cannabisnews.com: WA MMJ Pot Measure Would Widen List of Prescribers
function share_this(num) {
 tit=encodeURIComponent('WA MMJ Pot Measure Would Widen List of Prescribers');
 url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/25/thread25470.shtml');
 site = new Array(5);
 site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
 return false;
}






WA MMJ Pot Measure Would Widen List of Prescribers
Posted by CN Staff on March 05, 2010 at 04:45:14 PT
By Mark Rahner, Seattle Times Staff Reporter
Source: Seattle Times 
Seattle, WA -- Patients who qualify for medical marijuana will be able to get prescriptions for it from a wider range of health-care professionals, under a bill that appears headed to the governor's desk. Under Senate Bill 5798, it won't just be doctors who can get sick people access to pot.The bill expands the list of licensed medical practitioners who can also recommend medical marijuana to physicians' assistants, nurse practitioners and naturopathic physicians, said one of its sponsors, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle.
"The reason is that, especially in rural areas in the state and away from Puget Sound, because of long distances, many people do not see M.D.s. They see nurse practitioners and physicians assistants who have prescriptive authority," Kohl-Welles said.A representative of Kohl-Welles said the bill passed through the House Wednesday night "with little debate."The House did add two amendments related to how prescriptions should be written, so the bill will go back to the Senate for approval, then on to Gov. Chris Gregoire for approval. A governor's spokesman said Thursday that it was too early to say what might happen because the revisions still need to be approved by the Senate.The final marijuana-related legislation active in the Legislature this year, it passed after some others were defeated — including one Kohl-Welles had sponsored that would have reduced pot possession for adults to a civil infraction, and one from Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, to legalize pot and sell it in state-run liquor stores to people 21 and older.Polls conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) show that the majority of Washington voters are dissatisfied with current marijuana laws and favor lowering penalties for possession."The public is out ahead of elected officials," said ACLU spokesman Doug Honig. "There's a concern among some elected officials that they'll be accused of being soft on drugs and soft on crime if they support something like this."Kohl-Welles holds, who holds a Ph.D. in sociology of education and an M.A. in sociology, agreed: "The Legislature tends to lag behind social change. And secondly, we have a short legislative session, and it's really hard to get to all the bills, especially if there's an issue with some of them. And I think the issues regarding marijuana are still fairly traditional in our state Legislature. If 'marijuana' is on a bill they're uncomfortable with the bill and maybe fear it may be used against them in an election campaign."Source: Seattle Times (WA)Author:  Mark Rahner, Seattle Times Staff ReporterPublished: March 4, 2010Copyright: 2010 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/TOCgIdk6CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help 
     
     
     
     




Comment #21 posted by Canis420 on March 06, 2010 at 21:57:14 PT:
Paint with light
Thank you for the comments. I have already begun a list of the talking points and will incorporate some of your language into my response...or feel free to send your own response to Peggy.lawson eog.myflorida.com  She sent this on behalf of the Director Bruce D. Grant. She is Asst. Director
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by Paint with light on March 06, 2010 at 21:06:53 PT
Hope
Thanks.I always try to keep my posts short but this time I felt it was necessary.Your opinion means a lot.Equal with alcohol.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by Hope on March 06, 2010 at 19:13:06 PT
Paint with light Comment 17 and 16, of course.
You did a very good job. Excellent!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by Hope on March 06, 2010 at 19:10:20 PT
Paint with light Comment 17
Outstanding! 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by Paint with light on March 06, 2010 at 15:55:13 PT
the rest of the story
"Any policy change that results in an increase in marijuana use, particularly among youth, is unacceptable."Any policy that puts adults or youth in jail for using a safer substance than alcohol is unacceptable.In states that have decriminalized, teen usage has gone down.
Do you think sending a youth to jail is productive?Do you think we should all youth to jail?Remember we are talking about regulated, taxed, and controlled adult cannabis use."Cannabis use has acute effects on attention and memory, something that constitutes a particular problem for adolescents still in school and perhaps contemplating a collegiate future."Jail, loss of pell grants, financial costs, family stress are much worse than any slight effect cannabis may have and are definitely deterrents to a collegiate future.Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and a lot of others used cannabis in their youth and they did okay.Let me remind you, we are addressing adult cannabis use.We are not advocating for youth use.Youth are using cannabis now. As a side effect of the law they can also have their lives ruined by the unfair criminal justice system."Furthermore, marijuana use impairs judgment and motor skills, posing a serious risk of automobile accidents."This is simply not true.Where do your facts come from?
(cite studies)"It is also estimated that about 10% of marijuana users eventually become dependent on it."Estimated by who? People are dependent on coffee in the same way but we don't put them in jail for it."By enforcing policies that suppress the use of addictive drugs like marijuana",Cannabis is not addictive. What studies are you referring to?
(cite studies to the contrary)"we are affirming our ultimate respect for freedom and liberty by ensuring that fewer Americans get trapped into a life of addiction."Cannabis is not addicting.
(cite studies)All you are doing is insuring that a large portion of the population will have their lives trapped in the criminal justice system for using something that is safer than aspirin."Finally, please be aware that federal and Florida laws prohibit “medical marijuana” because an expert review of the evidence conducted by the Institute of Medicine concluded that “Smoked marijuana…is a crude THC delivery system that also delivers harmful substances…"You don't have to smoke cannabis.You can eat it, you can vaporize it(no flame, no smoke), you can even use it in a suppository, although that doesn't appeal to many."[and] cannot be expected to provide a precisely defined drug effect."People use cannabis instead of marinol because they can control their dosage better."For those reasons there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved medication.”Those reasons are false so this part of your argument is without any facts at all."Safer and scientifically proven drugs exist for all of the medical conditions that marijuana is erroneously thought to treat."It is only "erroneously thought" if the effects or relief are false.
(give a link to granny storm crow's list)The overwhelming evidence is that cannabis provides relief for scores of problems now, as it did for hundreds of years before lies and false testimony made it illegal.Fact....It has been used safely for hundreds of years and was recommend as such by doctors until it was made illegal.Please look up the testimony that first made it illegal.If that doesn't shame you then maybe you have another agenda or loyalty other than to the citizens you represent.Thank you for the dialog and I await your responses.I am not going away.I want to return liberty and freedom to the citizens and stop the government from persecuting people for using a substance safer than alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals.Of couse I would close with....Legal like alcohol....but that is just me.Thanks you Canis420 for your efforts.This is the way to make changes. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by Paint with light on March 06, 2010 at 14:53:15 PT
Rebuttal
I may not do as good a job as some here but I will give it a try."It is important to understand that our federal and state drug control policies have one overarching goal: to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of illicit drugs like marijuana."That is why I wrote you. I want to change the status of cannabis.It should not be illegal.It is not a dangerous plant. "Establishing a taxed and regulated legal market for adult marijuana users would not advance the goal of our drug policies."It would if it wasn't illegal."First, legal access to marijuana would likely result in steep usage rate increases."Likely is not fact.The facts are where it has been decriminalized or legalized the rates of usage have not increased, and in some cases have actually gone down."Our experience with alcohol and tobacco has taught us that commercial interests weaken sensible regulatory efforts."You have no regulatory ability now. The market exists. The market will not go away.Surely you don't suggest that we should do away with alcohol and tobacco regulations because of weakened regulatory efforts."A legal marijuana industry would employ promotion, advertising, and lobbying to increase demand while maintaining prices well below their current black market levels."The key word here is employ.Just like alcohol and tobacco and pharmaceuticals this would result in jobs and revenue for the state.Cannabis is safer than both alcohol and tobacco and all pharmaceuticals. No deaths or serious side effects are proven.Decreasing black market values would be a benefit to those who use cannabis for medical reasons."Stimulating demand while lowering prices would undoubtedly lead to both increases in the number of Americans that use marijuana as well as the intensity with which they use it."Americans switching to cannabis rather than alcohol or tobacco would be a good thing.Remember, it is safer than either."I am very concerned about the health and well being of Florida citizens.'I am too. Maybe we can examine the facts and help people instead of ruining their lives and sending them to jail.Do you really think jail is less harmful than cannabis? "The deaths caused each year by alcohol and tobacco represent a major cost to society that is in no way offset by the tax revenue generated by the sales of these substances."No worry here. Cannabis has not caused a single death in 10,000 years of recorded usage."Furthermore, I do not believe that the adverse consequences of marijuana use (respiratory diseases,..."What studies are you referring to?
(list studies that prove otherwise.)"traffic fatalities"Again, what studies are you referring to?
(list studies that prove otherwise.)"poor school performance",
(quote studies that prove otherwise)Again, please tell me what studies you are referring to?"dependence",What studies?
(quote studies to the contrary)"etc.)"Etc?"could ever offset the potential tax revenue it might generate."Millions of dollars in revenue for a safer non-toxic alternative to alcohol is reason enough to legalize.I am going to post this and then do the second half in another post.I am afraid I might hit the wrong key and send this into the galactic bit bucket. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by ekim on March 06, 2010 at 12:39:00 PT
Stossel on Prohibition 
Ch 359 Dir Tv 7pm on Sat niteon FBN 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by Hope on March 06, 2010 at 11:11:27 PT
Canis420
The IOM report. You definitely will have to point out the relevant parts that the Narc either purposely overlooked... thinking we haven't got enough sense to read the report... or hasn't even read himself. Prohibitionists like to pick out that line of the report and ignore the rest of it. Like how it LIKELY COULD be relevant medicine for SOME people, but perhaps a better delivery system than fire and smoke could be available... which of course it is.Replying well to that correspondence will be a job. Lots of research, quotes, and references, and care with how you compose and compile it, but it could be done in several hours. Might take the whole weekend or a week or more of work. Obviously, it can't be sloppy in any way and must be very well and carefully done... format, spell check, etc.. It would certainly be worth the trouble if it's important to you, and I expect it is.I'd like to see your work, if you decide to do it, before you send it off.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by Hope on March 06, 2010 at 10:45:08 PT
Canis420
If you're going to reply to him... the only way is line by line, point counter point, like Dongenero advised... refuting each statement... line by line.What comes to mind for me when he states, "It is important to understand that our federal and state drug control policies have one overarching goal: to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of illicit drugs like marijuana.", is "Interesting "goal". How's that working out for you?"
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Canis420 on March 06, 2010 at 10:13:52 PT:
#10
I have been supporting this initiative...I have personally got over 100 petitions signed and turned into the SOE here in Pinellas County. I know other ppl have a lot more but I am trying to do my part. I am formulating my response to this FODC person and they are not gonna like what Im gonna say! If anyone has comments about their response that I can add to my next letter feel free to add them on here.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by por1 on March 06, 2010 at 07:16:26 PT:
Canis420
Nothing you say will get through.You may find one or two senetors or reps in the state that is sipathetic but dont count on it.
Go with HadEnough's advice and keep up the fight
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Had Enough on March 05, 2010 at 23:57:07 PT
Hey Florida...
Get off your ass and jam...Don't wait for the legislators to do it...because they won't...put it on the ballot...We are collecting signatures on a ballot initiative designed to change Florida's constitution and allow patients access to medical marijuana. We need 676,811 valid signatures and at least one million dollars. We have collected 35,876 signatures and $11,260 in donations.Download and sign this petition to help bring medical marijuana to Florida. Register Now to get on our email list and receive automatic updates. Donate online with a credit card by clicking here. Find out about getting a t-shirt and stickers by visiting our membership page.http://www.pufmm.org/***HYPERLINK http://www.meetup.com/People-United-For-Medical-Marijuana-Orlando/***People United for Medical Marijuana - Florida is on Facebook-Sign up for the newsletter-Download, Print, Sign and MAIL IN the petition-Review the Resources section-Share the information with your friends!-Donate Just 2 Hours A Week!!This is a group that supports the political committee registered with the State of Florida to get medical marijuana legalized through a ballot initiative. We are collecting signatures to amend the constitution on the Florida ballot. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127343055695
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on March 05, 2010 at 23:48:03 PT
Director of FODC
The Director of FODCCalvina Fay is his main squeeze...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Micheal Byers on March 05, 2010 at 20:54:43 PT
Washington and it's Law 
Ya!!!! out with the dead wood!!!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by dongenero on March 05, 2010 at 15:17:00 PT
Director of FODC - Canis420
This FODC guy does not respond to any specifics of your points made to them. They simply spout prohibitionist double speak and talking points. Nice editing of the IOM report by the way, paid liar.The only way to combat this is with point/counter point. Then our arguments tear theirs to shreds. 'Observer' could do a job on every sentence of every paragraph of the BS from the guy.They just shuffle fear, propaganda and lies. They can never allow a point by point debate or they lose. They can never respond directly to your arguments or they lose.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on March 05, 2010 at 13:23:26 PT
massachusetts medical bill on life support
Sánchez urged to push medical pot billBy John Ruch March 5, 2010 http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/node/3951Local state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez is “blocking” a State House bill that would legalize medical use of marijuana because of his “lack of compassion,” according to advocates who delivered more than 1,000 pro-legalization postcards from Jamaica Plain-area voters to the representative’s office this week.Sánchez, who heads the legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health, said the year-old bill is being examined carefully, not blocked, because it is a complex issue.“Everything in this committee is substantial,” said Sánchez. “We’re not naming the state cookie here, you know?”House Bill 2160, as it is officially known, would legalize the medical use and possession of a certain amount of marijuana, and create a registration system for patients who use the drug.Among the bill’s cosponsors is another JP state representative, Liz Malia, who told the Gazette that it essentially could die this month, depending on what the committee does.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 05, 2010 at 13:11:33 PT
Canis420 
I am not good at figuring out how to get someone to understand who doesn't have an open and progressive thinking mind. If a person assumes they know it all they just won't hear. If a person is open to learning that makes it 100% different. He doesn't seem open to anything other then what he believes. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Canis420 on March 05, 2010 at 11:58:52 PT:
Response to letter to Governor
This person really did not hear what I was sayin!Governor Crist received your email and forwarded it to me for a response. I am the Director of the Florida Office of Drug Control. First, thank you for expressing your opinion to our Governor.It is important to understand that our federal and state drug control policies have one overarching goal: to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of illicit drugs like marijuana. Establishing a taxed and regulated legal market for adult marijuana users would not advance the goal of our drug policies. First, legal access to marijuana would likely result in steep usage rate increases. Our experience with alcohol and tobacco has taught us that commercial interests weaken sensible regulatory efforts. A legal marijuana industry would employ promotion, advertising, and lobbying to increase demand while maintaining prices well below their current black market levels. Stimulating demand while lowering prices would undoubtedly lead to both increases in the number of Americans that use marijuana as well as the intensity with which they use 
it. I am very concerned about the health and wellbeing of Florida citizens. The deaths caused each year by alcohol and tobacco represent a major cost to society that is in no way offset by the tax revenue generated by the sales of these substances. Furthermore, I do not believe that the adverse consequences of marijuana use (respiratory diseases, traffic fatalities, poor school performance, dependence, etc.) could ever offset the potential tax revenue it might generate.Any policy change that results in an increase in marijuana use, particularly among youth, is unacceptable. Cannabis use has acute effects on attention and memory, something that constitutes a particular problem for adolescents still in school and perhaps contemplating a collegiate future. Furthermore, marijuana use impairs judgment and motor skills, posing a serious risk of automobile accidents. It is also estimated that about 10% of marijuana users eventually become dependent on it. By enforcing policies that suppress the use of addictive drugs like marijuana, we are affirming our ultimate respect for freedom and liberty by ensuring that fewer Americans get trapped into a life of addiction. Finally, please be aware that federal and Florida laws prohibit “medical marijuana” because an expert review of the evidence conducted by the Institute of Medicine concluded that “Smoked marijuana…is a crude THC delivery system that also delivers harmful substances…[and] cannot be expected to provide a precisely defined drug effect. For those reasons there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved medication.” Safer and scientifically proven drugs exist for all of the medical conditions that marijuana is erroneously thought to treat.	Again, thank you for your correspondence to Governor Crist. 						
I will Await C newsers comments before I respond to this idiot																													 						
																
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Canis420 on March 05, 2010 at 11:53:49 PT:
OT from article
This is a letter I sent to our Governor in Florida. Response will be in next post.I listened to your State of the State speech yesterday and for the most part I liked what I heard. You stated that you are in support of freedom and that people should be held accountable for their actions. There is an issue that is important to me that revolves around personal freedoms. This is an issue that is important to millions of people throughout the United States, not just people in Florida. This is the draconian laws pertaining to the possession of Cannabis. This is the 21st century and Florida is still putting people in cages for possession of small amounts of this plant. Hypothetically speaking, If I were to get caught with small amounts of this plant material, say in my truck, the police would handcuff me, take me to jail, confiscate my truck to sell at auction, and leave me with a criminal record for the rest of my life. This is deplorable and is not freedom. Many harmful substances are legal to purchase throughout the country to include alcohol and tobacco products. The harm associated with these products is not in question. However, it is hypocritical at best and immoral at worse to lock otherwise law abiding, responsible, tax paying Cannabis users up in a cage for even a minute over their choice to use a substance that is safer than either of the two substances mentioned above. The science, if you check it, will confirm this. This plant has been used safely for thousands of years for medicinal, recreation, food, fuel and fiber purposes. 
 
I know the law enforcement community will be against this as Cannabis users are their cash cow. The liquor lobby is against it because it is direct competition as is the pharmaceutical companies and timber companies. Religious people say it is immoral and what about the children. I would challenge the religious people to say that the use of a plant cannot be immoral when it harms nobody and benefits many. It is the actions that people should be held accountable for as you stated in your speech. What kind of message are we sending to the children when we lie to them about the evils of this plant. When they find out the truth they will wonder what else we lied to them about.
 
This is an issue that the people are way ahead of the politicians on. You will not expend political capital for supporting common sense laws relating to Cannabis, you will gain political capital. I know that the illegality of this plaint is ingrained in so many people. The evils of this plant are woven into the very fabric of society in some instances as people believed the fear mongoring of past administrations dating back to the 1930's. That is the governments fault for telling such blatant lies to the public which made people very afraid of Cannabis. So afraid that it is even illegal to grow the non-psychoactive variety for food, fuel, and fiber. This is insanity and not logical at all. I am tired of my tax dollars being used for the continued prohibition of this wonderful plant that has so many uses, the least of which is recreational.
 
At the very least I would ask you to support and push for decriminalization of possession of less than one ounce to a civil infraction and no more than a $100.00 fine for adults. This will free up the court systems and allow law enforcement to spend their valuable time going after real criminals. Many states and municipalities have done this with no rise in use or calamity. Criminalizing citizens for using this plant for whatever reason is the real crime and does more harm to individuals and families than the use of the plant ever will. THIS IS NOT FREEDOM.
 
I would also ask that you support legalization for medicinal purposes. More and more, the science is proving that Cannabis has many medicinal qualities without the harmful side effects of drugs promulgated by the pharmaceutical companies. The toxicity level is extremely low, so low that no one has ever died from its use from either overdose, organ damage or any other medical problem. How many pharmaceuticals can make this claim?
 
I would appreciate a response to this letter, and if you do not agree with any points I have made please include science based reasons.
 
Sincerely
 
Florida Citizen and Professional
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by dongenero on March 05, 2010 at 07:29:21 PT
pace of social change
"The Legislature tends to lag behind social change."Yes, a good many people are typically ahead of Legislature on social issues but don't forget, a segment of the population then lags even the pace of change in Legislature.The slowest of the slow I guess you would call them. Conservative is another way to put it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by ezrydn on March 05, 2010 at 06:56:28 PT:
Little Do They Know
"If 'marijuana' is on a bill they're uncomfortable with the bill and maybe fear it may be used against them in an election campaign."If they DON'T vote for it, they'll surely be left out come election day. The "hard on drugs,hard on crime" days are over. They won't understand that until they find they're no longer an office holder.However, that's good. Less dead wood to clear out!
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment