cannabisnews.com: Some Show Support for Legalization of Marijuana
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Some Show Support for Legalization of Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 08, 2009 at 07:03:25 PT
By Kevin Hoffman
Source: Daily Iowan
Iowa -- A medical marijuana hearing Wednesday in Iowa City provided a platform for those in favor of legalizing the substance for medicinal purposes. The overwhelming majority of testifiers supported the medical-marijuana cause, with few offering any opposing views.Patients with chronic pain, doctors, a former drug prosecutor, and Iowa City residents partially made up the crowd and spoke before the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
The bulk of those who testified noted the medical benefits marijuana would provide to suffering patients and contended it would be a good replacement for powerful prescription narcotics.This was the third of four hearings held statewide regarding the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II substance. The final hearing will take place on Nov. 4 in Council Bluffs.Robert Manke, a Des Moines resident, stood before the board and described how several traffic accidents and a bout with cancer led him to rely on painkillers.After a car accident left his back broken, Manke was prescribed powerful painkillers, including Fenotra — a potent painkiller that has occasionally resulted in deaths of patients who use it.Manke said many prescribed narcotics have bad side effects, whereas marijuana has none.“I’ve never had a drug hangover with marijuana,” he said.Manke also noted he must buy his marijuana from drug dealers who sell cocaine, heroin, and other hard drugs instead of going through a legal state program.Doctors also testified before the board, delivering evidence of marijuana’s beneficial medical uses.Dale Todd, a doctor and board member of the National Epilepsy Foundation and former head of the Iowa Epilepsy Foundation, said marijuana helps slow the sporadic firing of neurons, leading to fewer seizures in those plagued with the disorder.“We know people use it, and we know it helps,” said Todd, who was asked to speak on behalf of people who use marijuana for seizure control.James Gierach, a former prosecuting attorney for drug crimes, represented Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.“The war on drugs doesn’t work,” said Gierach, whose organization deals heavily with the fight against drugs. “It puts more drugs, contaminated drugs everywhere. It is the heart of the drug problem.”George McMahon, the fifth legal medical marijuana recipient in the United States, receives monthly prescriptions for medical marijuana because he is terminally ill.“Well, I’m terminally ill, and I didn’t die; marijuana is the only drug I use,” he said. “When I stopped the other drugs, I stopped dying.”McMahon said he thinks the hearings are pointless.“I would like to see the hearings totally quit,” he said. “I would like to see the evidence that really does exist — that [the board] doesn’t admit exists — presented to the Legislature.”Nick Manna, an Iowa City resident, said he is neither for or against legalized marijuana. But he doesn’t believe marijuana fits the criteria for a Schedule I drug.“I would consider [the hearing] a win if the pharmacy provides good scientific reasoning for whatever decision they make,” he said.DI reporter Parker Smith contributed to this report.Source: Daily Iowan, The (IA Edu)Author: Kevin HoffmanPublished: October 8, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Daily IowanContact: daily-iowan uiowa.eduWebsite: http://www.dailyiowan.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/45yB2Rn0CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by RevRayGreen on October 08, 2009 at 22:00:31 PT
Quality footage thanx to Jim Gettman/Iowa NORML
Iowa Board of Pharmacy Hearing on Medical Marijuana in Iowa City, October 7, 2009. A Party Down TV production.look 4 me 46:34video of Dr. Herman’s entire testimony, including questions from Carl Olsen and my on-air cohost Eltone 
Iowa Board of Pharmacy Hearing on Medical Marijuana
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on October 08, 2009 at 13:12:24 PT
Good to see LEAP there...
"James Gierach, a former prosecuting attorney for drug crimes, represented Law Enforcement Against Prohibition."And George McMahon, of course... the kindest, most thoughtful Barbarian I ever met.I'm so thankful he got to "stop dying". He's been magnificent at not forgetting those not as fortunate as he's been in the medical cannabis situation.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on October 08, 2009 at 13:07:16 PT
Supporters outnumbered opponents
And so it goes. It's the way it's going to keep going, too.Jennifer Husmann apparently lives in an alternate reality of some sort.
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Comment #1 posted by RevRayGreen on October 08, 2009 at 09:09:00 PT
more news link
Was a great day,except the building it was not handicapped accessible AT ALL !!!! met some new doctors and many more patients....Thanks everyone watching from afar......http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/63695897.html#idc-ctoolsSupporters Outnumber Opponents at Medical Marijuana Hearing in Iowa City 
By Daren SukhramStory Created: Oct 7, 2009 at 3:12 PM CDT (Story Updated: Oct 7, 2009 at 10:18 PM CDT )Making an illegal drug legal for medical purposes brought an opinionated group together in Iowa City today. The issue is medical marijuana.Supporters outnumbered opponents today as the Iowa Pharmacy Board held the third of four public hearings on it.Standing in front of strangers, Lisa Jackson talked about her four year struggle to control her fibromyalgia "There were times I had 10 to 12 medications on my dresser, sometimes take multiple doses a day," said Jackson.None of the meds worked. This mother of four says she found the most effective cure for her chronic pain disorder about two years ago."If I smoke marijuana and keep the THC in my system, I can keep everything under control,” said Jackson. Jackson hopes sharing her story helps the Iowa Pharmacy Board understand what she calls the medical benefits of marijuana."You don't get high. It gives me the ability to get up, gives me ability to function, that's all it does."Substance abuse counselor Jennifer Husmann stood on the stage for a different reason. She says next to alcohol, she sees more teenagers recreationally using marijuana. "I feel strongly that moving in the direction of medical marijuana bring increased access to youth. I work with youth, and I am concerned about the effects of marijuana on youth," said Husmann.I had a few words for I had a few words for the "gateway-gal" afterher TV-Interview, I told her who I was,a man is 43 years old and is also has mutliple sclerosis and uses medical marijuana for his health, it is no longer a "GATEWAY DRUG"?teens and young adult will still be able to get marijuana with or without medical marijuana. medical marijuana is about ADULTS not teenagers, Why don't you focus on prescription abuse, that is the real gateway
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