In an attempt to clarify an apparent gaffe made a few weeks ago to California media stating that “marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal value”, drug czar Gil Kerlikowske in a new interview with his hometown media in Seattle has only slightly, almost imperceptibly, modified his remarks by now implying that somehow how ‘smoked‘ medical cannabis is not a legitimate and effective drug delivery method:
When asked about his comments a few weeks ago Kerlikowske told KOMO news “I certainly said that legalization is not in the president’s vocabulary nor is it in mine. But the other question was in reference to smoked marijuana. And as we know, the FDA has not determined that smoked marijuana has a value, and this is clearly a medical question that should be answered by the medical community.”
KOMO also reports:
Kerlikowske’s stand on legalizing marijuana for everyone is more clear-cut. The Office of National Drug Control Policy, by law, actively works against legalizing drugs.
Kerlikowske takes on last jab at cannabis by continuing his predecessor’s proclivity to mislead the media and public by claiming “You know from the University of Washington, the number one call from young people for treatment here, after alcohol, is marijuana. So I’m not seeing the benefit to society with legalization here.”
Number one, cannabis is not legal in Washington state, or anywhere in the US, 2) youth in Washington, and all around the US, after being ensnared by the hundreds of thousands per year by cannabis prohibition laws enforced by the criminal justice system (or university police), are provided with the Hobson’s Choice of either going to jail or so-called ‘treatment’.
Mr. Kerlikowske should cease employing this rhetorical straw man as he is intelligent enough to know its inaccuracy, but continues to adopt the failed rhetoric of prior hardliner drug czars Gen. Barry McCaffrey and John Walters, who consistently made the same claims during their tenure, and lost credibility every time they continued to propound such obviously misleading propaganda.
Kerlikowske’s latest unfortunate remarks affirm cannabis law reformers have much work left to do! Maybe our good drug czar should call actor Patrick Swayze and ask him ‘if he is benefiting from smoked medical cannabis?’
Patrick Swayze, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over a year ago, is using medical marijuana to relieve the pain of his last days of chemotherapy.
According to a family insider, Swayze, 56, has found that smoking marijuana helps with his nausea, inability to sleep, and anxiety. The insider noted on the actor’s slight weight gain as well as adding that he (Swayze) feels more “normal than he has in months.”
Pictures have surfaced of Swayze out with his brother Donnie looking much healthier than he had weeks before.
“Patrick was rapidly losing weight because he couldn’t keep good down. He was so weak, he needed help getting around,” the source told the magazine.
“Marijuana works extremely well for many cancer patients. It helps fight nausea from chemotherapy treatments and may alleviate anorexia or loss of appetite,” Dr. Ron Kennedy of Santa Rosa, CA, said of the situation.
I love NORML and I’m behind you, fighting the good fight. NORML has given us a stamp of legitimacy here in the U.S. That being said, a good editor or even just a few once overs of the blog would do everyone some good. I enjoyed your thorough pelting of the drug czar but I could just imagine Kerlikowske’s aid reading this and saying, “These potheads can’t even put a few sentences together.” We’re better than this folks. Good stuff though.
[Editor’s Note: What specific sentences do you have a problem with? Criticism without solutions is not very helpful.]
No one has “PROVEN” that cannabis is harmful, or dangerous. They just say it is. I demand that someone “PROVE” that it is harmful, and dangerous. Come on! “PROVE IT.” I dare ya! I’m fuckin’ tired of your lip service. I want hard scientific facts. You’re challenged! Put up, or shut up!
how is it that the most ignorant people get to such high positions of authority in this society something needs to change very soon we cannot be subjected to said ignorance much longer and expect society to continue to function.
This is anything but suprizing… anyone believing marijuana will be made legal and that they will continue to let california or any other state continue on the path they are on is dilusional…
the only people that will be able to grow and distribute in the near future will be the drug companies after the FDA comes up with a plan and the gov. approves it so all the lobbyist can make billions…
I bet in the next 6 month the DEA make major raids nation wide to shut down the movement and detains all those who have got us this far thus scaring the general public back into the closet…
This government is giving no idication of changing any policies twords MJ and to think all the freedom we have today will remain is nieve…
there is far too much money in it for them to ever allow you to grow it for free…
What is it that people are so afraid of? I think there still is a reefer madness perception that if they legalize it all hell will break loose. Either that or it’s the Bewitched principle, that for no determinent reason, it’s just wrong to do.
I have an idea for an ad-campaign. Instead of blatantly asking for the legalization of marijuana, which were not allowed to air on some channels, make the commercials more humorous and outlandish, to spoof the anti-marijuana commercials.
You would still, technically, be airing an anti-marijuana ad; but the real message would be an attack at “reefer madness” commercials.
I love how we have proved that medical marijuana helps people and they still deny it.
When are we going to start electing officials that have a sence of shame? Because they are quite shameful. Heres a thought: Everyone is so sick of how the government is spending their tax dollars, set up a mass esgrow account for federal tax payers, until the powers that be learn their place in this country, they have no federal money to spend. If were sick of it, we need to act on it. Mr. Obama, last I checked it was “yes WE can” not “yes YOU can”.
probably the best push possible to show the value of cannabis to the people
I am not suprized at all…
They have no plans to make it available to anyone unless the FDA and the drug companies are involved…
There is just too much money involved…
They will close down Cali and all other MMJ facilities and state programs, arrest all the activist that have gotten us this far and drive it back into the closet…
The Gov has shown no sign of working to achieve a sensible solution to the driconian path it has taken for decades… they care little for the sick and dying, and have chosen to let the people suffer, all for greed…
if you think we’ll ever be legally able to grow our own for free your nieve… there is too much $$$ at stake…
Sorry for the double post.. thought the first was lost…
obviously he won’t push for freedom. Without the control of this substance there is no need for his job (added by Mobile using Mippin)
check out my reply to the drug czar’s stupid comment!
Medical marijuana works for my daily nerve pain. If it didn’t I be back on prescription pills that cause awful side effects. The drug czar would rather have me on oxycontin. Scary, evil and stupid. No other way to describe it. I decide what works for me. Because it is my pain. And cannabis helps with the least side effects. 13 years and counting with daily nerve pain. Imagine if I had stayed on hardcore prescription meds? Shame on you Mr. President and Mr. Drug Czar.
People like myself need your help and you throw us under the bus. Why not just shoot me?
weak
This guy is an ass puppet. I don’t think many people believe a word he is saying. 94 million people have smoked cannabis and they all know it makes you hungry and stops your pain. Getting high as they say means you feel better. These guys are simply doing what they are told by the people that bought and paid for them. They sold their soul to special interest. Cannabis consumption will never stop so they are just trying to figure out how to make the most money possible off of it and then they will lift prohibition.
The drug czar really just is not smart….
President Obama tried to finesse the drug reform community by appointing as his Drug Czar Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske the former chief of the Seattle Police during the time when reform of local marijuana laws was taking place there. Not six months into his tenure as Drug Czar and Mr. Kerlikowske issued these statements, “ Marijuana is dangerous and has no medical benefit”, and “legalization is not in the Presidents vocabulary”. For the second time the President has dissed the reform community.
The first time was at the online town hall meeting when he made a joke about the reworded most asked question. He said he didn’t think legalization was a good idea, ha , ha!!. Here with Kerlikowske the President has done it again. A move designed to ’ keep us happy ’, has again exposed the presidents true colors.
We should not allow it to happen again. The President expects us to hang in there until he is reelected and then supposedly he will support reform in his second term. Don’t believe it for a second! After his reelection he will be worried about his legacy and we will have been dissed again.
At 871,000 arrests per year 2,613,000 citizens will be arrested during the rest of his first term, By the end of his second, 6,097,000 will have had their lives ruined and still no relief in sight!
We should not sit idly by and let this happen. Everyone of us should write the President and inform him that if there is no significant progress on federal marijuana law reform during his first term we will not be able to provide support for his second term in the form of either votes or money. This needs to be done in a coordinated manner so the full weight of the reform community can be brought to bear on the President.
The old saw is ‘ Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me! We should not wait till we are fooled a third time.
The following sentence should be tacked on to any letter sent to the President or congressman- If there is no significant progress in marijuana law reform I will not be able to support you with either votes or money in 2012.
That ought to get their attention!!!
Wow number 4 Maui420 i couldnt hav said it better myself. Tho i have in previous comments in different words. I agree with you to the letter. Poor deluded NORML. Poor deluded nation. They actually believe change will come and as time goes on they will be granted MORE freedoms. Sad really
@ Maui420L Says:
August 8th, 2009 at 9:24 am
“”I am not suprized at all…
They have no plans to make it available to anyone unless the FDA and the drug companies are involved…””
If the FDA and drug companies are ‘involved’, then cannabis is legalized at that point. By law and under the Control Substances Act of 1970, cannabis could not and would not be under control by the government UNLESS it was legalized. This is why there are no FDA approved studies b/c the CSA1970 does not allow research of Schedule I substances unless approved by the government. Cannabis cannot be patented by law – the big reason why Big Pharma can’t be directly involved with selling cannabis – it’s a plant that grows naturally and cheaply – which is a threat to Big Pharma.
Last I checked 13 states have legalized Medical Marijuana and at this point in time, unless a person violates BOTH state law and federal law, state law trumps federal law in this case.
Good luck trying to repeal VOTER-APPROVED state laws.
SCREW KERLIKOWSKE, SCREW OBAMA, SCREW THE DEA AND LEO…
GET INVOLVED LOCALLY CHANGE WHAT YOU CAN, SOMEONE ONCE SAID “ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL”, some such.THE ONLY WAY IT WILL BECOME LEGAL (AGAIN) IS TO FORCE THE ISSUE FROM THE GROUND UP. WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ADVOCATING YOUR VIEWS , GET THE DISCUSSION STARTED , ORGANIZE YOUR FELLOW HERB USERS TO PUSH FOR CITY COUNCILS TO TELL YOUR LOCAL POLICE TO MAKE PERSONAL POSSESSION AND USE OF LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF CANNABIS THE LOWEST PRIORITY. REMEMBER YOU PAY YOUR LOCAL LEO’S ,THEY WORK FOR YOU, AND IF THEY PREFER TO TAKE THEIR ORDERS FROM THE DEA THEN FIRE THEM !
There are so many people who are saying that marijuana is a “gateway” drug, leading to the use of harder drugs like heroin and cocaine. While that may or may not be true, there are people who subscribe to this way of thinking. It is only a gateway if the person using it makes it that way. There are plenty of people who use marijuana and only marijuana. There is even a support group for marijuana addicts, known as “Marijuana Anonymmous” patterned after Alcoholic Anonymous, with a 12-step program.
I lost my husband to Hepatitis C in 2004. Our primary care physician suggested that he try marijuana to relieve the nausea and loss of appetite he was experiencing. We lived in Olympia, WA at the time, and as people know, WA legalized medical marijuana. It helped my husband quite a bit. Now, I am back in New Jersey and they are considering legalizing pot. I honestly wish that would happen. I have glaucoma and it would help that condition. Unfortunately, I do not know whether my opthalmologist would suggest it. New Jersey is an “uptight” state; the concept may be too radical for them.
This deserves an “LOL”. To think I was pleased to hear that he was the new Drug Czar. I won’t lose faith, though. This means the people need to start getting louder. Write to your representatives more often! Spread the message of personal freedom!
It’s BS like this that makes me want to start smoking again.
I myself am a former ‘in-patient’ from the DMV area. I was admitted to a live-in treatment facility in which they tried to force me to look at my ‘very strong addiction to marijuana’ (actual quote from my Alcohol and Drug Services or ADS file). From day one I told them my use was purely medical because the medicine for my manic depression and anxiety was absolutely useless. On the medicines Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft (all FDA approved for the treatment of my mental illness), I attempted suicide or thought strongly about it. It was not until I tried marijuana that I felt a peace of mind. I was also still able to function, gaining an advanced high school diploma from Fairfax County, Va, which is on one of the hardest grade scales in the United States. I have no doubt in my mind that marijuana has actually helped me medically.
oh well Saturday morning and more blah blah blah blah blah from a prohibitionist.Cannabis is a plant and needs to be regulated like other herbs. Cannabis is a natural product for the people…not the corporation or state to control.Recently I have learned of the idea of modern eugenics being promoted by powers to be. Took a while to see this…hurt personally as I realized I was inadvertently supporting these eugenic policies. Culling the herd…far fetched???…think any of these people really care about our health? I think not. I think they only want our $$$ so as they can further concentrate their control, money, and power over society.
It is because it’s prohibited. See, if you look at the drug war from a purely economic point of view, the role of the government is to protect the drug cartel.That’s literally true.
Milton Friedman
I thought we had gotten rid of drug czar Rumsfield, John Walters, but here they are, and he looks like Kerlikowski. I thought President Obama was going to give cannabis smokers a break, and medical cannabis users, a break from these tyrannts.This goverment is so afraid of cannabis, they can’t see anything, but what they want. To bad, we want you to stay out of our lives!
I thought we had gotten rid of drug czar Rumsfield, John Walters, but here they are, and they looks like Kerlikowski. I thought President Obama was going to give cannabis smokers a break, and medical cannabis users, a break from these tyrannts.This goverment is so afraid of cannabis, they can’t see anything, but what they want. To bad, we want you to stay out of our lives!
If Kerlikowske takes on last jab at cannabis by continuing his predecessor’s proclivity to mislead the media and public by claiming “You know from the University of Washington, the number one call from young people for treatment here, after alcohol, is marijuana. So I’m not seeing the benefit to society with legalization here.”
Then he should know that the only reason that is is due to the lack of knowledge as well as actual facts.
When asked prior to treatment as well as admit If you have had something and what was it? Is a typical question that they must ask in which 1/10 the time Marijuana is brought up while alcohol as well as perscription drugs are more common in our daily life that show up 9/10 of the time.
We have the Pharmaceutical_industry pushing poison out that has lead to millions of people dieing due to overdoses as well as other problems to name a few. We have alcohol ads and even Pharmaceutical_industry ads that even promotes the using of their product that kills people daily while we propose a logical , knowledgeable as well as reasonable way to help our nation not just financially but safety ways as well while medically. Yet does our nation listen? We really need to educate every one. And keep up the fight for freedom…
This “guilty until proven innocent” stance by our government is total hypocrisy; the same crooked hate and lies that the U.S. has been dragging around for decades, like Jacob Marley (Scrooge’s dead associate).
It’s hard for me to get angry at the guy, he seems like a pawn. But Dear Mr. President and Mr. Gil K. YOU BOTH are the ones driving this fire truck, so STOP LISTENING TO THE BACK-SEAT DRIVERS. You’re driving this truck over citizens’ backs and other humans, and straight in to an even more disastrous situation. The person at the wheel gets the blame, not “the voice” who is over-influencing you. Marley’s chains will be on all of you.
#6 Mars- you might have agood idea there, why dont you do one and send it to norml? (just a though)
But I believe that we have to continue to talk about this because u have got to understand that the goverment cannot generate money with out having their citizens (slaves) working to pay their taxes every year and if they continue to lock everyone up….who is going to pay for this fools staying in jail, after all remember that we pay for this fools every year and everytime they get lock up.
So another way to legalize this is by everyone stepping out of the closet and out in the open and see if the police and the goverment are gonna have the finance to lock us all up. I bet you by next week they are gonna make it legal and send everyone back to work. Thats only if we do this today.
Gil can kiss my ass, Im going to keep smoking my marijuana and enjoy it. I couldnt care less what he has to say.
Obviously from his clarification of “smoked,” we can infer that vaporizing, ingesting, and topically applying marijuana are completely safe and have legitimate medicinal purposes.
Even if “smoked marijuana has no medical value” for sick people—which I know is a lie, since back in the 1980’s I’ve read first-hand accounts of people who’ve benefitted from it in their fight against nausea while undergoing cancer treatment—the jury is NOT out on its benefits to people who use it in worshipping God, or take a few hits to get their creative juices flowing.
To quote Rusty White, making an appearance on Dean Becker’s Drug Truth Network not too long ago, “To say there aren’t responsible users is to say that everybody who drinks is a drunk. You know that’s a lie.”
http://www.DrugTruth.net/cms/node/2525
It seems odd to give someone a job such as drug czar. The reason I say this is his motive of keeping his job completely conflicts with his work. That would be like a police officer completely obliterating crime from his state; if he did this he would be out of a job, right? Every time I watch one of these news pieces I cant help but wonder if they realize how comical everything about the discussion is.
1. You open the discussion by saying “marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal value”. You then go on to ignore any factual information regarding marijuana, but rather tell horror stories about LEGAL pharmaceuticals. It must have conveniently slipped the minds of these news anchors that these legal drugs are causing an incredible issue in America whereas marijuana is the end-all sin of sins amongst our drug policy yet has not killed a single person in recorded human history.
2. The national survey to collect “American input” on drug policy is obviously not what you are claiming it to be. When you give examples of who the input is coming from you are quoted as saying “we will be speaking to elected officials as well as other people”. What does that mean? Who are these “other people”? I presume what you intended to say was “we are speaking to elected officials that we have in our pocket as opposed to the average American who may or may not be outspoken for or against our cause, we would rather not take any chances in pushing our own agenda”. Touche sir.
Overall, I expected this from Mr. Kerlikowske. What I have learned today: when hiring your drug czar, make sure his resume includes “I used to have the job of saluting President Nixon, debatably the most corrupt leader ever elected for this country (tied with Bush?)”. That will get you the job!
As Kerlikowske said, “this is clearly a medical question that should be answered by the medical community.”
Whether cannabis is used medicinally or recreationally, it is an issue for the science and medical fields. Police have turned an activity that harms nobody, and turned it into a criminal act. Depending where you live, you may lose your job, your drivers license, the ability to get college loans, you may be considered a danger to your children and they can be taken from you.
The list of damaging effects of the DRUG WAR, not the drugs themselves goes on and on. It is this unjust, costly, violent and un-Constitutional Prohibition that is the cause, or is directly related to many of the societal problems or issues we have today.
More citizens and law enforcement officials are joining in the fight against this prohibition by becoming a member of NORML and LEAP, and you should too.
Did Gil Kil, just say he is in the job to serve the people of america? uhhh i dont think hes serving the american ppl. He rather put em in jail nd keep fighting a worthless Prohibition. What a DAMN LIAR.
If smoked Marijuana is somewhat harmful or not is not the issue. I personally find some relief from degenerative disk disease and a neuropathy in my feet and legs that no other drug gives. Morpheme and Codeine has been proven to be deadly and in my case I have allergic reactions to both so I have no other recourse but marijuana. Regrettably I live in a non-medical MJ state if I could move I would have already do this but finances forbid it. In my 53 years on this earth I’ve never had any trouble with the law but our government makes me a criminal just to find a little relief from my constant never ending pain, not to mention the danger I face finding and acquiring it. How can our government say there in no medical value here when they provide a choice few the privilege to use this drug for medical reasons, and provide their medication? Has our health come to the point of having enough money to fight a court battle to find relief?
I don’t ask the right to distribute this medication just sit in my home and use it as any other medication. People in my shoes will agree the risk is worth the relief and no government official can convince me otherwise. I have two choices left find relief or find rest.
Running out of time
Gil is blantantly lying. While vaporization, tincture, and edibles become more popular, many choose to smoke cannabis. If it is “more dangerous, with no medicinal value”, wouldn’t there be data to support it? Instead, we have data that directly contradicts that.
Oregon has had the OMMP program. In the TEN YEARS that the policy has been in place, Oregon has actually seen a steady decline in workplace injuries and fatalities.
According to the latest Oregon Occupational Injury and Illness Survey, “Oregon workers employed in the private sector during calendar year 2007 suffered work-related injuries and illnesses at a rate of 5.1 for every 100 full-time employees, the lowest ever recorded for Oregon.”
See the data for yourself: http://ornorml.org/data
Boycott Obama 2012
A question that should be answered by the medical community huh? Well, its funny you should say that Mr. Kerlikowske, considering the medical community in 13 states actually does see medicinal value or they wouldn’t have legalized it you dumb-ass! Maybe you’re under the impression there wont be a 14th state, or a 15th state to legalize medical pot. If you truly think that, if its truly your goal and job to stop it from happening- Then I have no faith in your intelligence what so ever. Perhaps you should let the suffering decide for themselves what is right. Stay out of their business as they are harming noone. Oh, and obviously you’ve never been to drug rehab nor do you know anything about it. I went to drug rehab once for pot myself. Not because I was addicted though, because some dickhead judge told me it was either rehab or a rather long jail sentence. Which option would you choose Mr. Kerlikowske? By the way, people die in jail all the time, and stoners are fresh meat for the other animals in jail. That means stoners get beat up and severely injured in jail allot… So you tell me, what’s healthier? A broken sternum and a cracked skull at the hands of some bully prisoner? Or a lil joint to improve the quality of life for many many unfortunate people? Why don’t you just tell the truth about how if you had it your way you would execute people who smoke pot personally. Thank god we live in America. Kind of.
Are all of the people in DC masochist?? Do they enjoy destroying lives and wasting money?? How can any human want to continue to take a person that has a drug problem and throw them in jail??
Why don’t they tell the truth and get off our ass!! Beer has no medical use is addictive and will kill you over time. I watched my father and his father die of alcohol addiction. It is not a fun way to go. If I had freedom of choice I would much rather see my kids use cannabis for recreational purposes. I have seen many that enjoy cannabis and they seem to stay young with no adverse affect. Unless you count a growing hatred for our lawmakers that keep insisting on throwing us in jail. It is time to end this war, restore our freedom of choice and stop messing with freedom of speech!!!!!!!
Cherokee Fred Jesus
Well, you go patrick swayze! What a good icon to have to show how medical weed is actually helping someone – we know- and have documented through the media.
Rayvyn, the problem with Kerlikowske is that he is an appointed official, and not elected. I do get a kick out of the fact he is an ex-police chief of Seattle, WA, a state that has medical marijuana laws in place, yet he now takes the hard line.
Mr. Kerlikowske is willing to say whatever he is being paid to say.
Why don’t this ass next time he is in California. Go and talk to some of the medical cannabis patients. Try and tell them it has no medical value.. Is he afraid of the truth or afraid the legal drug pushers will get pissed if the truth were known??
CFJ
[Editor’s Note: What specific sentences do you have a problem with?
Criticism without solutions is not very helpful.]
RE: Editor,
(Allen St. Pierre?).
– It’s my best guess is that Tristan:
(#1 Tristan Said:
August 8th, 2009 at 7:52 am)
was not referring to the news-article itself,
but to the overall-prevalence of
poor-grammar and NON-deliberate
logographic-erratum contained within some
reader-response postings to NORML-Blog.
(As if THIS was YOUR responsibility…..). 🙄
– Pre-composing blog-responses on a wyrd-processor and
youse eff uhh spell chequer buy wreadurs wood bee very helpful,
(utherwhys, dain-bramage mite bee asoomd…). 😆
Like I said before, our main concern isn’t convincing the drug czar or anyone else that marijuana is safe. Our concern is letting people know how prohibition is bad for them, whether or not they are smokers themselves.
Once we have the agnostic group on our side, any legalization ballots will win by a landslide.
I wish they would just pull thier heads out of thier asses! It doesnt matter, smoked, vaporized,eatin, drank…whatever.People will NOT stop using cannabis just because there is a law against it. Our leaders are wasting our time..in the form of taxes. Wasting resoures that would be better used else where. Wasting lives around the world. Tearing families apart. All for a plant that has killed no one, nor can they stop anyone from using.
I would suggest to our leaders this… STOP THIS BULL! If you plan to have a career in the political arena in the future… STOP THIS MADNESS!
So they say its bad for you..well.. I got a word.. Its called lying. Lying can be addictive and most deffinitly can be bad for you. I suggest our leaders STOP LYING! Not just about cannabis, but all issues! ITS BAD FOR YOU AND EFFECTS ME!
First they ignore you
then they ridicule you
then they fight you
then we win.
They have gone passed the inore part and are at theridicule part. So..we are they going to start the fight?
Cannabis helps my tinnitus. It brings the ringing down enough in both my ears and makes it more tolerable.
No Medical Value? ha what a joke this administration is.
vote all them out.
I actually see this as a positive event. The fact that the Drug Czar backtracked and seemed to imply an admission that non-smoked marijuana may have medicinal value is a step forward. I think he, Obama and other political figures realize that marijuana is OK but do not feel like they could say so or else they would upset the soccer moms not to mention the pharmaceutical companies.
The whole Obama administration approval rating is going down fast.
I bet the dirty dancing swasey didnt think he would be a marijuana promoter….thanks patrick! sorry for your misfortune.good luck
Why does the media keep listening to law enforcement agents opinions on medical issues?
Do they ask the Surgeon General for advice on combatting gang violence in thier neighborhoods?
Perhaps what Tristan was referring to was:
“almost imperceptibly, modified his remarks by now implying that somehow how ‘smoked‘”
The somehow how ‘smoked’ doesn’t really go together. Drop the how after the somehow.
And ….
“Patrick was rapidly losing weight because he couldn’t keep good down.
he couldn’t keep Food down, NOT good down.
Respectfully submitted because I Love NORML too!
Yet another Corporate Shill who toes the Prohibition II (War on Drugs) party line.
Drug companies already make a synthetic THC pill called Marinol, which has been available by prescription for a number of years. It has been prescribed by doctors to help chemotherapy patients overcome the usual nausea symptoms so that hey might be encouraged to eat. It is very expensive, and has a major drawback — chemotherapy patients suffering from nausea cannot keep anything they swallow down, and wind up regurgitating the pill before it can have a positive effect. It also comes in very limited dosages, so it is possible for the patient to take more (or less) than they need.
On the other hand, natural medical marijuana can be smoked (or vaporized) — the THC crosses the boundary in the lungs directly into the bloodstream. The medicinal effects occur much more rapidly, within minutes instead of 30 minutes, and the patient can self-medicate to the extent needed to counter the specific episode of nausea. A side benefit, for those who have access to medical marijuana in their state (now up to 13 states), the price of the natural medication is only 20% – 25% of the pharmaceutical synthetic.
Think that Big Pharma or the US Government does not have a stake in maintaining Prohibition II? The government themselves holds a patent on the use of marijuana as medicine. Why would Big Pharma permit citizens to “grow their own medicine”, when they can otherwise make millions of dollars from their synthetic product? These are only some of the reasons why the Establishment cannot allow the end of the “War on Drugs”. Think about the funding for the DEA, for overseas Military anti-drug operations, of the private prison industry in the USA, and of the extremely profitable “Asset Forfeiture” laws that bring billions of dollars, tax-free, into police departments all across this country.
Just wait until Obama’s reelection campaign comes up. Then he will have to face these questions, and the propaganda continually being spewed by his Drug Czar. Of course, he might lie his way through the questions as every politician seems to do these days, but he also must understand that this issue is going to have a MAJOR impact on his reelection. Politicians seem to have a hard time accepting, or admitting to this very fact. It might not be the biggest factor, but with over 40% of Americans now favoring outright legalization, IT IS A BIG ISSUE. I assume this percentage is only going to grow in the coming years before his reelection campaign starts up. He is already pissing people off with Health Care and his continuous spending of trillions of dollars, so why not piss off the 40%+ people who want Marijuana legalized? I mean, it seems like a good political strategy to me, don’t you think?
Governmental doublethink at its finest rears its Orwellian head again…
“You know from the University of Washington, the number one call from young people for treatment here, after alcohol, is marijuana. So I’m not seeing the benefit to society with legalization here.”
How can marijuana be the number one call AFTER anything else on the same list? Either it is number one, or number two. It cannot be both at the same time…but then again, 2+2=5, doesn’t it? Way to twist the rhetoric, Gil.
Kerlikowske said he will not change the discussion after saying SMOKED marijuana has no medicinal value. I think in this new era of anti-smoking, Kerlikowske has an easy out. He of course has to keep repeating his intention that mj will not be legalized, but really, Obama has more or less opened the floodgates and dispensaries are popping up in many places.
so do cigarettes and alcohol so whats your point?
– Since Kerlikowske “clarified” that “smoked”
marijuana has no “medical-value”, does that mean
that those who utilize edibles, tinctures and vaporizers will be left alone???
– As I’ve said MANY TIMES BEFORE,
the ONLY ROLE which the DEA and FDA ought to have
concerning cannabis, is to ensure its genuineness
and purity, if sold and marketed commercially.
THAT’S ALL!!!
PERIOD!!!
It’s a fucking God-Given PLANT!!!
And NOT EVEN a “poisonous” one, at that.
(To head-off another
“thought-terminating cliche”
before it’s ever uttered).
– Besides, there’s
“bigger fish to fry”,
pop-stars that die from using
non-scheduled, “hospital-only”
surgical-anaesthetics,
(id est, Diprivan™).
OBVIOULY THE MAN NEVER SAW A CHEMO PATIENT USE MARIJUANA TO KEEP MEDICINE AND FOOD DOWN AND TO MAINTAIN WEIGHT.,IF THESE ASSHOLES IN WASHINGTON EVER GOT OUT OF THE BELTWAY AIR ONCE IN AWHILE THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY EVOLVE BY LEARNING AND DOING POSSITIVE THINGS INSTEAD OF BULLYING EVERYONE AND CONTROLLING THEM WITH POWER AND LAWS THAT THEY USE TO BELITTLE THE AVERAGE GUY ON THE STREET.
Did anyone else catch what he said during the part about Michael Jackson? How it was a wake up call about pharmacuticals and that more peopel die each year of prescription drugs than gunshot wounds? Noooohhhh really? But yet he can’t say that there are any reported deaths at all from marijuana use. HYPOCRITE!!! Pharmacuticals, which kill more people a year than gunshot wounds is ok, but pot that kills no one is dangerous!!
The government is hillarious. Why do we elect these lower life forms?
i don’t know about the rest of you, but i am tired of being classified as a criminal simply due to what i do in my off time. i am a fully functional member of society. i don’t break any laws or hold any evils in my heart.
i want to smoke a fatty after work, but the police want to arrest me for it. then they want to go home and pop open their bottle of scotch while they sit back and get wasted. then the hungover judge comes in with a chip on his shoulder and fines the hell out of you or worse.
no line should be drawn on two chemicals as similar as THC and alchohol. i’ve never seen any evil spring from pot except the “illegit” business that exists. if officials want to take away the evils of pot, then HAVE to legalize it.(however meth, crack, heroin, etc need to be off the streets)
Hey Rebel with a cause i just read your response on the other blog. Let me first say your wisdom is sound and has indeed opend my mind and mellowed me out as a fat spiliff would. (which im enjoying) I read your response outloud to my wife while smokin one in the kitchen and we both agree that i have been a little war-mongery as of late. Im not bein a wise ass when i say there is a strong chance peace and truth will ovecome the corruption. But if it fails I and many more like me will be there to rise up. Because it goes far deeper than pot. Hmmmm a Health care mediator? Lemme ask you, whats your oppinion on the upcoming Gov run healthcare?
“Let the stories of MMJ Patients echoe through the Halls of Justice forever to silence the U.S. Policy on marijuana.”
All this, and today’s SFGate newspaper has a story about how all of our potential governor candidates are either cagey about legalization, or in the case of Jerry Brown, totally misleading folks by stating that legalization will make us all less competitive. Good lord. I read the article, and about died. So much fear out there.
So is he recognizing the medicinal value of marijuana in non-smoked forms?
This could be an angle to exploit
The medical community blows smoke up the Drug Czars ass but still he is in denial. Now it’s smoked marijuana for the man who has a FORKED TONGUE. The language of the government spreading REEFER MADNESS again. The INQUISITOR OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITION on a high roll that is going down hill as states change their marijuana laws for the better of the people. Pretty soon Obama will be appointing a new czar, a CANNABIS CZAR. What the hell, he has a czar for everything else in the government sectors. It sort of reminds me of that other country with all them czars that is involved with socialism and communism. Are we heading in that direction, or our we already there but under a different name. Call it what you want but it’s all the same bullshit, control of the masses by fear and propaganda and greed and retributions of the law.
These dweeb leaders of ours has not on honest bone in there bodies. They prove it daily.
what the fuck!!!!!!
smoked marijuana has no medical benefits.
classic propaganda tactics/.
how the fuck are they supposed to do studies when marijuana is schedule 1 drug?
glad they mentioned how his comments made a huge uproar in the communities. we need to keep the marijuana movement active. it’s good to see all the responses on NORML
Do any of these clowns who we call elected “leaders” think that anybody does or does not smoke weed because the government says it is illegal? The only thing that legalization will affect is where the money goes.
Under legalization, the money would flow to legitimate businesses and public treasuries. Under prohibition, the money flows to organized crime and terrorists. So who are our “leaders” representing?
Most citizens today view the government as a joke, and marijuana prohibition is a big reason why.
marijuana is way a benefit where anxiety is concerned.im a nervous wreck by the time i get home from work, thoughts are flyin at two hundred miles an hour. marijuana slows all that down (just enough) to a comfortable level that the rest of the day falls into place. dont tell me that their is no benefit with an all natural remedy. come on government, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT!
38 Drew…”PEOPLE WHO USE IT IN WORSHIPING GOD.”
Religious use is covered in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act./Rastafarian Defense. Genesists also use “Manna” as Holy Sacrament for CDXX Communion.
References: Genesis I:11,12 Genesis I:29,30,31
Genesis IX:3
THE MAN corrected himself to say “smoked” cannabis is dangerous. Agree or disgree…the human body/lung was not made to accept smoke of any kind. Ask any fireman. Has anyone tried to vaporize a Marlboro Red.
Look! There’s a “power” that tells the whole world what they’re going to do and say. I still agree with
Kerlikowski…Science will determine its value. Isn’t that what we are banking on. My God…the man lifted the toilet seat on that one, before he pissed on it…which his job description requires him to do. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…”The man will obey the law…either way.” If the law says it’s legal…he will enforce its legality.
hi
I am 53 and have been smoking on a daily basis since I was 15. I recently had a physical and a chest x_ray. Everything is just fine. I told the doctor I smoked pot and he replied.”so do I”. We discussed it for several minutes and could not conclude that pot is harmful in any way.
Just because a plant has medical value doesn’t mean that it is not risky to use for recreational purposes. Opium, for example has a hundred times the practical benefit as medicine than cannabis, but it is an extremely risky plant to apply recreationally. Let us quit wasting time with “medical marijuana” and return to the real problem which is people being prosecuted for simple possession of cannabis. The whole “medical marijuana” front is fake and does nothing to protect innocent users from the unjust attention of law enforcement. Once we do that, then “medical marijuana” can be available to anyone who thinks they need it without interference from some doctor.
I’ve done my part.
Does anyone else have any balls, because those who sit around bitching and moaning but don’t take action like this are part of the problem:
I posted this link on a FEW NORML threads and I have not even been acknowledged!!!!!!!
PUT UP OR SHUT PEOPLE!
I “PUT UP”, now its your turn!!!
Hey Gil -o- buddie , Whats that sound ? WSSSSHHHHHHHHHSH ! Its 1/4 of America benifiting from smoked weed ! Dumb-ASS!
#79 Rebel with a cause Says:
August 9th, 2009 at 8:30 am
“…Has anyone tried to vaporize a Marlboro Red.”
RE: I am doing so as I type,
(Only because I don’t have any American Spirit
additive-free, organic tobacco to vape, at the moment).
– Anymore, I always vape tobacco when at home,
on the computer, watching television; only smoking
cigarettes IF in public, out of conveniece, UNTIL
I get a suitable, portable tobacco-vaporizer.
– Several years ago, RJR was test-marketing Eclipse®,
a cigarette designed to function as a vaporizer,
however, they really didn’t catch on, became increasingly
difficult to find, plus, I had my own objections to their cost
and use of aluminium as a heat-shielding material.
– I am very enthused about vaporizing tobacco vs. smoking it:
The taste is much cleaner, “peppery”, less tobacco is needed,
much more nicotine is delivered, and Marble-Row™ tobacco is
actually “tolerable” when vaped.
– Besides, why wait till emphysema sets in, literally hacking-up
bucketfuls of phlegm, like my late grandfather?
– Harm-reduction and greater-efficiency is the way!!!
TABLE OF VAPORIZATION TEMPERATURES
#72 Dizzle Says:
August 8th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
So is he recognizing the medicinal value
of marijuana in non-smoked forms?
“This could be an angle to exploit”
RE: For Shizzle, Dizzle!
– Edibles, tinctures, ointments, lozenges and
vaporization ought to be strongly emphasized.
– These were the primary-forms prior to 1937,
and can be again!
It’s not surprising that the Drug Czar can say what he wants and be believed by so many. Check out the comments on this article about student loans and note how many refer to “drug users” as if popping a Valium or slamming some brewskies do not catagorize someone as a drug user.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/07/drug-offenders-federal-student-aid-new/
kerli…. should lose his job for incompetence.
65 and have smoked since 1965…44 years .
Physical determined lungs are fine . Thus far no health issues .
Ray
20% to 30% of Obama supporters copped out after he accused them of hijacking his online town hall meetings…you know what I mean if you are one of those accused of it. This week the polls are reflecting his lack of our support!! Scratch our backs and we will yours it’s that simple sir really.
Hello drug czar puppet,
if the most deaths are coming from prescription drugs.
Why the big focus on marijuana? Why is marijuana still
illegal and why are people still persecuted for using
this “herb” when the real culprit and abuse is from big pharma drugs. Hmm. I guess cash money and greed is all the is left in this country. As long as you can make a buck. No matter the cost, that is fine. I saw some on you a bunch of greedy assholes run this country.
Thanks, Vlad. It would be great to do a commercial myself; unfortunately, I don’t have any actors. O woe is me.
I love it. Thank you so much NORML for helping to set these idiots straight. I love how he attributes his statement to a long hike in how weather. This movement has come as far as to have these career politicians renig on their ignorant statements. My belief is legalization is around the corner. And by that I mean 2010, yes we cannabis!
I get the feeling with this guy, that his stated beliefs/stances/ideologies directly coincide with the stage of drug rehabilitation his kid is going through and what he’s being taught at that particular time.
Seems to me the kid comes home and tells Drug Czar dad what he was taught recently in rehab. Drug Czar dad really believes this is a source for Real, inside, expert information — not clouded by us anti-prohibitionists.
So, he naturally incorporates it //scratch that//
So, he naturally BASIS his platform on whatever nonsense his kid comes home with. Hey after all, he IS getting better, right?
Just my unsubstantiated feeling, that’s all. However, I really do see the pattern here.
Re: Tristan/#1 comment:
[Editor’s Note: What specific sentences do you have a problem with? Criticism without solutions is not very helpful.]
Probably the “Patrick was rapidly losing weight because he couldn’t keep good down. …”
If NORML needs a proofreader, I’m between jobs right now. Make me an offer.
[Editor’s note: Thanks…the copy in question re Patrick Swayze was written by the National Enquirer, not NORML.]
Like Sun Tzu said, “Never attack an enemy on the high ground”.
Unfortunately the Govt. holds the high ground, with the; Media, Big Pharma, Alcohol and LOTS of OUR money(Tax dollars) to fight this “War on Drugs” with!
We need to gain the “high” ground back by Volunteering, holding signs, gaining signatures, finding a MASS of people to gather at your respective capitols, and in Washington D.C., and writing your representatives.
It’s time to take back “OUR” choices and RIGHTS. The only way it will happen is with work and support of this JUST cause. Quality of life is a “RIGHT” not something that and is taken from people. Especially in a “Free Society”. How funny that sounds with all the favorable “slants” big money gets you. Free, indeed.?.
Just one more thing.
Before we can say anything bad about “this” person, or “that” person(i.e. our elected officials, and the ones they appoint) we must first:
Find someone who will truly champion our cause(good luck). Without this we can only choose between a shit sandwich, and a douche… Tee Hee.
Hold that person accountable by VOICING and writing them daily.
seriously norml, get an editor that can read. i’m all for the anti-prohibition movement & it saddens me that 3 paragraphs of copy can be published with so many mistakes. it especially saddens me that the editor has time to reply to a comment regarding said mistakes but no time to re-read the article he let be published.
[Editor’s note: NORML’s staff can read just fine. Again, the copy was from the National Enquirer, not NORML.]
ADDENDUM TO Post #86:
Since the most common
Thought-terminating cliché
of so-called “drug-warriors” is
the phrase,
“SMOKED marijuana is NOT MEDICINE”,
– Let’s “EIGHTY-SIX’ their favorite
“pet-phrase” BEFORE they ever mention it!!!
– Why should ANY OF US so effing-stubbornly
insist on clinging exclusively to smoking???
(Only to further-perpetuate the
“stoney-stereotype” that
the only means of utilizing the plant-form
is pyrolytically…),
…and thus initiating their next T.T.C,
(“there’s no need for the plant,
there’s a pill”…).
– Granted, those who have access to
higher-quality medical-grade / food-grade cannabis,
(such as Patrick Swayze, or anyone in medi-cann
friendly California-locales),
are inhaling LESS carcinogens than if they smoke it,
(by virtue of the herb’s higher-concentration
of essential-oils vs. inert plant-matter).
– HOWEVER, this is even more reason to utilize
smokeless methods, (such as edibles),
since it’s “food-grade”,
(and not moldy, “perfumigated”,
gas-tank-flavored “Mexi-schwag”!!!) 😡
YES,
– Let’s DO exploit the
NON-SMOKING ANGLE
for all it’s worth!!!
FIGURATIVELY…
Our NON-SMOKING gun…!!! 😀
ADDENDUM TO Post #86:
Since the most common
Thought-terminating cliché
of so-called “drug-warriors” is
the phrase,
“SMOKED marijuana is NOT MEDICINE”,
– Let’s “EIGHTY-SIX’ their favorite
“pet-phrase” BEFORE they ever mention it!!!
– Why should ANY OF US so effing-stubbornly
insist on clinging exclusively to smoking???
(Only to further-perpetuate the
“stoney-stereotype” that
the only means of utilizing the plant-form
is pyrolytically…),
…and thus initiating their next T.T.C,
(“there’s no need for the plant,
there’s a pill”…).
– Granted, those who have access to
higher-quality medical-grade / food-grade cannabis,
(such as Patrick Swayze, or anyone in medi-cann
friendly California-locales),
are inhaling LESS carcinogens WHEN / IF they smoke it,
(by virtue of the herb’s higher-concentration
of essential-oils vs. inert plant-matter).
– HOWEVER, this is even more reason to utilize
smokeless methods, (such as edibles),
since it’s “food-grade”,
(and not moldy, “perfumigated”,
gas-tank-flavored “Mexi-schwag”!!!) 😡
YES,
– Let’s DO exploit the
NON-SMOKING ANGLE
for all it’s worth!!!
FIGURATIVELY…
Our NON-SMOKING gun…!!! 😀
Whatever Kerk! You are a parrot, Monty Python style, and whatever credibility you built up for yourself in Seattle is now down the tubes.
Drop everything against Marc Emery!
Marijuana laws, and enforcement of these laws, does more to harm our country, and individual citizens, than any of the false claims that Cannabis is “dangerous”.
The definition of marijuana is a politically motivated unconstitutional omnibus. A proper definition is supposed to simple, clear and accurate.
Instead of using the semantics ruse that “The term ‘marihuana’ means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not;…” which trips up even the Drug Czar so that he has to clarify his remarks to mean ‘smoked marijuana’, why not just redefine marijuana to clearly specify what he meant to say.
Make the definition read: “The term ‘marihuana’ means all parts of the smoke produced by the combustion of the plant Cannabis sativa L.”
The semantics become clear with this simple definition. Cannabis (the plant, including its unburned parts and vapors) becomes unscheduled, while the public use of marijuana (the smoke) remains officially prohibited until it is removed from Schedule 1.
Once the definition is reset, then the correct Schedule for smoked cannabis can be easily determined.
this is the first week where I haven’t seen someone debate legalization on a youtube news video.
NORML- Do you know if there are any tv debates coming up soon?
i think the tv coverage is great for the movement! the prohibitionist’s usually come out looking stupid
[Editor’s note: The only current TV production pending that NORML’s aware of re cannabis is CBS’ Morning Show wants to do a segment interviewing mothers who prefer cannabis to alcohol or other drugs.]
@ rebel with a cause: It has been shown through research that smoking marijuana can contribute to COPD *if the person also smokes tobacco*. I don’t know if Swayze has quit tobacco or not.
Anyways, I hate smoking it, and even vaping it, because it does irritate my lungs (even a volcano set to the correct temp). Solution: butter, tincture, edible oil. Easy peazy Japaneazy. 🙂
May I say, I have for 40 years, been a healthcare consultant and mediator, and this is the way I view the conflict. We create unwanted behavior from prohibitionists by being “FEARFUL”…fearful for any one of a dozen reasons that keep a huge number of anti=prohibiionists in the closet. The idea is “NOT TO FEAR” prohobotionists, or at the very least, not let them know we do. The idea is to stand up, stand tall, and dominate the situation with calm positive rationale…the homage we pay for not being the beast. If you stand up “FEARFUL,” all you’ve done is stand up. Understand…the prohibitionists believe whole heartedly in their power, and will dominate as long as they think they possess that power. “Don’t let them know they have the power by acquiescing to their mendacity and unjust law.”
Calm positive rationale does not suggest insults. Insults only justifies their response, which assuredly
will be nagative to the core. In other words…it’s not advisable to sweat, curse, or call names. The idea is to present the “TRUTH,” not create an argument. If you realize, if you have an epiphany, they are NOT listening, chances are, nothing you can say or do will make any difference. They most likely have a bigger issue than hearing the “TRUTH.” If they become frustrated, we might as well brace ourselves for our own frustration. Frustration begats frustration, anger begats anger, and someone is going to walk away with violence on their mind (Brinksmanship). And, that’s what war is all about. War is nothing but failed policy, or argument. We’re dealing with both…so we have to be especially careful that someone doesn’t light a fuse, or throw a stone.
Calm positive rationale. Nobody ever accomplished anything by totally disregarding the other one’s view, even though nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Remember too, insufficient
knowledge causes artificial reality.
I am a mediator…but a mediator has a right to take account of the facts. I have a right to an open mind and a conscience.
Thank you for your consideration,
Manford Mantis
” the FDA has not determined that smoked marijuana has a value, and this is clearly a medical question that should be answered by the medical community.”
M
http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/38300prs20090112.html?s_src=RSS
” the FDA has not determined that smoked marijuana has a value, and this is clearly a medical question that should be answered by the medical community.”
Maybe this is why?
http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/38300prs20090112.html?s_src=RSS
…AND,
The World Health Organization AKA “Medical Community”
WHO indicating that cannabis would be safer than alcohol or tobacco.
http://www.who.int/inf-pr-1998/en/pr98-26.html
Manford Mantis is the “Man”. Thank you for such a coherent comment.
RE: #106 R.W.A.C. / M.M,
– In other words…
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath…”
8)
What he meant to say was “unless it comes from a pill, and as long as big pharma keeps bribing politicians, marijuana will not be legal unless big pharma makes a profit on it”. Obviously, smoking and eating marijuana has worked for thousands of years of human history without having to have a chemist in a white labcoat mess with it.
in reply to E’s post … or a white man in a suit messing with it.
And by the way, marijuana will never be legalized as long as people are afraid to post with their real names.
#112 Jim Crosson Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
“…marijuana will never be legalized as long as people are afraid to post with their real names.”
RE:
– Well, okay Jim…
My REAL name is Sioux DeNymn.
THEN WILL YOU HEAR ME NOW?
If we want to stop hearing all of the mendacity spewed by anyone, anywhere, and for any reason…in other words…leaving us nothing to bitch about…we have to lean on the President to “enforce” his Memorandum to Executive Department Heads and Agencies, and the Data/Information Act. Not only does this instruct government not to disseminate false and misleading information…but…it instructs those disseminators to correct that information which is incorrect.
Copy of letter to E-Mail to Whitehouse.gov to follow.
I’m trying to figure out how it is dangerous. It may have a lot of chemicals in it but are any of them toxic enough that they could kill people? Can anyone clarify what the Drug Czar meant by dangerous, because I didn’t see that in the clip. I just heard him say the FDA hasn’t said that smoked marijuana has medicinal benefits. What is taking them so long? There is a pill called marinol that is out and I’ve heard that is has the active ingredient of marijuana in it. They also have some sprays out that you can spray in your mouth, and they got THC in them as well. Are these illegal to possess and prescribe by federal law in the U.S.?
It is so unbelievable that first President Obama says that he is all for the legalization of Marijuana now he says that he is against it. I am glad I did not vote for him. I did not vote for McCain either. I voted for Libertarian. See this is what I hate about both the Democrats and the Republicans is that they want to make a law for everything and at the same time they trick us like they did on the 3 strikes law. Attention People of generation x, if you want for their to be less laws and more freedom stop voting Democrat or Republican and vote either American Independent or Libertarian.