cannabisnews.com: New DEA Drug Warrior





New DEA Drug Warrior
Posted by CN Staff on July 27, 2003 at 08:42:04 PT
By Cindy K. Mackey
Source: Honolulu Weekly
Associate U.S. Deputy Attorney General Karen Tandy, nominated to replace Asa Hutchinson as head of the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), has medical marijuana supporters alarmed.   During a nomination hearing before the Senate judiciary committee June 25, long-time drug warrior Tandy made it clear that she supports DEA med-pot raids in California and Oregon, despite the fact that these patients and providers have been acting in compliance with state laws. Despite evidence to the contrary, Tandy has consistently denied marijuana’s medicinal value.
During that hearing, Tandy denied any knowledge of a 1999 National Science Association study which confirms the value of med pot. “I have no basis for believing that marijuana, and specifically smoking marijuana, has any such benefits,” Tandy said.   Hawai‘i is one of 10 states that have marijuana laws, but has not yet been targeted by the DEA. Hawai‘i U.S. Representative Ed Case, who cosponsored legislation that would provide further protections for med-pot providers, said, “If Hawai‘i stepped up its licensing, I have to assume that we will also be targeted by the DEA.”   Local med-pot providers like Tom Mountain of the Honolulu Med Marijuana Patients’ Co-op remain cautious. “The co-op practically shut down when they began arresting people in California,” he said.   If the DEA suddenly began cracking down on med pot in Hawai‘i, its effects would be disastrous, according to Mountain. “Some of the HIV patients would quickly deteriorate if their supply was suddenly cut off.”   Randy, a Honolulu resident who has been sick for six years (he asked that his last name not be identified), said, “Marijuana is the only thing that has been able to stop many of the seizures.”   Med pot also helps cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by increasing their appetite, which often “saves or prolongs their lives,” says Gary Greenly, a prescribing physician of med pot in the state.   Patients with spinal injuries, cancer and multiple sclerosis use med pot to alleviate chronic pain without ingesting drugs that are far more harmful and addictive. Rahil Taalibat, bed-ridden after a severe back injury, told the Weekly, “Without marijuana, I’d have a choice between having terrible pain, or being addicted to medication that makes me sicker.”   Tandy’s likely approval by the full Senate isn’t discouraging to Greenly, who sees the use of med pot as inevitable. Greenly noted, “There is a slowly growing group of physicians that will do everything necessary to make medical marijuana available to patients who need it.   “The problem is that the U.S. government took a stance against marijuana as a killer drug used by evil people, and they don’t want to backpedal,” Greenly added. “But it is here to stay, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it became the aspirin of the 21st century.”Source: Honolulu Weekly (HI)Author: Cindy K. MackeyPublished: July 23 - July 29, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Honolulu Weekly Inc.Contact: editorial honoluluweekly.comWebsite: http://www.honoluluweekly.com/Related Articles:The Chill Is On - Jacob Sullumhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16889.shtmlTandy Won't Be Dandy for Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16876.shtmlA New Hard-Liner At The DEAhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16859.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #11 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on August 01, 2003 at 12:58:45 PT:
Hemp Trials and Hawaii.
Ekim Thanks for the support. The legislated hemp project here in Hawaii is a scam. The time,expense and effort we expended for many years to legalize industrial hemp in Hawaii was successful on paper, but the reality is it's a scam. Senator Cynthia Thielen and her son Peter (who owns Island Hemp wear) fought and finagled legislators into thinking something beneficial for our state would result from the pilot project on a 1/4 acre plot in Whitmore Village. It didn't. There has been no mention of the facility for several years and the $200,000 dollars they promised to spend to research it has gone up in smoke. It was a fraud on our people and worse a means of saying research on marijuana had already been done. Not true. We at the Hawaii Medicxal Marijuana Institute still propose clinical research here in Hawaii with our facility leading the way. Cancer, pain, nausea, AIDS and other hard drug addictions are candidates for research studies with cannabis in it's natural form. Keep an open mind and ask your new DEA chief to do the same. Progress is impeded by ignorance.
*P.S. Our state authorized medical program has almost 1,000 registered patients and is growing. Doctors are prescribing and care-givers are doing their job as well. I just received notice of my third year renewal approval by the Director himself. Aloha, peace and prayers for all. Rev. Jonathan Adler
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by goneposthole on July 30, 2003 at 07:20:24 PT
more fascist neoconning
"During that hearing, Tandy denied any knowledge of a 1999 National Science Association study which confirms the value of med pot." Does she have a malignant glioma or something?Doesn't matter which wars the neoconns wage. One on cannabis or one on a poor country that needs help, not war, those neoconns just fritter compassion out the window. Doesn't fit into the scheme of things, as it were. Those high flying neoconns are only fooling themselves. They just don't know it, yet. A doomed, diseased critter about to become a lab animal. Pity the fools.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by ekim on July 29, 2003 at 19:17:39 PT
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute - Hip Hip Horay
Jonathan do you know anything about the hemp
trails that have been going on the island. do you ever have the chance to speak to anyone from China, do you have any one who shares remideys made from Cannabis from different countrys. China are the worlds longest grower i beleive. they surely must have good recepies of this plant. it is said that they export the most hemp paper-- ever see it or buy it. also they make more fabric from hemp then anyother country as well. are there hemp shops that sell imported cloths from China. i would love to see a video of this industry and by all means your Med Institute-- have you done a Pot Tv= show. best of luck
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on July 29, 2003 at 18:42:04 PT:
DEA and Medical Marijuana in Hawaii
Aloha, I assume the new DEA chief is pro-liberty and pro-choice and pro-truth and pro-facts and pro-people and pro-benefit and pro-religious and when it comes down to it, pro-medical marijuana. She is obviously patriotic and professional.We would be thankful to make cooperative progress on her watch and create a compassionate program.
If she checks her files the Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute's application for bulk mmanufacture of cannabis is still active on file and will, as soon as my state supreme court appeal is heard, submit it for approval to her office.
Tom Mountain has never thought to work with us, so I don't speak for him, but we are legal and have court stipulated agreement of facts to prove it..Religious healing and medical usage are over-lapping and synchronous. The only difference being the practitioners. And Both are registered with the same Dept. Of Health.We are awaiting completion of our appeal to clarify this for all parties. Until then, I have just received a call from the state Narcotics Chief, Keith Kamita, who informed me he had approved my 2004 re-newal as a state approved medical cultivator and user pursuant to law and it would be processed as soon as my doctor could resubmit it. I called Dr. Wenner and he was pleased. Also we are willing to do research and approved distribution to those who cannot , for whatever reason help themselves.We will even assme the duty of helping those 7 remaining federal patients who still receive 300 low grade joints per month from Uncle Sam's Missisippi Farm. They would love better medicine, I am sure.Rev. Jonathan Adler
P.S. We are in discussions to propose a clincal research study on "ice" addiction and cannabis therapeutic applications of high-grade phyto-sanitary material that we can provide. GW Pharm and Prairie Plants are doing it.
What IS are country waitng for? 
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Inbstitute
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on July 29, 2003 at 07:43:39 PT
Just Smoke It, Yo...
"Early trials on around 150 patients showed that brain swelling was much less in patients who were given it." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1143/a03.html?397
Head Injury Trial for Cannabis-Type Drug
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on July 28, 2003 at 13:56:18 PT:
But that's the point!!
*If the DEA suddenly began cracking down on med pot in Hawai‘i, its effects would be disastrous, according to Mountain. “Some of the HIV patients would quickly deteriorate if their supply was suddenly cut off.”Randy, a Honolulu resident who has been sick for six years (he asked that his last name not be identified), said, “Marijuana is the only thing that has been able to stop many of the seizures.”* Anyone who doubts that the Reich Wing's shock troops, the Religious Right, has had it in for gays just hasn't been paying attention these last 20 years. The Compassionate Use program which has allowed the remaining members of it such as Elvy Mussika and George McMahon to continue breathing, seeing, whatever, was deliberately shut down during the ReaganBush years because the program would have received enormous numbers of HIV stricken people demanding their fair share.To the Reich Wing, this is their golden chance to gild the lilly and kill as many 'undesirables' as they can...all under the color of law.Ol' Yeshua must feel like He has an ipecac pump stuck into a stomach feed or something; He must do a lot of retching at what's been done in His name...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Treeanna on July 28, 2003 at 07:02:04 PT
heheheh
"elected" can also mean "chosen", as in "willful ignorance"
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by john wayne on July 27, 2003 at 16:23:58 PT
truth
who elected Tandy?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Truth on July 27, 2003 at 10:58:21 PT
Tandy
“I have no basis for believing that marijuana, and specifically smoking marijuana, has any such benefits,” Tandy said.elected ignorance
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 27, 2003 at 09:57:24 PT
Thanks JR
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread16959.shtml
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on July 27, 2003 at 09:31:29 PT
More Pot in Time Mag.
Busted! Drugs being planted in our national parks: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030804-471161,00.html
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment