cannabisnews.com: Am. 20 Ads Share Healthy Dose of Reality





Am. 20 Ads Share Healthy Dose of Reality
Posted by FoM on November 03, 2000 at 07:28:42 PT
By Mark Obmascik, Denver Post Staff Writer 
Source: Denver Post
Two new TV ads clash over the medical use of marijuana, but the commercials also share two traits that are rare in politics: They're largely fair and accurate. Supporters of Amendment 20 are airing a low-key spot with a Breckenridge physician who looks sincerely into the camera and tells how marijuana can help chemotherapy patients. Foes counter with an ad noting that Colorado already has problems with illegal marijuana use, and that almost all the state's political establishment is against Amendment 20.
Both ads do contain some exaggerations, but they also set an admirable standard for tough but credible advertising.Here's a skeptical look at the latest ads:The pro-Amendment 20 ad:Dr. C.L. Perrinjaquet of Breckenridge: "As a doctor, I know that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often have a rough time. The side effects can be so severe - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. There is a medicine that can help. It's marijuana. But we doctors can't recommend it.The man speaking is a family practice physician, nicknamed Dr. P.J., who works at the High Country Health Care clinic in Breckenridge. He is being filmed in an office in California, where the commercial was produced.It's true that chemotherapy patients have reported some pain relief from smoking marijuana, and it's true that doctors are banned from recommending marijuana to patients."Amendment 20 would allow dying and suffering patients to register with the state and use small amounts of marijuana. Non-medical use remains illegal.Amendment 20 allows medical use of marijuana for people with a "debilitating medical condition," including cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or HIV-positive status, as well as "cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures."After receiving medical and state approvals for inclusion in a state registry, those people would be allowed to possess no more than 2 ounces of "a usable form of marijuana," plus up to six marijuana plants.Opponents say 2 ounces of marijuana constitutes more than a "small amount." The Drug Enforcement Administration says that's enough for 20 or so typical joints, or marijuana cigarettes, though some users roll as many as 60 joints per ounce."Morphine works, marijuana works. Let us treat you with every medicine that can help."Morphine long has been a legally prescribed drug for pain. One difference, though, with marijuana: Under Amendment 20, no pharmacy or prescription would be required for medical use of marijuana.That means patients on marijuana essentially could set their own doses, a difference from the way morphine is used.The anti-20 "No Weed" ad:"Who's against legalizing marijuana in Colorado? The medical community, Gov. Owens, our legislature, law enforcement, newspapers and parents everywhere.Medicinal use of marijuana has been denounced by major groups including the American Medical Association, Denver Medical Society and the Colorado Health and Hospital Association, while being endorsed by the smaller Colorado AIDS Advisory Council and Boulder County AIDS Project.On record against Amendment 20 is the governor, the Colorado legislature and many law enforcement officials. The Denver Post, Denver Rocky Mountain News and Greeley Tribune have editorialized in opposition to Amendment 20; the Durango Herald and Boulder Daily Camera endorsed it.As for the claim that "parents everywhere" are against legalizing marijuana in Colorado, there are enough supporters, at least in this stage of the campaign, for Amendment 20 to be leading in the political opinion polls."So who's pushing to legalize marijuana here? A California-based front group, an Ohio insurance executive, a wealthy person from Arizona and a New York financier.A California-based group, Americans for Medical Rights, has contributed $200,000 to the pro-20 campaign. That group is financed largely by New York hedge fund operator George Soros, Ohio insurance executive Peter Lewis and University of Phoenix founder John Sperling, said the pro-20 campaign.The ad accurately attributes that information to an Oct. 7 story in the Colorado Springs Gazette."Don't they know Colorado already has the highest rate of marijuana use in the country? We want to fix that problem - not make it worse. Please, vote no on 20."The 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found that Colorado led the country in marijuana use.The government estimated 8.1 percent of Coloradans had used marijuana within a month of the survey, significantly higher than the national average of 5.2 percent.Source: Denver Post (CO)Author: Mark ObmascikPublished: November 3, 2000Copyright: 2000 The Denver PostAddress: 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202Fax: (303) 820.1502Contact: letters denverpost.com Website: http://www.denverpost.com/Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htmRelated Articles & Web Site:Coloradans For Medical Rights http://www.medicalmarijuana.com/Ballot Issues Face Late Threathttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7527.shtmlAnti-20 Arguments Make You Wonder http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7402.shtmlFlawed, But Not Fatallyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7307.shtmlVoters Favoring Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7257.shtmlEndorsement: No on Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7217.shtml
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