cannabisnews.com: IGDP and DFA Join Supreme Court Brief IGDP and DFA Join Supreme Court Brief Posted by FoM on January 11, 2001 at 17:52:16 PT Press Release Source: Business Wire The United States Supreme Court will decide whether voters of state ballot initiatives can sidestep the established drug approval process of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine which drugs may be beneficial as treatment for various medical conditions, even those that are severe and life threatening. Several states have passed ballot initiatives that allow individuals with ailments as slight as athlete's foot to possess marijuana and other illegal drugs for the treatment of their maladies. These propositions also contain features that legalize or decriminalize marijuana and other drugs. Law enforcement has criticized such measures because they blur the line between what is legal and what is illegal. The initiatives also allow drug dealers to escape prosecution by claiming to be medical providers. To assist in the Government's case against medical-excuse marijuana initiatives, Drug Free America Foundation and two of its divisions, the Institute on Global Drug Policy and the International Scientific and Medical Forum on Drug Abuse, have joined a number of other anti-drug organizations in a comprehensive Amicus brief. The document, also known as a "Friend of the Court Brief," outlined the historical ploys of the pro-drug culture to legalize marijuana. It detailed the risks of smoking marijuana and noted that the drug lacks the scientific research necessary to determine if it may be useful in the treatment of any medical condition. Dr. Eric Voth, Chairman of the Institute on Global Drug Policy, is recognized as an international authority on drug use and was a primary contributor to the Brief. "The ballot initiative process is a scam which seeks to legalize marijuana by popular vote, rather than through scientific research," he said. "Such measures set a dangerous precedent for the health and welfare of our society. If drugs needed only to be popular in the electorate to be approved as medicine, tobacco might also be smoked for medical applications." "Ultimately, the Supreme Court must address this important issue to ensure an effective national drug policy," said Drug Free America Foundation's executive director, Calvina Fay. "It is imperative that the court preserve the Food and Drug Administration's drug approval process, the mechanism that protects Americans from unsafe, ineffective drugs." Filing an Amicus Brief in the U.S. Supreme Court is the first move of a new strategy to challenge pro-drug organizations in court. "In the past, grass-roots coalitions lacked the money to effectively challenge well-financed pro-drug organizations," said David G. Evans, the Council of Record on the Brief. "Now, several anti-drug groups are pooling their resources in a drug prevention legal defense fund. This Brief is the first of our efforts to oppose the legalization of marijuana." The Institute on Global Drug Policy is an alliance of physicians, scientists, attorneys and drug specialists advocating public policies that curtail the illegal use of alcohol or harmful drugs. It is a division of Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida that educates the public about dangerous shifts in drug policy. Complete Title: Institute on Global Drug Policy and Drug Free America Foundation Join Supreme Court Brief Source: Business WirePublished: Thursday, January 11, 2001Copyright: 2001 Business Wire. Website: http://www.businesswire.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:Institute on Global Drug Policy http://www.dfaf.org/Drug Free America Foundation http://www.dfaf.org/High Court To Hear Medical Marijuana Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7791.shtmlSupreme Court To Decide Medical Marijuana Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7784.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by dddd on January 12, 2001 at 18:03:13 PT Astonishing! My favorite quote here,which I will add to my file or unique gemstones from such people,,is;>"Dr. Eric Voth, Chairman of the Institute on Global Drug Policy, is recognized as an international authority on drug use and was a primary contributor to the Brief. "The ballot initiative process is a scam which seeks to legalize marijuana by popular vote, rather than through scientific research," he said. "Such measures set a dangerous precedent for the health and welfare of our society. If drugs needed only to be popular in the electorate to be approved as medicine, tobacco might also be smoked for medical applications." " It is hard to believe that this guy is so far gone,so obsessed with his mission,that he could not realize the fool he makes of himself by suggesting,that in a democracy,the popular vote is somehow secondary to scientific reseach.A popular vote is just what it says. The only people we hear speaking about limiting the "popular vote",are a very small group of well organized,federally/corporately funded interests.We havn't heard any complaints from voters about ballot initiatives....Nothing ,,not a peep...Yet we have political entities who are interested in undermining one of the last ways us common citizen/subjects have that we can make a vote that counts. I was outraged after I voted for prop 215,and it was basically rendered null and void in a most authoritarian,rude and wreckless manner,,for those of us who still thought of this as a democracy.This is going to be a tuffie for the court to worm its way out of.If they decide against the voters,it will usher in a whole new era of federal power,and erosion of freedoms.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by kaptinemo on January 12, 2001 at 11:42:31 PT: The testing industy's cat's-paws. Rejoice, friends. This article is a sure sign that the antis have been stung, and they are starting to take us seriously. Because they are beginning to worry about the one thing that is truly near and dear to their hearts...their wallets. Namely, the profits that the testing industry stands to lose with the introduction of medicinal cannabis. And the only legal means they have towards controlling the private lives of their 'industrial units'.It's no accident that this bit of anti drivel shows up in "Business" magazine.But, lest they be accused of outright economic Big Brotherism in squealing at the prospect of having their unConstitutional invasions of privacy curtailed, they have to resorted to their cat's-paws, the 'concerned citizen' groups. Which are joined at the hip - and perhaps, at other portions of the lower trunk as well - with the very industries that stand to lose so much by the various popular referendums democratically voted upon by the people of the States.This is so transparent, it's laughable. By filing this brief, they have opened themselves to an attack that they could cost them them their already fragile 'legitimacy'. Because like so much that has happened recently, the antis have relied extensively upon maintaining an air of faux seperation between an obvious 'conflict of interest' (purveyors of the drug alcohol siding with 'anti-drug' organizations). Strip from them their phony legitimacy, as the lawyers of the Kubby's did to the prosecutor's 'experts', and the lie is laid bare.I hope this winds up on Court TV, I really do. This could be the most damaging 'hoist-by-their-own-petard' move yet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by observer on January 12, 2001 at 10:11:20 PT G W Bush, DFAF (Straight Inc), Republican Party $$ seeGeorge W. Bush,The Drug Free America Foundation, Inc.,(formerly Straight Foundation, Inc.) and the Republican Party (c) 2000by Wesley M. Fager of the Oakton Institute for Cultic Studiesand Ginger Warbis http://fornits.com/straight/gop.htm Drug Free America Foundation, Inc & The GOP [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Dankhankster on January 12, 2001 at 08:46:54 PT: Me either ... I can't believe you thought that either, Stripey ...:-)Peace .. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Gary Barrett on January 12, 2001 at 07:54:23 PT: FDA has no authority pre-1938 = Grandfather Clause Farmacy founder, Paul Klopper, and Dr. Tod H. Mikuriya, world's formost expert on medicinal applications of cannabis, formally challenged this idea in late May 1999.http://geocities.com/trichome34/fda.pdfCannabis prodcts were sold and marketed widely prior to June 25, 1938, when the current FDA new drug provisions took effect.Look up that .pdf file to read the full scoop.Nice work Mr. Klopper, and Dr. Mikuriya, nice work! Trichome® 34 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Stripey on January 11, 2001 at 22:28:53 PT I can't believe . . . I can't believe I thought dubya was going to be anything other than an anti's tool. . . Damnit, I need a smoke. . . =) [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by observer on January 11, 2001 at 22:10:56 PT G W Bush Link To This Group ``Today Straight Foundation, Straight's educational arm, calls itself the Drug Free America Foundation and suggests it is making drug policy recommendations to president-elect George W. Bush who, as governor of Texas, has teamed up with DFAF on one drug awareness initiative. . ''http://fornits.com/straight/Governor George W. Bush Adopts Drug Policy Recommendations (Oct. 2000) http://dfaf.org/library/press/bush_policy.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Dan B on January 11, 2001 at 21:24:46 PT: Bye-Bye Dec. of Independence and Constitution "Such measures set a dangerous precedent for the health and welfare of our society. If drugs needed only to be popular in the electorate to be approved as medicine, tobacco might also be smoked for medical applications."There it is, folks, an outright renunciation of the Declaration of Independence and the 9th and 10th U. S. Constitutional Amendments. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute an new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." from the Declaration of Independence (pay particular attention to "deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." Notice that they are granted only "just" powers, and notice too that those powers are given only by "Consent of the Governed" [Capital "C" Capital "G"]. Something to think about.) "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." 9th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of (The Constitution, at this point,had already guaranteed freedom of expression, the right to petition the government, freedom of and from religion, the right to assemble, freedom from unlawful searches and seizures, the right to due process in a court of law, a trial by jury, and a speedy and public trial, prohibits being subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, the right to not testify against oneself, and all the other rights you hear in the Miranda warnings. Oh, and the right to not be held on excessive bail. All of these are going the way of the Wooly Mammoth, thanks to the current "war on drugs") "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United StatesLooks like Big Brother's got some explaining to do.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by observer on January 11, 2001 at 21:10:45 PT DFAF = Straight, Inc. = Mel Sembler Source: Business Wire I.e., Sembler paid to have this "news" released....It is a division of Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., Ah yes, the stinking carcass of Straight, Inc., like a monster from Night of The Living Dead, that just refuses to stay down...http://www.google.com/search?q=Drug+Free+America+Foundation+Straight+Inc+SemblerForced "treatment" at $traight, Inc. -- . . . One mother paid private detectives to kidnap her teenage son in New mexico. They put him in leg irons and drove him overland 1,700 miles to a Straight facility. A teenage girl was riding in a car with her mother when they stopped at a gas station. Her father and two other men entered the vehicle and subdued her while she was taken to Straight. One teen thought his parents were taking him to Disney World and wound up at Straight instead. 89 One youth said abductors raked him barefoot and bloody across a Straight facility's grounds while handcuffed. 90 In the words of Straight's medical director, most teenagers were "convinced by parental pressure to enter treatment." 91Upon arrival children were restrained in a small room. Any who attempted to leave might be beaten by "peer counselors," 92 teens already at Straight. Peer counselors barraged newcomers with questions about drugs and sex: "How does it feel masturbating inside a woman?" 93 A teen who resisted answering was diagnosed as having a bad attitude, indicating need for treatment. One who denied being a drug abuser was called a liar needing treatment. A child who, after of hours of pressure, finally "confessed" to drug abuse was found to need treatment. Such determination might be made by another teen in the Straight program. 94 Straight's medical director freely admitted the program was "supervised, in the main, by skilled nonphysicans and recovering peer counselors." 95 (Drug Warriors & their Prey, Richard Miller, pgs.178-179)http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0275950425 Straight Incorporated - Capitalizing on Communism [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Stripey on January 11, 2001 at 20:14:03 PT Cool. . . It finally goes to the supreme court, so they stack the deck with anti's. Good call. Way to get some international support from indifferent organizations.Damned Beurocrats. . . [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Not To Worry on January 11, 2001 at 20:01:40 PT Count the lies >>It detailed the risks of smoking marijuana and noted that the drug lacks the scientific research necessary to determine if it may be useful in the treatment of any medical condition. Funny how they always fall back on this one, Medical research is banned internationally, and they know it. The next sentence is always, it's all just anecdotal. How can it be anything else?>>If drugs needed only to be popular in the electorate to be approved as medicine, tobacco might also be smoked for medical applications." This is truly a pathetic attempt to compare something that is clearly a cancer causing agent, tobacco, to a highly useful, yet not fully explored, medicine.>>"Ultimately, the Supreme Court must address this important issue to ensure an effective national drug policy," said Drug Free America Foundation's executive director, Calvina Fay. "It is imperative that the court preserve the Food and Drug Administration's drug approval process, the mechanism that protects Americans from unsafe, ineffective drugs." The FDA has approved many drugs that they later find out are quite dangerous. I don't trust them one bit. At any rate, all drugs have some negative side effects. The IOM report pointed out that the risks fall into an acceptable side effect range.>>"In the past, grass-roots coalitions lacked the money to effectively challenge well-financed pro-drug organizations," said David G. Evans, the Council of Record on the Brief.This is just the biggest lie of all. How many $$$ are spent annually by our Government, and you can find the list of private donators on the NORML Web Site. They happen to include pharmaceutical companies, and alcohol interests. What a preposterous statement. >>The Institute on Global Drug Policy is an alliance of physicians, scientists, attorneys and drug specialists advocating public policies that curtail the illegal use of alcohol or harmful drugs. It is a division of Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida that educates the public about dangerous shifts in drug policy.Did my eyes deceive me, or did they say the illegal use of alcohol? Are they trying to distance themselves from their own sponsors???? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 11, 2001 at 18:34:49 PT: Supreme What is not clear is whether they are trying to initiate some new case, or whether they are filing amicus curiae briefs in the Oakland CBC case. I believe it is the latter. The issue before the court is actually a very narrow one: can they distribute cannabis to patients. The court may not comment at all about other provisions of 215 such as home cultivation, or the laws in other "legal" states.Meanwhile, these ideologues can prevaricate all they wish. They manage to ignore 5000 years of documented cannabis use in medicine, and seem to only recognize studies funded by NIDA while ignoring everything else that refutes their position. That is not science, it is propaganda.I have news for everyone. We are filing briefs, too. These pertain to the sabotage of real clinical research, governmental bias and other choice items. Let's get ready to rumble. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: