cannabisnews.com: Marijuana as Medicine Marijuana as Medicine Posted by FoM on September 05, 2000 at 11:30:01 PT Editorial Source: Press-Telegram Remedy: There are simpler and fairer ways to deal with this issue. In asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in an Oakland case, U.S. Solicitor General Seth Waxman said that allowing the use of marijuana for medical use would "promote disrespect and disregard" for federal drug laws. He got that right. Californians, weary of having their ballot initiatives overturned, can hardly be expected to feel much respect for federal drug policies, particularly the government`s harsh opposition to Proposition 215. That is the measure, approved by the state`s voters in 1996, allowing the medical use of marijuana. Bone-headed enforcement of ill-conceived federal drug laws has caused tremendous grief nationally. But California and seven other states are targeted for special problems because they have passed laws allowing the use of marijuana to treat serious illnesses.Long Beach`s first criminal prosecution related to that issue is about to go to trial. David Zink, 55, who says he raises marijuana to treat his severe arthritis, has been charged with felony possession of marijuana for sale and for manufacturing a controlled substance.Zink, an outspoken proponent for marijuana as medicine, is not the ideal poster boy for this issue. If he had stuck to using small amounts of marijuana for his ailments, he most likely would have gotten into no trouble at all.Long Beach prosecutors generally have been mindful of the state-federal conflict, and so far haven`t gone looking for such cases. But Zink had a yard full of marijuana, plus paraphernalia that could be used for measuring and distilling the substance. Prosecutors say that is evidence of an intention to sell the illegal substance.Zink says in his defense that he and two friends, one with cancer and the other with post-polio syndrome, share the backyard crop-tending duties, as well as the fruits of their labor. The distilling equipment was intended only to isolate THC from marijuana for oral use because, Zink says, he doesn`t like to smoke the weed.Those facts muddy the issue. A somewhat more straightforward case has gone to trial in the Lake Tahoe area, where Steve Kubby and his wife Michele have been indicted on 19 counts of marijuana possession, cultivation, sale and possession for sale. There is no doubt the Kubbys grew and used marijuana to treat medical conditions; what they really are accused of is growing too much of it.Further confusion about Proposition 215 arises from a decision last week by the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a temporary stay of an injunction allowing Oakland Cannabis Buyers` Cooperative to distribute medical marijuana.The stay was merely a routine step that will lead to a ruling by the Supreme Court on the Oakland case. Unfortunately, the ruling will decide only whether a medical defense is allowable under federal law for distribution of marijuana, and not whether the California law is valid.There is a much simpler and fairer solution to all of this. Congress should modify its drug laws to allow medical use of marijuana, or at least give states the option. (And while at it, Congress also should change the malevolent laws that treat one form of cocaine, powder, differently from another, crack, with the result that far more African-American users than whites go to prison.)But simpler and fairer are not what motivates Congress. In this case it is fear. Fear of appearing soft on crime. Fear of voters, in other words.Think about that. Published: Tuesday, September 5, 2000 Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA)Copyright: 2000 Press-Telegram.Contact: crutch ptconnect.infi.netWebsite: http://www.ptconnect.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperativehttp://www.rxcbc.org/The Kubby Fileshttp://www.kubby.org/American Medical Marijuana Association http://www.drugsense.org/amma/Calif. Libertarian Continues Fighting Oppressionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6935.shtmlSupreme Court on Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6906.shtmlMarijuana Grower To Stand Trial http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6867.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 06, 2000 at 00:04:46 PT Hi Freedom fighter Hi freedom fighter, I think that some people try to cause problems but if we don't react in a negative way I think they will stop. Some comments are best overlooked. I don't mean a person should be overlooked but some comments are not worth responding to for me. I have trouble typing and my wrist that was broken starts to hurt after typing too much. I don't want to waste my typing because of my wrist and I would rather type to you or one of the other good people with good attitudes here.PS: I can't believe I'm still awake. I'm waiting for my better half to come home but I 'm not going to be able to wait much longer tonight or my head will wind up on the keyboard and I'll be sawing Zzzzz logs right there! LOL!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by freedom fighter on September 05, 2000 at 23:44:17 PT FoM Just wondering if we are been getting strange postings lately? Like for example, the poster called Ear on the Wall,this dude will post as a lawyer who defends and proscutes(sp). And I did not even understand what this gibson have to say. I know you never said you were Jesus. :) Kapt. loves this COINIntelligence stuff. Maybe there are folks trying to divide and conquer us. I had to laugh. Keep all records of IP addresses. We all might need to use the record to defend ourselves. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 05, 2000 at 22:59:05 PT Lookin' Good! OOOH It's Beautiful!!!! Thanks CongressmanSuet! I'm seeing a lot of red today but in a good way! LOL!Peace, FoM!It's been a long day but my computer is working good again and I'm tired. If Clinton decides to legalize pot tonight I'll get it posted but since we know he won't I'm calling it a day! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by CongressmanSuet on September 05, 2000 at 22:33:11 PT: Did someone say... Jesus Christ? Only kidding. Look, there are all kinds out there, so its only a matter of time before a representative of the psychotic branch of humanity gets a post thru. So, I wouldnt give it much thought, FoM. By the way, red IS my color, dont you think? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 05, 2000 at 21:04:06 PT I'm confused all the time I suppose! Thanks Kanabys,I would never say that. I don't understand what he meant. Some things just go over my head. I'm a simple person and I like it that way. I like to find good news. I was in DrugSense's chat the other weekend and someone posted this:Oh God, I'll do what I should do and be good as long as you don't make me an editor! I loved it! That isn't word for word but you get the point. Take care! FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Kanabys on September 05, 2000 at 19:25:58 PT I'm confused too..... I can't imagine that you would ever say anything like that, FoM! I don't know you personally, but I have read many posts that you have made, and you seem to be sensible to me. That J.C. statement would be ludicrous not fitting of you at all. Your'e high in my books, but not that high :)Cya, Peace! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 05, 2000 at 13:54:45 PT I'm Confused Hello John,You sure lost me. I don't write these articles. I find them and post them for others to read and comment on. I am not Jesus. I would never say that. I thought I should let you know. Thanks FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by John Gibson on September 05, 2000 at 12:59:02 PT: Comments Dear FoM, I must say that I admire you immensely, and that you are entirely correct in all of your views. However, I was offended by you claiming to be Jesus Christ. For I am the one and only Lord. Furtermore, I would greatly appreciate you sending me your very wise opinions on cannabis. I have read and studied your numerous articles. I print them out daily and put them under my pillow at night so that I may one day incur the wisdom that you bring to so many dozens. That also is something I find to be a great injustice. You should no longer waste your talents by writing such petty articles. It is the word of the only true pot God, but you should concetrate your talents on song more along the lines of how to do pamphlets, including pictures. Sincerly, John Gibson [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: