cannabisnews.com: Legal Aspects of `Medical' Marijuana Legal Aspects of `Medical' Marijuana Posted by FoM on March 31, 2001 at 07:16:10 PT Commentary Source: Tampa Tribune Voters in seven states have approved the medicinal use of marijuana (there is a movement in Florida to do the same), but Washington warned physicians against abiding by the referendums because federal drug laws prohibit the cultivation, possession or distribution of the plant. The result is a legal mess, which is why it was appropriate for the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue last week. Supporters of medical marijuana have long claimed it is useful in treating glaucoma, mitigating the side effects of cancer chemotherapy and preventing the ``wasting'' associated with AIDS. But such use of the drug lacks the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. So the court's decision, expected later this term, should be based not only on the legal ramifications of using ``prescription pot,'' but, more importantly, whether the drug is actually effective in the treatment of certain ailments. We already know of some of the things marijuana does to its users. The drug - and it is a drug - causes disorientation and, among those who smoke it frequently, a telltale pop-eyed look. It has also been associated with mental problems and lung cancer. It's also known that although the substance may lower eye pressure in glaucoma cases, there are six other sets of medicines that do the same job (not to mention laser procedures and surgery) without the social risks. Arguments could be made that those in great discomfort or facing death may simply want relief in their last days. But the court should not get into that issue. Anyway, there are legitimate and effective ways to ease pain and illness-induced depression. So what should the justices do? They should decide whether ``medical necessity'' cases violate federal drug laws - period. That's important because a less comprehensive ruling might allow ``cannabis clubs'' to distribute marijuana for medical use, which in turn might well open the door to unrestricted use for anyone who claims to be ``sick.'' There is no doubt that some supporters of prescription pot see it as an opportunity to smoke the illegal substance without fear of criminal prosecution. But that should not enter into the court's ruling. The decision should be a far-reaching one based on factual therapeutic data and whether use of the plant for medicinal purposes violates federal law. Anything less and the justices will surely be dealing with the issue again. Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Author: Neil Johnson of The Tampa TribunePublished: April 2, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Tribune Co. Contact: tribletters tampatrib.com Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Forum: http://tampabayonline.net/interact/welcome.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Ed Carpenter on April 01, 2001 at 00:37:52 PT: Legal Aspects of `Medical' Marijuana "We already know of some of the things marijuana does to its users. The drug - and it is a drug - causes disorientation and, among those who smoke it frequently, a telltale pop-eyed look. It has also been associated with mental problems and lung cancer."Compare that with another popular drug 'Prozac.' It's legal, and here's what it does:"More Common Side Effects may include: Abnormal dreams, agitation, anxiety, bronchitis, chills, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue, hay fever, inability to fall or stay asleep, increased appetite, lack or loss of appetite, light-headedness,nausea, nervousness, sweating, tremors, weakness, weight loss, yawning.""Less Common Side effects may include: Abnormal ejaculation, abnormal gait, abnormal stoppage of menstrual flow, acne, amnesia, apathy, arthritis, asthma, belching, bone pain, breast cysts, breast pain, brief loss of consciousness, bursitis, chills and fever, conjunctivitis, convulsions, dark tarry stool, difficulty in swallowing, dilation of pupils, dimness of vision, dry skin, ear pain, exaggerated feeling of well-being, excessive bleeding, facial swelling due to fluid retention, fluid retention, hair loss, hallucinations, hangover effect, hiccups, high or low blood pressure, hives, hostility, impotence, increased sex drive, inflammation of the: esophagus, gums, stomach lining, tongue, and vagina, intolerance of light, involuntary movement, irrational ideas, irregular heartbeat, jaw or neck pain, lack of muscle coordination,low blood pressure upon standing, low blood sugar, migraine headache, mouth inflammation, neck pain and rigidity, nosebleed, ovarial disorders, paranoid reaction, pelvic pain, pneumonia, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, ringing in the ears, severe chest pain, skin inflammation, skin rash,thirst, twitching, uncoordinated movements, urinary disorders, vague feeling of bodily discomfort, vertigo, weight gain.""Rare Side Effects may include: Abortion, anti-social behavior, blood in urine, bloody diarrhea, bone disease, breast enlargement, cataracts, colitis, coma, deafness, decreased reflexes, dehydration, double vision, drooping of eyelids, duodenal ulcer, enlarged abdomen, enlargement of liver, enlargement or increased activity of thyroid gland, excess growth of coarse hair on face, chest, etc., excess uterine or vaginal hemorrage, extreme muscle tension, eye bleeding, female milk production, fluid accumulation and swelling in the head, fluid buildup in larynx and lungs, gallstones, glaucoma, gout, heart attack, hepatitis, high blood sugar, hysteria, inability to control bowel movements, increased salivation, inflammation of: eyes, eyelids, fallopian tubes,testes, gallbladder, small intestine, tissue below skin, and lung inflammation, kidney disorders, menstrual disorders, mouth sores, muscle inflammation or bleeding, muscle spasms, painful sexual intercourse for women, psoriasis, rashes, reddish or purplish spots on the skin, reduction of body temperature, rheumatoid arthritis, seborrhea, shingles, skin discoloration, skin inflammation and disorders, slowing of heart rate, slurred speech, spitting blood, stomach ulcer, stupor, suicidal thoughts, taste loss, temporary cessation of breathing, tingling sensation around the mouth, tongue discoloration and swelling, urinary tract disorders, vomitingblood, yellow eyes and skin."Give me a break... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by observer on March 31, 2001 at 11:35:52 PT Pop-Eye among those who smoke it frequently, a telltale pop-eyed lookThe demon weed causes many harmful effects upon our youth!pop-eyed looks:http://store6.yimg.com/I/villagestreetwear_1625_68279952 (note th' eyes! whoa!)http://store.yahoo.com/villagestreetwear/reefermadness.html http://www.postershop.com/Reefer-Madness/Reefer-Madness-Weed-From-The-Devils-Garden---Movie-Sheet-4003363.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 31, 2001 at 09:08:47 PT: If Lies Made Me Laugh, I'd Be in Hysterics "The drug - and it is a drug - causes disorientation and, among those who smoke it frequently, a telltale pop-eyed look. It has also been associated with mental problems and lung cancer."I have seen some incredibly high people on cannabis, and they were sedated, or slow, or out there, even paranoid or confused, but I have never seen someone "disoriented." He must be thinking of someone who is drunk on that legal inebriant, booze. What is a pop-eyed look? Is that what a walleye looks like, or someone with Graves Disease (Barbara Bush)? The mental problems angle was debunked in 1893-1894 by the India Hemp Drugs Commission report, in the 1940's by the LaGuardia Commission, and more recently by Lyketsos et al.:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10221315&dopt=AbstractSee also, "Cannabis: A Breed Apart" in Russo, E. 2000. Handbook of Pyschotropic Herbs. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.Although cannabis in chronic smoked usage may cause bronchitic symptoms or some "precancerous changes" in the cells, there are no proven cases of lung cancer due to cannabis in people that did not also smoke tobacco. Some mouth and throat cancers have been alleged. Likely all could be prevented through judicious use of high potency cultivars, especially with vaporizers. It is a shame that anonymous ideologues are allowed to disseminate this nonsense unchallenged. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by ekim on March 31, 2001 at 07:43:58 PT: DEA Denies Marijuana Rescheduling Petition Top Story: DEA Denies Marijuana Rescheduling Petition Just in Time for the Supreme Court Hearings; An Appeal By Petitioners Will Be Filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals. Posted by Richard Cowan on 2001-03-28 23:00:44 Source: www.marijuananews.com Posted March 28, 2001 (MarijuanaNews note: A week before the Supreme Court’s hearing on the Oakland CBC, the DEA finally stops playing bureaucratic games and throws a hardball. They had previously sent the Gettman petition over to HHS, giving the impression that they were passing it on without objection. See [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on March 31, 2001 at 07:31:44 PT Bullshit I guess alcohol and addictive cigarettes don't count. These guys are swimming in their own BS. 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