cannabisnews.com: Politics of Pain Politics of Pain Posted by FoM on December 08, 2000 at 09:05:07 PT Opinion Source: Salt Lake Tribune From The Miami Herald The U.S. Supreme Court's recent inclination to shift regulatory power away from Washington and back to the states could be severely tested by the question of whether states have the constitutional powers to let the seriously ill use marijuana for pain relief. The high court recently agreed to decide what prevails -- federal drug laws labeling marijuana as an illegal narcotic, or California's voter-approved proposition that permits distribution of marijuana to ill people. Underlying the debate is the larger question of how far states can go in drawing their own lines between the criminal use of drugs and their possible medical benefits. Eight other states have similar "medical marijuana" laws, most through voter initiatives, and Florida may join the list if a pending referendum makes it on to the ballot in 2002. These states have taken this step because the federal government repeatedly has rejected the findings of studies showing that marijuana's active ingredient can help people suffering from glaucoma, AIDS, cancer therapies, wasting diseases and chronic pain. But federal drug officials long have argued that medical use of marijuana opens the door to expanded uses. California and other consenting states see no confusion of the two issues: legalization of marijuana for everyone is not the same as allowing its limited use when no other medication provides relief, they argue. And, they say, the Constitution gives states the right to make that decision. The high court will do everyone a favor by settling the debate. In a related states-rights question, the Senate may take up the mislabeled Pain Relief Promotion Act. It usefully provides for more study of pain management, but its major thrust in effect would nullify Oregon's voter-approved, limited right-to-physician assistance in the suicide of the terminally ill. The bill's opponents also argue that the act would further discourage doctors from using sufficient doses of drugs such as morphine to quell the pain of the dying. Government needs to control addictive medicines such as morphine, cocaine and others. But the Supreme Court may decide that if the concept of states rights is to have meaning, the lines between legality and criminality can be wisely drawn outside the Beltway. Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)Published: Friday, December 8, 2000 Copyright: 2000 The Salt Lake TribuneAddress: 143 S Main, Salt Lake City UT 84111Fax: (801)257-8950Contact: letters sltrib.comWebsite: http://www.sltrib.com/Forum: http://www.sltrib.com/tribtalk/Related Articles:Relieving Pain and Suffering Must Be Priorityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7926.shtmlWhy Won't Government Let Us Use Marijuana As Medicine?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7925.shtmlMedical Marijuana Fight Goes To The Supreme Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7865.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by defenderoffreeworld on December 09, 2000 at 11:59:52 PT: the constitutional power is not the point!! its funny because we seem to be tangled up in the bureaucratic aspect of this 'war' more than in the actual truth. i mean, what's more important 'who has the power to make decisions in this country, or the health and well being of thousands of patients that rely on marijuana to ease their pain and improve their health? we have to stop and think about what is best, and not about who has the authority to decide what is best. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by HighGrow on December 08, 2000 at 16:37:29 PT Is there a Dr in the house... From some UK type newspaper thingyDoctors say that the majority of patients taking part in a Government-backed trial to test the medicinal use of cannabis are benefiting.Seven out of 10 patients involved in the research project at the Jame Paget Hospital, Gorleston, Norfolk, are said to have been helped by a cannabis-based drug.Ministers agreed to sanction research last year. A month ago Mo Mowlam, the minister in charge of drugs policy, said moves to legalise cannabis for medicinal use could begin in 2001.She added that a decision would be made when the scientific trials had been fully analysed.Dr Willy Notcutt, who is heading the trail at Gorleston, said results had been "very acceptable", adding: "There's no doubt in our minds that a large number of patients have gained benefit. "He told the Eastern Daily Press newspaper that between 70 and 80% of patients had gained some benefit.He commented: "That's actually very good results for people with long-standing pain, although not all the benefits are in the relief of pain but in the quality of life."If you are dealing with people with chronic pain and you find something that benefits 30% of patients then you are doing well."Dr Notcutt said much more research was needed before experts could be certain about the benefits of legalising cannabis for medicinal use. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: