cannabisnews.com: Wrong Prescription Wrong Prescription Posted by FoM on December 06, 2000 at 15:18:23 PT Editorial Source: The Record When Proposition 215 was passed in California four years ago, many predicted the issue of marijuana-as-medicine would eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court. It has.Last week, the justices agreed -- in the midst of hearing arguments on the presidential stalemate -- to weigh in on a somewhat smaller matter: whether an Oakland cannabis club should be allowed to distribute marijuana as a "medical necessity." A ruling is expected by June. The high court has an opportunity to step in and stop California's latest cottage industry before further legitimacy and momentum takes hold.It won't be an easy decision for this court, which in recent years has ruled more frequently for states' rights than not. The dilemma is whether to side with California or U.S. regulatory powers (both Clinton and Congress are waging war on illegal drugs).Proposition 215 has opened up a host of problems, creating a new California industry that plants, cultivates, harvests and distributes Cannabis sative (marijuana). It does so largely without regulation.As we said in 1996 urging voters to reject this initiative: If there is a proper medical use -- and the evidence of that is at best conflicting -- it should be handled like any other drug.For us, that remains the heart of this issue. As long as pot is possessed and grown for anything, according to the initiative "for which marijuana provides relief," it is ripe for abuse, open to recreational purposes and sends the wrong message to young people.This is not to say we don't recognize the potential for pot's medicinal value, but the answer will not be found in loose-knit, unregulated, statewide cooperatives. It will be found in research laboratories and hospitals. It needs to be administered in a different form than smoking and under a doctor's strict prescription plan.Marijuana should be handled like any other FDA-approved drug -- not unlike today's restrictive, case-by-case use of morphine or even Marinol (a synthetic form of pot).Unless new criteria is met, California's cannabis clubs, undoubtedly meeting the needs of many sufferers, will be ripe for misuse and fraudulent claims.However loathe to strike down a state initiative, the Supreme Court surely will see the larger problem of creating federal law that promotes use of an illegal drug in a loosely regulated fashion.Note: Supreme Court has chance to make sure medical pot goes through proper hoops.Source: Record, The (CA)Published: December 6, 2000Copyright: 2000 The RecordAddress: P.O. Box 900, Stockton, CA 95201Fax: (209) 547-8186Contact: editor recordnet.comWebsite: http://www.recordnet.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperativehttp://www.rxcbc.org/Medical Marijuana Fight Goes To The Supreme Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7865.shtmlOakland Marijuana Case Goes To US Supreme Courthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7800.shtmlU.S. Justices To Weigh Medical Marijuana Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7797.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 07, 2000 at 12:04:36 PT That's OK Robbie That's ok Robbie. Do you want to try again and I'll remove this comment and the one you posted later on? Please feel free to do that and I'll delete the one you want to correct. If not that is fine. It's up to you.Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Robbie on December 07, 2000 at 11:33:46 PT: That last message... didn't format as I expected it to [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Robbie on December 07, 2000 at 11:30:40 PT: This is getting old Supreme Court Has Chance To Make Sure Medical Pot Goes Through Proper Hoops . . . issue of marijuana-as-medicine would eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.It has. !! -->The high court has an opportunity to step in and stop California's latest cottage industry before further legitimacy and momentum takes hold. Proposition 215 has opened up a host of problems, creating a new California industry that plants, cultivates, harvests and distributes Cannabis sative (marijuana). It does so largely without regulation.As we said in 1996 urging voters to reject this initiative: If there is a proper medical use -- and the evidence of that is at best conflicting -- it should be handled like any other drug. For us, that remains the heart of this issue. As long as pot is possessed and grown for anything, according to the initiative "for which marijuana provides relief," it is ripe for abuse , open to recreational purposes and sends the wrong message to young people. This is not to say we don't recognize the potential for pot's medicinal value, but the answer will not be found in loose-knit, unregulated, statewide cooperatives. It will be found in research laboratories and hospitals.Unless new criteria is met, California's cannabis clubs,undoubtedly meeting the needs of many sufferers, will be ripe for misuse and fraudulent claims.However loathe to strike down a state initiative, the Supreme Court surely will see the larger problem of creating federal law that promotes use of an illegal drug in a loosely regulated fashion. Yes, I'm preaching to the choir again [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: