cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana: Then and Now 





Medical Marijuana: Then and Now 
Posted by CN Staff on June 26, 2006 at 22:24:20 PT
By Kenneth Michael White
Source: Frontiers of Freedom
USA -- In 1937, the 75th Congress criminalized all parts of a plant called Cannabis sativa L. The proponents of The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, a.k.a., prohibition, represented the interests of both public and private factions. The opponents of prohibition represented house-call doctors and small farmers. The losers of this debate in 1937 were (shock) the house-call doctors and small farmers. The more things change in the 69-years-and-counting of prohibition, the more they seem to stay exactly the same, even though today does not have to be like it was back then.
Back then, prohibitionists hyped the threat posed by the abuse of cannabis. It was said that the mere use of cannabis could turn the most habitually calm person on the planet into a maniacal murderer instantly, without any warning. Back then, it was “legal” to punish people on the basis of misinformation.Today, prohibitionists still hype the threat posed by the abuse of cannabis. It is still said that people who merely use cannabis are ipso facto abusers of cannabis (not even a doctor can “safely” recommend the use of cannabis under Federal law). Today, it appears “legal” to continue to punish people on the basis of misinformation.Back then, prohibitionists did not explain why hemp, which cannot get anyone “high,” should be illegal. Back then, it was “legal” to formulate public policy that artificially denies the market a profitable and renewable commodity.Today, prohibitionists do not explain why hemp, which cannot get anyone “high,” should be illegal. Today, it appears “legal” to enforce public policy that artificially denies the market a profitable and renewable commodity.Back then, prohibitionists argued that some non-whites used cannabis; therefore, prohibitionists argued that cannabis should be illegal. Back then, patent institutional racism was “legal.”Today, prohibitionists tend to ignore that the war on drugs disproportionately subjects non-whites to the criminal justice system, even though more whites than non-whites actually use illicit drugs. Today, latent institutional racism appears “legal.”In 1937, the 75th Congress was led by their prejudice instead of their intelligence. That failure has led to the needless suffering of millions of people and a loss of who-knows-how-many industrial advancements. This week an important bill will be voted on by the House of Representatives that could make things a little better for legitimate medical marijuana patients. Let’s hope that in 2006, the 109th Congress will finally follow common sense and amend Federal drug policy in one small, meaningful and incremental degree by recognizing the right of the individual States to enact medical marijuana programs.Call your representative now and instruct him or her to support the Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment. “Today” is a good time to fix the problems that still remain from “back then.”Kenneth Michael White is an attorney and the author of “The Beginning of Today: The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937” and “Buck” (both by PublishAmerica 2004).Source: Frontiers of Freedom (VA)Author: Kenneth Michael White Published: June 27, 2006Copyright: 2006 Frontiers of Freedom Contact: opeds opeds.com Website: http://www.ff.org/Related Articles:Support States' Rights -- OK Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21940.shtmlLobbying Group Presses for Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21928.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #24 posted by Had Enough on June 29, 2006 at 03:58:35 PT
mrs runruff
Good to hear from you again. Happy to hear runruff is doing ok. He sounds like a determined man. Determined to not let this crap take him down. Strong willed he must be.Did runruff send some hugs home for your dogs? :)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by Toker00 on June 28, 2006 at 09:31:21 PT
Good news, Linda.
That would be great that he may be moving closer to you. I am impressed that he is holding up so well. I knew he was strong in spirit, and am glad he is strong is body, as well. Peace.Toke.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by afterburner on June 28, 2006 at 07:52:46 PT
#3 zandor & #13 runruffswife 
Pot-TV is back up after 3 days:"Three long days of no CC makes everyone go crazy - sorry! 
The websites were all down since Sunday morning. There were no raids, no chaos, no legal trouble, nothing like that. The problem was our webmaster was at a remote location for a few days without cellphone reception. David Malmo-Levine and a friend travelled to find him and get the passwords required to reboot the server applications, or fix whatever the problem might be otherwise." full story
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4777.htmlWelcome back, Linda, from a successful visit, and a safe return. I know you'd rather still be with Jerry though. As they say in Jamaica, "Soon come!" 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by FoM on June 28, 2006 at 07:45:51 PT
Paul
Why I don't post more articles is because I am trying to only post what is happening at the moment. We have gotten very big and I am trying to save bandwidth for DrugSense and I figure if I do less articles we can have good and long comments that are more important then doing all the news. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by paulpeterson on June 28, 2006 at 07:38:12 PT
FoM
Thanks for researching the citation for the marijuana article in the Des Moines Register 6/17/06. Maybe you would like to post that article because it is about medical marijuana and all.I guess they don't put their editorials online so my editorial won't be accessible or something, but that is OK.I just wanted you to know about news that I have seen in the paper and all.Thanks for noticing. Paul.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by runruffswife on June 28, 2006 at 06:35:01 PT
Whig, Truth, Hope
Thank you.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by FoM on June 27, 2006 at 20:44:13 PT
Paul
I found the one article you mentioned. I don't know who the person the writer is talking about though. Here's the link.http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060617/OPINION01/606170324
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by whig on June 27, 2006 at 19:10:17 PT
runruffswife
I hope you're right and Jerry gets sent closer to you, or better yet released early. I wouldn't try to say anything that would make you feel worse if it doesn't work out that way but I know you are focusing on the positive so if Steve Kubby could get his time reduced maybe Jerry will too.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by Truth on June 27, 2006 at 19:02:50 PT
Linda
Best of luck to both of you."All good things in all good time"
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by Hope on June 27, 2006 at 17:59:07 PT
Whoo Hoo! Runruff's wife!
That's such good news! I'm glad you made it safely there and back and got to spend time with Runruff and I'm so happy to hear that he's bearing up well.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by FoM on June 27, 2006 at 15:29:42 PT
Got To Have Faith
Linda I do understand what you mean. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.We should try to live by Faith. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by runruffswife on June 27, 2006 at 15:20:34 PT
FOM - Runruff
No word yet. It's the Bureau of Prisons' policy to not tell their inmates anything, or their inmate's wives. We took this as a good sign though: when Jerry goes to Pill Line to get his meds, up to this point the medicine bottles with his name on them have said 15 refills, 14 refills, 13 refills, and the pill bottle this last Saturday said 1 refill. Jer said not to get too excited that they make mistakes all of the time, but it could mean he's only got one more month in that place. We'll take it as a good sign. And he called me this morning and they did another medical evaluation on him which was better than the ones before. So, we think all signs point towards at least a transfer out West. I'm at the place inside where I'd rather get my hopes up and be on that positive train rather than be afraid to get my hopes up out of fear, you know what I mean?
And as far as wanting to throttle those punky guards. Yes, their behavior is upsetting, but I thought about what I said and I thought, they deal with a lot of icky people, and maybe that's what they do to protect themselves someway. My counselor said, "the truth is Linda, we are all doing the best we can in any given moment." I will believe that.
Love Love Love
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by FoM on June 27, 2006 at 13:17:31 PT
runruffswife
I really hope that they release Jerry soon. Have you heard anything? I'm glad you had a good visit but I still feel so darn bad for the both of you.Paul, I'll keep my eyes out for the articles you mentioned. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by runruffswife on June 27, 2006 at 12:54:04 PT
runruff - from the Inside
Hi Friends,
I've returned from visiting my dear sweet husband in the Massachusetts prison. It was wonderful and great to see him again after 5 months, and on our anniversary. It was great to look in his eyes and see that he is truly doing alright. It was gut-wrenchingly disturbing though to witness the verbal and mental abuse they all have to endure by these punk bully guards with bad attitudes and foul mouths. Really disgusting. But Jerry said "keep in mind that these jobs attract this ultra-low caliber type people." And he said he doesn't take their abuse in, he lets it roll off his back. I'm so glad he can do that. I wanted to jump out of my chair and throttle these punks with my little hands. Ah, but breathe Linda, this too shall pass.
Just wanted to let you all know that I made it there and back and am happy to report Jerry is healthy and doing as well as a good soul can do in a Federal Prison.
Thank you again for all your love, support, and good intentions. Love Love Love
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by paulpeterson on June 27, 2006 at 12:53:23 PT
FoM
Just thought I would let you know the Des Moines Register finally has me on their screen. I also may have an editorial in the "Sioux City Journal" (Iowa, as well).I will update you when I see that one in print as well. Kind of nice, also, what with me getting a Sioux City judge on my false arrest and malicious prosecution matters.No, I haven't heard back from the Sioux City people on my decriminalization ordinance that I presented to them a few weeks ago.More later, from inside enemy territory. PAUL PETERSON
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by paulpeterson on June 27, 2006 at 12:49:50 PT
FoM-new editorial in the Des Moines Register (Mon)
"Marijuana Paranoia Counterproductive" title, Monday, 6/26/06, Des Moines Register (Iowa)   That was a fine article by Marc Hansen on June 17 ("Nothing Can Ease his Pain Quite Like Marijuana").   Marijuana products help multiple sclerosis patients by avoiding the "demylenation" of nerve fibers. There is an MS patient in Northwest Iowa who receives federally rolled marijuana cigarettes every month-one of only seven or so surviving recipients (only 15 were ever approved before the program slammed shut in 1991).   I have attempted to gain approval from the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors for a decriminalization program with a medical exemption so that I can start to speak with local doctors about this remarkable substance. Each time there is a reactionary article (such as "A More Wicked Weed", April 23), I lose support.   I hope Hansen's article helps breathe new life into my attempts to help society out of this drug-war mania so we can start learning to understand how cannabis can help with neurodegenerative diseases.-Paul Peterson, Storm Lake.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by mayan on June 27, 2006 at 12:47:45 PT
Veto
With a congress as bought and corrupted as himself, why would Bush need to veto anything? He would,however, veto anything that would weaken the DEA's ability to harass the sick and dying. We have no representation. Pay attention to who votes against Hinchey-Rohrabacher. You can bet they either aren't up for re-election this year or they are ready to retire! THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Charlie Sheen at the 9/11 L.A. Conference (video):
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/june2006/270606charliesheen.htmBlender Magazine Covers Tom Delonge's Comments on 9/11:
http://www.911blogger.com/files/images/blender_delonge.JPGReview of the Film - "Who Killed John O'Neill?"
http://www.communitycurrency.org/wkjo.html9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 27, 2006 at 12:36:48 PT
whig
I don't know what or why it went down. I thought more then one person should have important access information because what if something happened to the person responsible? How would it get fixed?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by whig on June 27, 2006 at 12:24:40 PT
FoM
Whatever they are saying about it, I'm a little suspicious.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 27, 2006 at 12:18:43 PT
What I Read
The last thing I read is the webmaster went on vacation and they can't get in touch with him but are working on it. I guess only one person has access to what needs to be accessed to fix whatever the problem is. I hope this helps.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Treeanna on June 27, 2006 at 12:06:48 PT
 bah :(
I have been wondering the same thing :(
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by zandor on June 27, 2006 at 08:53:47 PT
Pot-tv
Anybody know what happened to pot-tv or for that matter cannabis culture mag site and their forum?I can take a guess but I hope I am wrong.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by whig on June 27, 2006 at 08:07:02 PT
zandor
George W. Bush has never, not once, vetoed a bill.He just issues signing statements that say the executive branch will interpret the law to be other than what it says.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by zandor on June 27, 2006 at 07:47:55 PT
I still fear King George
Even if this responsible bill does pass by some miracle and I pray it will. I fear that the King George will have his pocket court make it un-constructional. King George may just not sign it into law and use his veto powers instead. We must keep up the fight. We must take back America.Inc once again and become the United States of America and not just America.Inc anymore.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment