cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Advocate Blasts Research Plan Medical Marijuana Advocate Blasts Research Plan Posted by FoM on January 10, 2001 at 20:47:53 PT By Brendan Riley, Associated Press Writer Source: S.F. Gate A medical marijuana advocate said Wednesday that Nevada officials are in for a fight if they try to limit a voter-endorsed initiative allowing use of marijuana by cancer, AIDS and glaucoma victims. Question 9 was approved by a 2-to-1 margin in November, and the 2001 Legislature is required to set up a distribution method so people with such medical conditions can use marijuana for pain relief. But a task force of medical experts instead recommended a research program to permit limited marijuana distribution and avoid a confrontation with the federal government's anti-marijuana laws that conflict with the state initiative. Dan Hart, who led the effort to get the constitutional amendment on medical marijuana approved by voters, said in a letter to the state Board of Pharmacy, which was involved in the task force effort, that the research plan is too restrictive. Hart wrote Louis Ling, a deputy attorney general and the board's general counsel, that the research project could exclude some qualified, terminally ill patients and instead get medical marijuana only to ``a chosen few.'' ``Who will you choose, Mr. Ling,'' Hart said. ``What patient will you deny their rights under the state Constitution? Which physician will you notify that their constitutional right to approve the treatment of their patient has been denied by your ad hoc 'research' approval committee?'' ``Rest assured that the proponents of Question 9 will vigorously defend the will of the people in the Legislature, the executive branch and in every necessary court, including the court of public opinion,'' Hart added. The report criticized by Hart came from the Nevada Medical Marijuana Initiative Work Group, formed last year after Nevada voters in 1998 passed the ballot initiative a first time. The initiative passed a second time in November and now becomes part of the Nevada Constitution. The group issued its recommendations as guidelines to Gov. Kenny Guinn and the Legislature, which also will be considering bills to reduce the felony penalty for possession of a small amount of marijuana. The group recommended the formation of a committee of health care professionals. Doctors or medical groups could apply to the committee for permission to study marijuana's effects. If the committee sanctions the plan, the research proposal would have to receive federal approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Drug Abuse. ``Marijuana would be purchased by the research study through federally approved providers,'' the report says. ``Marijuana would not be grown, processed or manufactured in Nevada. The federally approved provider would provide uniform, predictable and uncontaminated marijuana, thus protecting patients from the vagaries of illegal or homegrown marijuana.'' The physician conducting the research would write the prescription and it would be filled by participating pharmacies that would purchase marijuana from the federal government. This plan, said the work group, ``would allow physicians, not state bureaucrats, to decide which patients would have access to marijuana for medical purposes.'' Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Advocate Blasts Nevada Research Plan Source: Associated Press (US)Author: Brendan Riley, Associated Press WriterPublished: Wednesday, January 10, 2001Copyright: 2001 Associated PressAddress: 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10020Website: http://www.ap.org/ Related Articles:Medical Marijuana Group Opposes Limitshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8156.shtmlMarijuana Research Programs Suggestedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8142.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Frank on January 11, 2001 at 04:51:16 PT Pot Studies are a Damn Lie and False That’s what we need another study, a study of a study of a study. This is a bunch of Bull S&%$. The Government continues down this path as a form of obstruction. Most new drugs can be evaluated from lab to pharmacy shelf in 3 years and "science" has been studying marijuana for 60 years and they still don’t know which way is up? The government researchers aren’t scientists they are phony and are paid to say what the government demands they say. “Lie, Lie, Lie something bound to stick.” -- Washington, DC. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Ed Carpenter on January 11, 2001 at 02:10:37 PT: Medical Marijuana Advocate Blasts Research Plan Any additional research pertaining to the use of Cannabis should start with a look at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It should also end there. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on January 10, 2001 at 23:35:36 PT Right on Esam One of my pet peeves is this research bull.It is nothing more than a confused delay tactic from people who just dont have guts to say what they think. Some of those who suggest research are simply afraid to take a stand on the issue,because they are politically spineless.They dont want to commit to anything that might be unpopular with any sector of their electorate,so they find a safe haven on the research bandwagon. The rest of the proponents of research,are those who would do or say anything to maintain prohibition,and the "more research is needed" tactic,has become quite popular as a last resort. The obvious reason this crap really pushes my buttons,is that year after year,the FDA put new pharmaceuticals on the fast track for approval,relying on tests that were funded by the very companies that are applying for approval. Is there anyone out there who doubts that the FDA is basically owned and paid off by pharmaceutical mega-corporations. To say that marijuana needs more testing to prove it's safe,is kinda like saying we should make bacon illegal until we do more tests.If you eat a half pound of bacon every day for a year,it will affect your health.If you smoke a half ounce of weed every day for a year,it will also affect your health. It kinda goes to the idea of,;;"how far do we want the government to go in outlawing things that are stupid?".....A skilsaw,or a lawnmower is much more of a threat to life and limb,than marijuana at its worst.Never heard of anyone losing an apendage from weed.Havnt seen any L.A.R.E. programs in the schools.(Lawnmower Abuse Resistance Education)....This might be OK though.I wouldnt mind having landscapers,and lawn care proffessionals visiting my childs classroom to warn about lawnmower safety.It would be better than cops lecturing the captive audience of my kids classroom,with their opinionated disinformation reminiscent of the hitler youth.Research...Schmesearch,,,,,cheap last gasp of the defeated prohibitionists..............dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Esam on January 10, 2001 at 22:26:10 PT: Nevada's Limit on Marihuana Use I mean, really! What the hell are so many doctors and politicians afraid of Marihuana? Don't tell me that they are oblivious to the countless number of studies done in Jamaica where some pot smokers smoke up to two blunts a day, and yet not a SINGLE physical change has been detected in them? Who the hell are these doctors and politicians trying to protect? The stubborness with which they have approached this matter can only resemble that of a 3 year old throwing a tantrum, or that of a Nazi soldier who just can't forgo his ideology. How the hell have we ever permitted this moralists from running our country and our lives. You either are given the freedom to shape your life as you wish or you create a dictatorship. The US only offers one more choice of parties then the Soviet Union did or Iraq does. We are not that far from being a dictatorship! If these people are trying to create a pure society then let them all move to Saudi Arabia where their wives and daughters will be well protected from the evils of hashish smokers. 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