cannabisnews.com: Proponents To Tout Marijuana Benefits at Forum Proponents To Tout Marijuana Benefits at Forum Posted by FoM on May 01, 2001 at 08:30:23 PT By Richard Guzmán, The Desert Sun Source: Desert Sun Former San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputy David Herrick had been in constant pain for five years. He tried surgery, pain killers and treatments promising to dull the pain that had been a part of his life since 1990, when he was run over by a car while on duty.Nothing worked, he said, until he tried marijuana in 1996. "Within three to five minutes, the pain was gone," Derrick said. He quickly became an advocate for the drug, and Sunday, he will be among the speakers at the Community Marijuana Forum on Sunday at Palm Desert Civic Park arguing for the reform of drug laws dealing with marijuana."There’s a bad stigma about marijuana that needs to be addressed," he said.It’s a stigma that has come with a cost. Derrick served a 29-month prison sentence several years ago for providing the drug to a woman suffering from cancer. He’s endured the resentment of his law enforcement colleagues.But, today, Derrick lives relatively pain free and praises the drug that has enabled him to lead a normal life again. "Conventional medicine can only go so far, and it’s remarkable how marijuana works," Derrick said.Sunday’s event is sponsored by The Marijuana Anti-prohibition Project, a local community group interested in promoting "alternatives to prohibition."Organizers said their goal is to remove the issue of marijuana use for medicinal and recreational purposes from the legal system."This is not going to be a festival or a celebration of marijuana," said Lanny Swerdow, the event’s organizer. "It’s to provide information and engage in discussion about marijuana and the alternatives to prohibition."In 1996, California’s voters passed Proposition 215, which permitted access to marijuana for medical purposes. However, federal law prohibits doctors from prescribing marijuana, thereby hindering full implementation.Swerdow said a lot of misinformation is given about marijuana and has led to misconception of the herb."Marijuana is a plant. It’s not even processed like alcohol. It’s a relatively benign drug that has many benefits," he said.Although they acknowledged there are some positive medicinal effects of marijuana use, officials with the Riverside County Substance Abuse Programs said the negative aspects of the drug far outweigh the benefits." THC the main active chemical in marijuana is two to three times the amount that it was 15 years ago," said Jim Powell supervisor at the Riverside Substance Abuse Program.He said the stronger marijuana can lead to faster addiction and harmful side effects, such as loss of motivation and loss of memory.But Derrick maintains marijuana is less dangerous than some drugs that are legal."There is a big difference between alcohol, tobacco and marijuana," Derrick said."Marijuana is not damaging. And you get immediate reaction to whatever is really bothering you, physically or physiologically," he said.Marijuana Facts:Facts about marijuana according to National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant. Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Nearly 69 million Americans older than age 12 have tried marijuana at least once.The average age of those first trying marijuana for the first time was 14 years. Complete Title: Proponents To Tout Marijuana Benefits at Forum Sunday If you want to go:When: 1 p.m. SundayWhere: In the amphitheater at Palm desert Civic Park, at the corner of Fred Waring Drive and San Pablo.Cost: FreeInformation: 799-2055 Richard Guzmán covers La Quinta for The Desert Sun.Source: Desert Sun (CA)Author: Richard Guzmán, The Desert SunPublished: May 1, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Desert SunWebsite: http://www.thedesertsun.com/Contact: letters palmspri.gannett.comCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by SWAMPIE on May 01, 2001 at 23:50:43 PT MEDICAL CANNABIS Some Marijuana will put you to sleep,other strains will give you a caffeine/speed high.If you have the right strain,you can relieve your pain and do astounding things,if you don't partake of too much.....Go Figure....I would rather take two tokes of the good life than two joints on schwag/sleep weed..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by aocp on May 01, 2001 at 12:29:58 PT Persecution He said the stronger marijuana can lead to faster addiction and harmful side effects, such as loss of motivation and loss of memory.I see. So, being lazy and forgetful are prosecutable offenses. Then again, more potent MJ actually reduces the side effects of smoking b/c one takes less to get the desired effects. Not that anyone here doesn't already know this, but talk about a narrow range of vision (and i bet it's on purpose, too! Ya think?) [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Arresting America on May 01, 2001 at 10:47:06 PT Arresting America 4.5 million down 64.5 million to go. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Duzt on May 01, 2001 at 09:17:27 PT lies and distortion "Facts about marijuana according to National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant." Truth: Medicinal cannabis is only the dried buds of the female flower, no seeds, stems or shade leaves. It is always green with varying colors from yellow to purple. It is not shredded due to the fact that this damages the trichomes on the leaves which contain much of the medicine."Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant." Truth: Marijuana is a term that refers to Cannabis. Cannabis doesn't refer to any other drug made from the plant. (There trying to make 'cannabis' appear taboo like'marijuana')"Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Nearly 69 million Americans older than age 12 have tried marijuana at least once."So should we arrest all those 69 million people? Great free country we live in. I'm sure the people in China feel free too. They believe they're free. If the government convinces you that you live in a free contry, then you must live in one, right? http://www.wonderbuds.com [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: