Medical marijuana, Missouri

I was born with cerebral palsy and discovered early on that cannabis mitigated the most painful physical and emotional manifestations of my disorder. I later learned that cannabis can help stutterers speak more clearly and that decades ago, doctors discovered the herb's ability to alleviate muscle spasms, from which I also suffer.

A year ago my children and I reluctantly fled our home in Kansas City and headed for the sanctuary of California's Compassionate Use Act.

Although 12 states have enacted medical cannabis laws that protect patients against state penalties, patients in the remaining states risk losing their careers, their freedom and even their families because they use a natural, nontoxic medicine to treat illness rather than expensive and addictive pharmaceutical drugs.

Now that a bill to protect medical cannabis patients has been introduced in the General Assembly, Missouri has an opportunity to step up and do the right thing.

Patients all over the state are anxiously awaiting the assignment of House Bill 1830 to the Health and Public Policy Committee. Please contact House Speaker Rod Jetton and ask him to open his heart to Missouri medical cannabis patients so that they may stop living in pain, fear and misery.

Jacqueline Patterson
Bolinas, Calif.

Comments

[medicaltruth]

Last month the American College of Physicians (ACP) released a definitive position paper strongly endorsing medical marijuana for certain medical conditions. The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second largest physician group in the United States. The ACP's 124,000 members are doctors specializing in internal medicine and related subspecialties, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonary disease, oncology and infectious diseases.

The ACP publishes "Annals of Internal Medicine," the most widely cited medical specialty journal in the world. Here are a few key excerpts from the ACP's historic endorsement of medical marijuana:

“A clear discord exists between the scientific community and federal legal and regulatory agencies over the medicinal value of marijuana, which impedes the expansion of research.”

“Evidence not only supports the use of medical marijuana in certain conditions but also suggests numerous indications for cannabinoids..The science on medical marijuana should not be obscured or hindered by the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana for general use.”

“ACP strongly urges protection from criminal or civil penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws.”

“Anecdotal, survey and clinical trial data suggest that smoked marijuana and oral THC provide relief of spasticity, pain and tremor in some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injuries or other trauma.”

“Current available data suggest numerous indications for cannabinoids, especially antiemesis, appetite stimulation, and pain relief.”

“Clinical trials have demonstrated that both oral and smoked marijuana stimulate appetite, increase caloric intake and result in weight gain among patients experiencing HIV wasting.”

“For patients with AIDS or those undergoing chemotherapy, who suffer severe pain, nausea and appetite loss, cannabinoid drugs may provide symptom relief not found in any other medication.”

“Studies of chemotherapy patients with nausea and vomiting found THC to be equivalent or superior to other antiemetics (including prochloperazine or metoclopramide) for symptom reduction.”

“Research suggests that cannabinoids may have synergistic effects that may indicate its use as an adjunctive therapy to both antiemetics for nausea and vomiting and opiods for pain relief.”

Here is the web address (not sure if it will work as a link) for the ACP's whole paper:

ttp://www.acponline.org/acp_news/medmarinews.htm

[medicaltruth]

Marijuana IS a drug, and its effects can be powerful.

However, in the thousands of years marijuana (cannabis) has been used as a medicine -- by millions and millions of people -- no one has ever died from an overdose!

Now, let's compare cannabis' safety profile with our newer, far superior FDA-approved medications, which kill over 100,000 people PER YEAR! Not a very good record at all.

Given cannabis’ remarkable safety profile and its efficacy at treating a myriad of conditions, the best minds in medicine have come out with strong endorsements of medical marijuana.

Here is a small list of heath organization supporting immediate access to medical marijuana for legitimate patients:

American College of Physicians, the American Psychiatric Association, the New England Journal of Medicine, the National Institute of Health, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of HIV Medicine, The American Bar Association, The American Public Health Association, The American Society of Addiction Medicine, AIDS Action Council, British Medical Association, The American Nurses Association, The New Jersey Nurses, Association, American Medical Students Association, California Legislative Counsel for Older Americans, California Nurses Association, California Pharmacists Association, National Association of People with AIDS, New York State Nurses Association, Virginia Nurses Association, Alaska Nurses Association, American Preventative Medical Association, Being Alive, Connecticut Nurses Association, Federation of American Scientists, Hawaii Nurses Association, Illinois Nurses Association, Florida Nurses Association, Medical Society of the State of New York, Colorado Nurses Association, Consumer Reports Magazine, Kaiser Permanente, Lymphoma Foundation of America, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, National Nurses Society on Addiction, Health Canada, the HIV Medicine Association, the National Association of People With AIDS, the National Association for Public Health Policy

And here are a few religious denominations also supporting immediate access to medical marijuana:

The Presbyterian Church (USA), the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the Union of Reform Judaism (formerly the Union of American Hebrew Congregations), the Unitarian Universalist Association, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church are just a few of the Christian organizations that support medical marijuana.

Patients and their physicians need all the medical options at their disposal to treat diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, Chron's Disease, multiple sclerosis, etc...especially options that cannot kill from toxicity, like Cannabis.

[Casady]

You may be right about the indoor thing nowadays Stone. I was speaking from my expereinces traveling through No. CA in the early 90s. I knew a grower up there at one time (he is retired and living in Costa Rica now). Life's rough.

[stone]

I have not been to Humbolt before....although the seasonal thing is sort of b.s. too, because the good stuff is grown indoors where seasons have no basis. The droughts usually have more to do with the growers taking much needed vacations.

oh, and you all are probably closer to Humbolt than I am....Humbolt, Kansas... did you even know that place existed? if it only took after Humbolt, CA, it would make Kansas soooooooo much better

I agree with NMMNG completely that I would rather have people smoking weed than drinking. Stoned drivers drive slow and pay more attention. Drunk drivers kill people (plus many other arguments for this can be made too... like stoners help the food service economy from their large need of munchies)

Sol-
yeah, a third of a gram aint much... not even a single bowl anymore, but i do agree with how the gov't has wasted soooo much money on this "war"

[Casady]

Stone:

I totally agree that the terrorist link is BS. I was just putting it out there for argument sake. And I also agree on your locally grown comment. Ever been up to Humbolt and Eureka in October? All the hotels/motels are booked and all the hardware stores stock up on pruning shears.

[solomon]

Ross told you guys in 92.

[solomon]

stone,

I'm not as hip as I used to be. Considering the world population since we've been here is roughly 9 to 9.5 billion, I understated my case.

The war on drugs, just for the year 2005 cost the American taxpayers, and their great-grandchildren who haven't even had a chance to get high yet, over 45 billion dollars.

One year (2005), of the war on drugs could have purchased about a third of a gram of real good hydro for everyone who ever lived on earth.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Govt does not care about aiding terrorists just so long as it's the terrorists they select to finance.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Rogue that osunds alot like one of W's speeches.

You are inaccurate and generalizing, not everyone that indulges disengages from cognizance. Funny, Rush was a druggie and the right winger made excuses.
Zero argument for not legalizing marijuana. I for one would rather have people using weed than drinking. Alcohol causes more problems in this country than weed ever has or will.

[stone]

the $$ aiding the terrorists is bigger B.S. than the people who claim Bush was behind 9/11. ALL of the good stuff is grown locally in whatever city you live in (yes, there are numerous grow houses in the KC area!). The rest comes from Northern Cali, Vermont, Mexico or Canada. none of the pot comes from the middle east.

[stone]

just a nickel bag? what a tease

[Casady]

One of the more recent arguments is that the money spent on illegal drugs aids terrorists. If growing marijuana for personal use were legalized domestically, wouldn't that in essence eliminate the cross border trade issue that is supposedly behind the terrorist money trail?

[solomon]

One of the most informative documentaries of recent years on gov't spending is "Grass", narrated by Woody Harrelson. It outlines the moving target of the gov't justification of it, and also the staggering cost that has increased decade by decade.

They spend so much they could buy every person who ever lived a nickel bag.

[jack]

If there ever was a "War On Drugs" we lost a very long time ago.

Contact your Congressperson. Tell him/her that you are in favor of the "Make Room For Real Criminals Act" as proposed by Barney Frank.

[solomon]

stone, yeah stone

[stone]

no Cassady, but that might have been me going 4 MPH on the 405 this morning.... (remember, I live in LA now..we are lucky to get over 10mph on the 405 during the week

[T. Hanson]

It is always nice to have lawmakers act like they know more than doctors. It works out so well for everyone involved.

[Casady]

Stone, So was that you going 4 MPH on 435 this morning?

[stone]

oh wait, I'm already at work..... the stuff out here is strong!!!

Sol- want me to send you some?

[stone]

The pro-cannabis crowd/ anti-cig crowd does have another merit- THC can be administered in forms that are not as unhealthy as smoking. Forms such as Vaporizers are more potent and reduce the carcinogen intake by around 90%.

Also, at the medical stores here in Cali, you can buy many, many different forms of edibles that are all very potent, along with being able to buy tubs of "cannibutter" that allow you to make whatever food you want into a medicine.

Then there is also a THC Sativa Spray pump that allows you to spray THC into your mouth, swirl it around and let your saliva absorb the THC to give an immediate relief. All of these options are far healthier than smoking. I prefer vaporization however. It still isn't perfect for your lungs, but it is a heck of a lot better than smoking a J or a bong.

Now, if I could only remember where I put my keys so I could go to work....