 1. You are a prohibitionist fraud. The IOM Summary Report clearly stated that marijuana's effects on the immune systemare not established, and that even if they are established, that they are so minor as to be negligible. The IOM Report stated that marijuana therapy would offer beneficial broad spectrum relief to AIDS sufferers. They reviewed all the evidence, not just one study chosen by a puritan immoralperson for immoral purpose, like you.You ignore the reports of those who use MMJ, who have AIDS, like Peter McWilliams, because it will not conform to your reefer madness views. Peter's viral load was immeasurablewhile he was taking marijuana. Once oppressed by your beloved court system, his load soared to over 250,000.Drug legalization organizations are not leading AIDS sufferers. AIDS suffereres are leading the fight on MMJ. How do you sleep at night, knowing the lies you tell? They know what works, because they have experience. You have little to none to compare to them. End your lies.If I have my way, every individual like you will be tried for crimes against humanity once this insanity ends. Every article Reader's Digest prints on drug policy is full of zero tolerance lies and bullshit.Have you seen this study on mortality and AIDS infected users of marijuana? Of course not:http://www.druglibrary.org/crl/aging/sidney-01.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Wire: AIDS Groups Issue First Call for Drug Czar to Approve Medical Marijuana URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n179/a07.html Pubdate: Thur, 18 Feb 1999 Source: PR Newswire Copyright: 1999 PR Newswire AIDS GROUPS ISSUE FIRST CALL FOR DRUG CZAR TO APPROVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON FAST TRACK FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS Unprecedented Statement Comes as Institute of Medicine Prepares to Publish Full Review of Medical Marijuana Science WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Physicians should be allowed to prescribe marijuana as an emergency measure to people with HIV/AIDS without further research, says a letter to be sent February 17th from the heads of seventeen AIDS organizations to General Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office for National Drug Control Policy. This is the first time that AIDS groups have come together to call for legal, immediate access to marijuana. Citing a fast-track system that has allowed physicians to prescribe protease inhibitors and other AIDS medications before the completion of clinical trials, the letter calls on McCaffrey to give immediate approval to what they say is another life-saving drug -- marijuana. "We urge you to help break the bureaucratic logjam that is keeping a potentially life-saving medicine, marijuana, virtually inaccessible to thousands of people living with AIDS," says the letter, signed by AIDS Action Council, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Latino Commission on AIDS, National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, AIDS National Interfaith Network, Mothers' Voices to End AIDS, AIDS Project Los Angeles, and other organizations around the country. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Office of National AIDS Policy and the U.S. House and Senate Majority and Minority leaders. The AIDS organizations are urging McCaffrey to make good on an October, 1997 statement to Congress, which said: "If sound medical research demonstrates that there are medical uses for smoked marijuana, there are appropriate and responsive procedures for rescheduling this mind-influencing drug through the time-tested process. "The FDA has already demonstrated flexibility in accelerating procedures for allowing the use of emerging AIDS-related drugs without jeopardizing science or the public health." [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Freedom on March 11, 2000 at 21:55:43 PT To Joyce, part 2. Thousands of Americans with HIV/AIDS use marijuana to relieve the nausea caused by multiple-drug therapies, and to combat the "wasting syndrome" associated with the late, often fatal, stages of AIDS by stimulating appetite. But, with marijuana classed as a highly-controlled Schedule I substance under federal law, most patients use the medicine illegally, risking prosecution and exposure to contaminated products. Recent studies and editorials in prestigious scientific journals Lancet, New Scientist, New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association have concluded that marijuana's medical benefits outweigh its risks. Convinced by existing research, Britain and Israel recently sanctioned the compassionate use of marijuana on a provisional basis, and six U.S. states have passed ballot initiatives to legalize medical marijuana -- throwing state policies into conflict with federal law. In 1996, McCaffrey commissioned the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a full review of the science surrounding medical marijuana. That study is expected to be released next month, and may lead to calls for new research into medical marijuana. Just one clinical trial has been approved by the federal government since 1985. AIDS organizations say terminally-ill patients cannot afford to wait for years of research to prove something they already know: medical marijuana works. "Science and compassion should dictate our nation's policy regarding medical treatment," says the letter. "However, politics has stood in the way of the approval of marijuana as a legal medication, and the full development of a science base leading to FDA approval could still be years away. "Under these circumstances, making marijuana immediately available on a quasi-experimental basis to people living with AIDS [...], is a moderate step that can add to the federal government's responsiveness to the epidemic." (The full text of the letter follows:) February 17, 1999 General Barry McCaffrey Director Office of National Drug Control Policy Dear General McCaffrey; As advocates and care givers for people living with HIV disease and AIDS, we are writing to urge you to help break the bureaucratic logjam that is keeping a potentially life-saving medicine virtually inaccessible to thousands of people living with AIDS and other debilitating illnesses. That medicine is marijuana. Marijuana's therapeutic uses are well documented in scientific literature. Recent scientific studies have confirmed what has been reported to us by hundreds of people living with HIV -- that marijuana can be safely used to reduce nausea and vomiting, stimulate appetite, and promote weight gain. Marijuana is widely recognized by physicians specializing in AIDS care as an important component of treatment for some patients who suffer from symptoms of advanced-stage HIV disease and the multiple-drug therapies used to manage HIV. Today, thanks to one federally approved clinical study of marijuana for people living with AIDS, sixty-four patients receive marijuana legally from supplies grown by the federal government. However, thousands of Americans, many of them people living with HIV, use marijuana as a medicine illegally, putting themselves at risk of arrest and prosecution. Because the practice is illegal, most patients use marijuana without medical supervision. Marijuana's illegality means that patients cannot be sure of obtaining standardized products that are free of contaminants. People should not have to risk their health or jail to receive needed medical care. For this reason, thirty-five state legislatures have passed laws supporting the use of marijuana as a medicine. In addition, voters in six states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) and the District of Columbia have recently approved ballot measures legalizing the medical use of marijuana within their borders -- nearly one in five Americans lives in a state whose voters have approved medical marijuana. Now, the nation is looking to the federal government to begin to show compassion and flexibility on this issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Freedom on March 11, 2000 at 21:54:59 PT To Joyce Nalepka. Part 3 You may be aware that the standard Food and Drug Administration approval process has been streamlined for several medications important to people living with HIV disease and AIDS. Drugs shown to fall within an acceptable standard of safety have been made available to patients before completion of all scientific trials proving effectiveness. This special procedure has helped thousands of patients to obtain life-extending benefits from new medications, and has contributed directly to building the science base for such new drugs. Our request is simple. Just as other promising AIDS medications have been made available prior to final FDA approval, so too should marijuana, when recommended by a physician, be made available to patients who choose to use it. For this reason, thirty-five state legislatures have passed laws supporting the use of marijuana as a medicine. In addition, voters in six states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) and the District of Columbia have recently approved ballot measures legalizing the medical use of marijuana within their borders -- nearly one in five Americans lives in a state whose voters have approved medical marijuana. Now, the nation is looking to the federal government to begin to show compassion and flexibility on this issue. You may be aware that the standard Food and Drug Administration approval process has been streamlined for several medications important to people living with HIV disease and AIDS. Drugs shown to fall within an acceptable standard of safety have been made available to patients before completion of all scientific trials proving effectiveness. This special procedure has helped thousands of patients to obtain life-extending benefits from new medications, and has contributed directly to building the science base for such new drugs. Our request is simple. Just as other promising AIDS medications have been made available prior to final FDA approval, so too should marijuana, when recommended by a physician, be made available to patients who choose to use it. There is not much question about the relative safety of marijuana -- it has been heavily studied around the world. These studies have revealed an important fact: there is no lethal dose of marijuana. Besides this finding, occasional marijuana smoking under controlled circumstances has not been proved to be dangerous. In sum, the known risks of marijuana are clearly within a range of acceptability sufficient to allow individual physicians and patients to monitor its use, and its results. Under these circumstances, making marijuana immediately available on a quasi-experimental basis to people living with AIDS, when their physicians request it, is a moderate step that can add to the federal government's responsiveness to the epidemic. We appeal to you, General McCaffrey, because you are in a unique position to provide leadership on this issue. Science and compassion should dictate our nation's policy regarding medical treatment. However, politics has stood in the way of the approval of marijuana as a legal medication, and the full development of a science base leading to FDA approval could still be years away. We call upon you to be a part of the political solution. We ask that you publicly encourage your colleagues in the administration to respond positively to the scientific and public support for making marijuana medically available. Sincerely, cc: Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services* Jane Henney, director, Food and Drug Administration* Sandra Thurman, director, Office of National AIDS Policy* Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) Senate Majority Leader* Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) Senate Minority Leader* Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Speaker of the House* Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX) House Majority Leader Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO) House Minority Leader SIGNATORIES * Daniel Zingale/Jeff Jacobs Executive Director/Legislative Director AIDS Action Council * Regina Aragon Public Policy Director San Francisco AIDS Foundation * Herb K. Schultz Director of Government Affairs AIDS Project Los Angeles * Martin Ornelas-Quintero National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization Washington, DC * Julian B. Rush United Methodist Minister / Colorado AIDS Project Denver, CO * Mary Margaret Bush Executive Director The Center for AIDS Services Oakland, CA * Donna Rae Palmer Executive Director Mobilization Against AIDS San Francisco, CA * Matt Patrick Executive Director Boulder County AIDS Project Boulder, CO * Kenneth T. South Executive Director AIDS National Interfaith Network Washington, D.C. * Ron Rowell Executive Director National Native American AIDS Prevention Center Oakland, CA * Chris Norwood Health Force: Women and Men Against AIDS Bronx, NY * Dennis de Leon Latino Commission on AIDS New York, NY * David E. Munar Director of Public Policy AIDS Foundation of Chicago Chicago, IL * Trish Moyan Torruella Executive Director Mothers Voices to End AIDS New York, NY * Dr. Pat Hawkins Associate Executive Director Whitman-Walker Clinic Washington, DC * Steven B. Johnson Director of Public Policy and Communications Northwest AIDS Foundation Seattle, WA * Mark D. Garvey Being Alive Program Specialist AIDS Project Arizona Phoenix AZ * Lupe Lopez Executive Director People of Color Against AIDS Network Seattle, WA CONTACT: Rachel Swain, Senior Publicist of Communication Works, 415-255-1946. MAP posted-by: Don Beck ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by M.S. on March 11, 2000 at 21:03:29 PT IF THERE'S A HELL... If there's a hell, prohibitionists who know the truth about MJ's medicinal value and don't vote for it, will find themselves there, and marijuana won't be there for them because it'll all be up in heaven where the advocates will be puffing away with halos until the end of eternity; Gd will ask, "Why didn't you listen to me when I told you everything you need comes from the soil? Eat, drink and be merry and love thy fellow men ... and if grass makes the proverbial lion lay down with the sheep, then you humans will have finally arrived." 2000 copywrite [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on March 11, 2000 at 20:47:17 PT: Someone's mouse must have been wandering? I have to admit, I didn't originally pay much attention to the "NIH on pot" comment, as it looked like it had been posted by someone who had only a passing familiarity with a computer. Going back over it, I can't help but wonder: what was she up to? Did she know where she was? Did she even read the article? Most importantly, did she think she could perform the literary equivalent of a s**t-and-run and expect anyone to take her seriously?I hope she comes back, I really, really do. :} [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 11, 2000 at 19:14:05 PT One More Point The quality of a person's life is the most important part of caring for the critically ill. No one should be denied any substance that would make their present existence better. Better shouldn't be a term we use for them but each patient should be allowed to determine what Better means to him or her. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 11, 2000 at 18:57:39 PT My Thoughts My response to the negative post is this. I wish my son had been allowed to smoke marijuana. He asked his hospice nurse and she said no it is still illegal. I don't know if anyone knows about the immune system and marijuana. AIDS is such a complicated and deadly disease that to say that marijuana lowers the immune system without understanding how this horrible diseases works isn't fair to marijuana. The facts are as I know them, is my son's friends who also had AIDS did two different things. One did exactly what the Doctor told him and took his medicine regularly and he died very quickly. His partner who had full blow AIDS for years refused the treatment and smoked marijuana and he lived longer then his partner. Here is the web site link you were trying to leave.FoM!http://www.americacares.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by D.MADD on March 11, 2000 at 18:57:31 PT NIH Publication? Before you take what NIH says as gospel, perhaps you should go back to recent history of and learn a little bit about medicine and its foibles. Also, read a bit about why marijuana was banned in 1937. ALSO check the web for studies showing how rats live longer lives due to developing fewer tumors when using marijuana. Oh and one more thing.. read the headline news about the guy fighting for his life AND fighting the legal system for smoking marijuana -- and this guy just HAPPENS to be the most longed lived adrenal cancer patient in history. Gosh,maybe there's a correlation? Maybe there's a nobel prize in her for somebody? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The Unheard on March 11, 2000 at 18:38:58 PT Destroying the Lives of Sick People... It's appalling how they can decide to allow sick people to remain deathly sick because it might influences the masses.Where's Mother Teresa when you need her? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Joyce Nalepka on March 11, 2000 at 17:33:51 PT: National Institutes of Health on pot medicine NIH Publication 95-4036, P. l7 states the following:"Patients with HIV and other immune system disease should avoid marijuana use." I suggest HIV positive and AIDS patients consider a "class action suit against any government agency or elected official who suggests they should use marijuana considering HIV and AIDS are diseases of the immune system. Recent research has shown that patients who are HIV positive develop full-blown AIDS twice as fast. Drug legalizing organizations are playing a cruel hoax on HIV, AIDS and cancer patients. Suggest you read April, l998, Reader's Digest article, "High on A Lie" at www.americacares.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 11, 2000 at 10:49:04 PT Another Test Page http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/messages/22992.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: