cannabisnews.com: Doctor Makes Case for Pot Doctor Makes Case for Pot Posted by FoM on January 24, 2001 at 06:59:53 PT By S.U. Mahesh, Journal Capitol Bureau Source: Albuquerque Journal A New York physician lobbying for changes in New Mexico's medical marijuana law said Tuesday the issue should not be confused with other drug policy changes. "The two should be separated because in some instances people have felt that medical marijuana is a Trojan horse or some kind of a ploy to introduce people to marijuana policy reforms," said John Morgan, professor of pharmacology at City University of New York. In a news conference at the Capitol, Morgan said the "war on drugs" has slowed the progress of a medical marijuana campaign started in the 1970s, when about 30 states — including New Mexico — allowed the use of marijuana for medical purposes. He said the issue has gained momentum in recent years. "The argument over medical marijuana has tilted clearly toward the fact that most people favor its use," Morgan said. A 1978 New Mexico law allows medical marijuana as part of a research project, but no project has been funded for more than a decade. Morgan, who has co-written a book on marijuana, is supporting changes in New Mexico law that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients suffering from certain types of illnesses. Republican Gov. Gary Johnson has called for the change, and Rep. Joe Thompson, R-Albuquerque, has said he would sponsor such a bill. Keith Stroup, executive director for the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said at the news conference that public support for medical marijuana is widespread. "I think our problem has been that legislators are sometimes wary because they're concerned that people may confuse a vote for medical marijuana as somehow being soft on drugs," Stroup said. He contended that people are beginning to distinguish between medical marijuana and other drug-law changes. Marijuana is a pain reliever and nausea fighter used to treat cancer, AIDS and HIV, glaucoma and other diseases, Morgan said. "Its most widespread use has been to suppress the nausea and vomiting of cancer patients on chemotherapy," he said. State health officials estimate that at any given time, between 50 and 100 patients in New Mexico would qualify for medical marijuana. Stroup said his group also is supporting Johnson's other proposed drug-law changes, including decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use. "Marijuana prohibition is a bad public policy because we're needlessly destroying the lives and careers of literally hundreds of thousands of genuinely good citizens for no good reason," Stroup said. Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, has said he would sponsor a marijuana decriminalization bill in the Senate.Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)Author: S.U. Mahesh, Journal Capitol BureauPublished: Wednesday, January 24, 2001Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque JournalAddress: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103Contact: opinion abqjournal.comWebsite: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Governor Gary Johnson's Home Pagehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/Legislators To Offer Bills on Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8382.shtmlJohnson Bill Would Legalize Small Amounts of Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8218.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 25, 2001 at 14:58:35 PT Thanks Dr. Russo I tried the new link too and my status bar is still jumping and my computer wants to lock up. My connection today is very poor so that could be what is going on. I'll check the link when my computer is acting more sensible. They sure have their days. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 25, 2001 at 14:32:29 PT: Sorry, FoM My link works fine on this end. You can also try:http://www.haworthpressinc.comand wade through the pages to subscribe.Thanks [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 25, 2001 at 14:01:56 PT Great News Dr. Russo! I went into the link to see about ordering and there seems to be a little bug in the link. The status bar keeps jumping on my computer and I couldn't find where to order. Is there another link?Thanks FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 25, 2001 at 13:25:43 PT: Order Online! Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics may be ordered online:http://12.3.146.3/store/product.asp?sku=J175 [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 25, 2001 at 13:19:42 PT: Related Story: Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics I am pleased to announce that volume 1, #1 of Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics: Studies in Endogenous, Herbal & Synthetic Cannabinoids is now available. This is the first academic scientific journal devoted to the study of clinical cannabis. Contents of the charter issue include a seminal review of medical marijuana by Leo Hollister, a review of long-supressed results of state sponsored trials of cannabis as an anti-emetic in cancer chemotherapy by Rik Musty and Rita Rossi, a review of endocannabinoid chemistry and therapeutic opportunities by Vincenzo di Marzo, a history of cannabis usage in Arabic medicine by Indalecio Lozano, molecular pharmacology of cannabis and eicosanoids by John McPartland, a biography and translation (by Ethan Russo) of a case report by Jacques-Joseph Moreau on cannabis usage in treatment of a mental condition in 1857, an analysis of cannabis and the US Controlled Substances Act by Jon Gettmann, and book reviews of Hashish! by Rob Clarke, and The Science of Marijuana by Leslie Iversen.The publisher of Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics has generously offered to provide a free copy of the charter issue to anyone requesting a copy, preferably on a professional letterhead, by writing:Print Journal Division-Sample CopiesHaworth Press10 Alice StreetBinghamton, NY 13904Copies are also being sent to the justices of the US Supreme Court to aid them in their deliberations on the constitutionality of cannabis buyers' clubs. Annual subscriptions for this quarterly (2 single plus 1 double-theme issue per year) are:$43.20 for individuals$58.50 for institutions$85.50 for librarieswith additional discounts for multiple year subscriptions.The editor of Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics is:Ethan Russo, MDMissoula Neurobehavioral Specialists900 North Orange StreetMissoula, MT 59802USAvoice: (406) 327-3372Fax: 3355E-Mail: erusso blackfoot.net [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Morgan on January 24, 2001 at 11:22:35 PT Knowledge I believe (IMHO), that the main impediment to legalization of this herb is the ignorance and fear that has been purposely built up around it for the past 60 years or so, and swallowed whole by the public at large. If medical marijuana is legalized, this would open wide the path towards open, independant scientific studies to it's wonderful properties that would fall or stand on peer review and public opinion, and not on government censorship and propaganda. And the thinking about the related recreational marijuana and industrial hemp will be effected, for the overall good.Medical marijuana is just one of the fronts in this world war. Winning one front can only help further the others.************************************************* [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 24, 2001 at 08:15:52 PT That's 70's Show - Reefer Madness - Repeat Hi Everyone, I thought I'd mention it here that they are repeating the Reefer Madness episode tonight on DTV and might on cable too. If you missed it try to see it. I'll watch it again and laugh just as much as I did the first time. “Reefer Madness” – Wednesday, January 24, 2001Worried that the kids are about to become crazed dope fiends straight out of "Reefer Madness," Red decides that discipline is what they need, and he's just the guy to make sure they get it.http://www.that70sshow.com/index_home.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 24, 2001 at 08:05:54 PT My 2 cents Hi Robbie, I believe that if medical marijuana was legalized it might slow up the legalization movement for a little while but not for long. There is nothing more important to me, as far as drug policy reform goes, then for sick to have access to this fine medicinal herb. When people see that people who smoke marijuana for medical reasons don't get weird, like the drug warriors say that they will, the walls will start to crumble. If we get marijuana out of Schedule I it will help with the length of time a person would have to do if caught and doesn't have a medical excuse. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on January 24, 2001 at 07:50:33 PT: A Difference in Philosophy Read the quotations in the news story above, and note how reasonable, open minded and solicitous they are of opposing points of view. These proponents of cannabis understand the prohibitionists and display a generous sensitivity to those would seek to destroy them.Compare them to the the Bennetts and McCaffreys and Nalepkas of the world. Of them, Rollo May would say (The Courage to Create, p. 20):"People who claim to be absolutely convinced that their stand is the only right one are dangerous. Such conviction is the essence not only of dogmatism, but of its more destructive cousin, fanaticism. It blocks off the user from learning new truth, and it is a dead giveaway of unconscious doubt. The person then has to double his or her protests in order to quiet not only the opposition but his or her own unconscious doubts as well."Try hitting one of the rabid prohibitionists with this someday, if you can manage to get their attention. Many will be too deafferented from their senses to recognize the truth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Robbie on January 24, 2001 at 07:48:37 PT: Medical Marijuana Hi,Ladies and Gents, let me say up front that to deny sick people medicine or to deny doctors their right to prescribe marijuana is absolutely wrong and should not be acceptable. I want, you want, they want sick people to be alleviated from pain.However.Let's say that MMJ goes through...nationwide. MJ goes to Schedule II, doctors can prescribe what they want, the people are satisfied that the sick are receiving the medicine that they need.Does anyone see the problem?The whole of the populace will completely reject the idea of the recreational use of marijuana. People will be satisfied that the "sick" are being taken care of, then they can redouble their efforts to stop regular citizens from using the drug of their choice. You're in pain and need a joint? Fine. You'd much rather smoke a doobie than swallow a Scotch on rocks? NO!Even the NY doctor above wanted people to make the distinction "...[he] said Tuesday the issue should not be confused with other drug policy changes. `The two should be separated because in some instances people have felt that medical marijuana is a Trojan horse or some kind of a ploy to introduce people to marijuana policy reforms'"MMJ could be the worst thing to happen to the Marijuana law reform movement. IMO [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: