PBS is to be commended for producing this excellent video summarizing the science behind the use of cannabis as a medicine.
Want to know why cannabis is effective at treating multiple symptoms and conditions? Watch this video. Want to know how cannabinoids selectively target and kill cancer cells? Watch this video. Want to know how many patents Big Pharma has taken out on cannabis-derived synthetic drugs? Watch this video.
And then share it with your friends and family.
Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.
You know whats despicably hilarious? Federal, reefer-madness influenced lawmakers will always continue to say “Im sorry, but there is just no scientific evidence that marijuana has any medical benefits.” Basically, as long as it isn’t the FDA, it isn’t legitimate. What a load of crap.
I’ve thought this for many years but now I’m going to share it with everyone.If you’ve ever had a job where random drug testing was implemented against your will and for no other reason than for the government to let everyone out there know that they were going to control us by threatening us with our livelyhoods and freedom as far as that goes.I mean it’s great to be free and not locked up, but without your job and no money it’s not too good either. Anyway,I’ve always thought this about Ronald Regan because he was the one that implemented these random drug testing laws in the late eighties.But as far as that goes, I think every politician that has violated our constitutional rights should have an eternal urinal placed above their tomb or a piss cup on their grave so that “we the people” can keep a regular stream for them so they never run dry.Yeah that’s what I think they deserve so people never forget what they put people of this great country through.And for what? They’ve always been mean spirited and just plain wrong all along, but look what they’ve put this country through.I’ve never been so full of hate in my life, the disdain I feel for these self rightous assholes.Now after seeing this video, I think it’s well time for some payback! It’s just so hard to phathom what lengths they have stooped to, to destroy people’s lives. I don’t think you want to know what I’d really like to do…and I’m not a violent person by no means.
This video should be ripped onto a DVD-R and placed in as many mailboxes you can do.
These types of reports need to be more mainstream.
I love the hypocrisy “that’s not how we do things– who cares if the oligarchy will block marijuana forever? if that’s what our masters decide then that’s what we must do–”
The idea of critical thinking & civil disobedience has been completely removed from most people’s mindsets these days…. weakness thy name is law
Milk and honey to see and hear! Except for that one Dr. idiot.
My only serious issue with the video is at the end when the doctor wants to keep it in the FDA etc. Which either is a ruse, or he is politically ignorant, the fact that he finds how cannabis works “suspect” like its still the new kid on the block is suspect in itself
Steve
[Paul Armentano responds: Eric Voth’s talking point that plant cannabis must go through the FDA to be considered a legitimate therapy is a phony argument and he is well aware of this. The FDA exists to determine whether patented products from private companies can be brought to market. Since the present law forbids any legal private manufacturers of cannabis to exist, there remains no entity available to conduct the sort of research and development necessary to trigger an FDA review. Thus, until the scheduling of cannabis changes, the FDA will never be an arbiter of marijuana as a medicine.]
Voth is a complete idiot. He obviously has a stake in keeping pot underground. “Addiction Specialist”
Here is the link to the full episode by montanapbs.org.
Yours links to pbs.org.
http://watch.montanapbs.org/video/1825223761/
And thank you so much. Great, great talking points and educational information. I eagerly shared without shame!
Yay!
Thanks for all you do.
What’s sad is…..that even if I showed this video to some people(stubborn people), in my family; they would still refuse to change their minds about the “devils” weed. Extremely sad when folks let proud/ignorant opinions trump actual science
Michigan lawmakers just passed a law making medical marijuana dispensaries ILLEGAL….what can be done about this??
So reformers, How does it feel to have your MM stratagy hijacked by Big Pharma? Ya’ll pushed the medical side hard because a)it was the right thing to do for the sick who could be helped by this plant and b)ya thought it would bring recreational legality closer. Now it looks like they are using that to their advantage.
Funny how that idiot can say with a straight face that a cannabinoid cocktail is somehow more dangerous than a synthetic cocktail just because Big Pharma managed to get them through the FDA process while weed has never killed anyone.
Obviously this doctor is getting paid vacations and all sorts of other things from pharmaceutical companies thats the one an only reason hes saying that cures using marijuana is “suspect”.
It’s pretty darn obvious that poor ole’ Dr. Eric Voth has a stake in the pharmaceutical business and is not making a dime dispensing recommendations for medical cannabis to state such ridiculousness .
Said it for years…when the gov’t figures out how to make as much money legally (as they make having it illeagal;police,prison) they will make it legal. Follow the money trail…
Does anyone here not understand that the Republic has fallen? The usa has been, for several years now, a plutocratic dictatorship. Certainly you realize by now that obama was a trojan horse? I suspect ron paul is the same. But don’t let that stop you from voting for him. When he is safely in office and he does the same 180 that obama did, surely then you will know who really owns and controls this country. It ain’t you!
Excellent, I agree we should be on street corners passing out DVD’s with this program on them.
That was an excellant video! Unfortunately it made me want to scream, and then cry. Need I say more? Who would here it.
[Paul Armentano responds: You and others can watch the entire 60-minute PBS broadcast online here: http://watch.montanapbs.org/video/1825223761/%5D
PhD stands for physicians helping to deceive. It’s why I don’t go to the doctor unless my life is on the line.
Let people decide what works for them. I’m sick of this doctoral tyranny over my body.
WHAT I HAD JUST WROTE FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS, APPARENTLY see how small we are!
I have EPILEPSY and I totally agree with this! I am so ready for the government to get out of my life and live by the US Constitution. I used to have so many seizures that my life was unlivable, and now I hardly ever have a seizure. I have fewer as time goes on due to our dear plant! I am basically cured and if I can cure myself without somebody else making money off of my illness, then I AM HERE doing it!!! Thank you PBS. It’s about time someone with such great influence finally came out in blatant view.
BIG PHARMA wants to remove just a couple of elements from Marijuana so that ONLY their product/strain with elements removed will be legal for medicine—- Anyone tested to have the REMOVED ELEMENTS(NATURAL GROWN MARIJUANA) in their system will be considered to have an illegal substance in their system and be arrested. This is what the Republican Controlled BIG PHARMA has planned for Medical Marijuana.
pappy; just out of curiousity – If you dont vote for Ron Paul, who is a better choice? I honestly don’t believe he is a ” trojan horse”..he is the only choice I can see to get this country turned around..that doesn’t mean he won’t hit serious opposition from everywhere if he is elected and tries to do what he says he would, but I really do not see him doing the 180 as BO has…
Voth and his ilk are too fucking stupid to figure out how it works scientifically, so nobody can legally use it, according to them. The fact that marijuana works is irrelevant. What a bunch of fucking assholes!
I would go with the doctors who say to use it before they have figured out how it works because it works. Of course, something that pharma develops that actually kills cancer would obviously be more effective if it is a cure. As a cancer survivor and one who constantly worries about “the condition” and as an informed and well-educated person, I am for complete legalization for medical, recreational and industrial use.
Fuck you, Voth, and the horse you road in on! If you had cancer or some of these other medical conditions that marijuana treats, you’d be using it to medicate, too!
It’s always different when it’s you and not somebody else!
Voth, fuck you!
It’s simple really, no pharmaceutical product, or concoction, currently can meet the same efficacy cannabis provides in its raw, organic plant-matter form. And also they want money, which is really the only thing both hurting and helping the innovation of extracting the benefits of cannabis for medicine.
I work at a Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Colorado. This PBS special brought us in a 4th stage cancer patient who wants to try medical marijuana. She found out about its’ benefits from this PBS special!! Awesome- thankful for great coverage. Lets’ keep healing the sick out there.
@Joe Nickelsack
I feel the exact hatred and disgust you do mate. Your idea is a very good one and I would be first in line to piss on them.
These fuckers have known about the Medical benefits of Marijuana for quite some time. They have been trying to hide the facts by calling marijuana THE EVIL WEED!!! Now that the FACTS are getting out and they can no longer stop the masses,—— They are now trying to find a way to produce it and alter it so that ONLY THEY can PROFIT from its legal production. They will remove a chemical or two and declare the removed chemicals as deadly or un-safe, and then they will BAN that removed chemical and make it illegal. Of coarse that chemical will be a chemical found in ALL Marijuana strains in their natural grown forms. Therefore ALL Marijuana Strains will be illegal—While their chemical removed/altered strain and ONLY THEIRS will be legal.
I don’t want ANY MAN MADE/ALTERED Medicine/POISON BULLSHIT. I want 100% GOD MADE MEDICINE!!! Chances are —These fuckers would knowingly add chemicals that are known to cause cancer—Then claim later that the marijuana must be causing cancer. Accept NO MAN MADE ALTERED SUBSTITUTES!!! DEMAND 100% PURE GOD MADE MEDICAL MARIJUANA!!!
BRILLIANT!
This needs to be aired on Fox News. “Clear the smoke” once and for all
# 10: what you are experiencing is the “masterpiece in brainwashing” cannabis prohibition has become.
The requested video won’t show on their site for me. Maybe the DEA already shut it down…
The Dr. with the dissenting opinion on marijuana says that we should wait until the single cannabinoid that treats the symptoms are discovered. This is NOT because he is concerned for the safety of the patient. That is a cover. He is fully aware, however, that if scientists are able to single out a certain cannabinoid, then Big Pharma can create a patent for it, thus raking in HUGE amounts of money for them. Big Pharma is not allowed to patent a natural plant. That is the ONLY reason. He even says to keep the progress of research within the confines of “the FDA,” the same group that is currently promoting raids on raw food vendors.
Not only does this create a money-making scenario for not you and not me, but this undermines the balance and natural safety of marijuana as a whole. Think about cocaine compared to the coca leaf. If it weren’t illegal cocaine would be patented. Cocaine is an extremely imbalanced isotope extract of the coca leaf, thus causing damaging effects on the human body. Coca leaves, however, are used as health supplement that can be used for both constipation AND diarrhea, because it contains both compounds that are necessary to each type of relief, and the human body understands how to use these properly. Cocaine only creates increased metabolization (not necessarily diarrhea, but it creates unnecessary bowel movements). The singling out of a specific cannabinoid, without the rest to balance the effects out, would actually pose more of a possibility of greater health risks then what that Dr. is saying.
‘Big Pharma’ isn’t gonna mess with my cronnic! I got my seeds and I plan to keep my weed organic. As long as we have organic plants we won’t be forced into buying pills and food from a select few sources holding a monopoly on the market. F’k Monsanto and f’k Pfizer and f’k the people in the government who support it.
I hate the Dr. Eric Voth. He’s clearly bias because he is the chairmen of the institute on global drug policy.He said he wants to keep cannabis in the FDA. People have smoked cannabis for hundreds of years before the FDA or the USA was formed. He thinks that only people who are like him should even be aloud to touch it. Why dose he treat others like children? Maybe he’s a child, a selfish child.
nccpn.org isn’t working anymore either which is disturbing. No telling whats going on their. Hopefully they just forgot to pay their bill.
fuck the goverment i had cancer surgery and its my life not thers so i am useing pot that helps me and all the pills was just killing me faster,the all mitey doller is the onley reason its no legail.i live in ky and its not alowad here so they say but they can kiss my ass and if they put me in jail they will feed me and be out over 2 hunderd thousand a year on bull shit medican that dont help me.
and yet,,,a pharmaceutical company,,,has Sativex being tested now by the FDA,,and how are their laws and drug classifications going to continue marijuana as a schedule 1 drug if Sativex does pass FDA testing?
Since G&W Pharmaceutical is a subsidiary of Bayer,,,I am sure congress is working some sort of special exemption for them,,,because anyone with a bottle if Sativex,,if tested is going to show it to be marijuana,,since it is
hemp oil
Thank you!
Marijuana should be legal for anyone to grow and use for any reason even if it is to relax after work or for illness; the best way to slow teen usage and the price, profit.
As for the issue of violence it is the higher price and use with alcohol that is the problem.
Nobody should be in jail due to this weed & the one thing I missed was The Hearst Connection as he used his newspapers to set the ground for perhaps 500 million people being arrested, thousands killed in raids plus trafficking.
Decades have passed before people became organized well enough to start to reverse this travesty, this says something about our government and society and it ain`t pretty!
Hooty
Recently, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors passed a complete ban on MMJ dispensaries as well as cultivation. It will take effect in the next month with all collectives confined to areas on the Freeway 99 corridor.
Shortly before the meeting, where 4 of 5 Supervisors voted for the ban, I sent the website to my own supervisor. I also downloaded and printed a media package from the Americans for Safe Access website and sent to her. I followed up with an email regarding a sample ordinance included in the ASA material as a starting point.
She contacted me via telephone the day before the vote to explain, they “had to get something on the books.” And they proceeded with the ban. The 15 dispensaries will sue the County and cost taxpayers dollars we can ill afford to pour down a litigious black hole.
Marijuana is a God given sacred, medicinal herb…and is a Miracle given to us by God. Those who don’t believe in Miracles don’t believe in God either. Big Pharma is the real “Drug Cartel”. “FDA approved” is something I am wary of. I am more comfortable with alternative medicines, natural remedies like Marijuana
and Homeopathy and other herbs. Marijuana has never killed anyone. A lot of FDA chemical drugs do kill people, or the medicine they give you for one thing, like your heart, for example, destroys your kidneys then you have double trouble and dialysis in addition to the original problem.
Sorry if my comments posted twice. I was impatient and clicked the submit button twice.
In reply/comment to Will’s posting of Aug 25,424pm. I second that opinion which is why Obamacare has to be repealed. Government approved health insurance is gov’t approved healthcare and if you want a Religious exemption, you have to be a member of a gov’t approved church. Sound’s like tyranny to me.
We need to dismantle BIG PHARMA. BIG PHARMA is has no supervision. They make up their own rules as they go along and proceeed with impunity. How in the world were they allowed to get away with marking up their prices for drugs to the tune of 550,000%?????
Can anyone explain to me why just any company can’t mark up profits hundreds of thousands of times larger than any mafia or drug kingpin, but BIG PHARMA can???
The cost of medical treatment is breaking this country. Medical treatment – ALL medical treatment should be FREE. I have an inalienable right to LIFE. LIFE cant happen without health. Health cant happen if you have no money. THAT IS CRIMINAL!!!! But if I have cannabis, I can prevent so many diseases and relieve the pain I already suffer from and cannabis can do that for FREE.
The way I see it now, folks, you have to KILL BIG PHARMA before they kill you.
These two guys are sitting around the camp fire – and – one says to the other:
“What’s your take on fire, the wheel, stone tools, and opposable thumbs?”
The other guy replied:
“I don’t know – but – I’m gonna grab my club, my female by the hair – and – drag her to my cave.
The prohibs would undertand this completely.
And now, the problem just got worse. Read this, just in:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44280296/ns/health-health_care/
Wow sounds like we’re closing up on an actual cure to cancer. Great video, want to see more of this!
Thanks for the truth!
I watch News Hour regularly and was pleasantly surprised to see this segment. It will be fascinating to see what kind of backlash the producers get, and if future interviews will challenge the standard talking points of whatever ONDCP spokesperson appears. In the past, they have politely let them have their say, no matter how outrageous the lie, and moved on to the next story.
This report may be a tipping point.
What A Dump F#@(, The feds won’t let it be tested and it is natural. This bonehead says how can you get off a bunch of drugs and cannabis work? Duh, look at studies you jackass and quit taking payoffs from the FEDS!!!!
Has the FDA checked out water? I’m not sure if I should be taking that stuff in its raw form. Shouldn’t I be required by Dr. myopic to take the hydrogen and oxygen seperately,if those are FDA approved…?
These “pull the string” tools on TV don’t realize how bad they make real doctors look?
Doctor Eric Voth.
I find you suspect – highly suspect sir. Cannabis is a “WONDER DRUG.” The science you wish to restrict it to already knows this. My question is – “Why don’t you?” Please sir – “Go eliminate your feces somewhere else.”
I’m so tired of hearing how the only way a substance can be used effectively in medicine is by isolating only one compound that affects one process dramatically while overlooking the other highly negative effects and hoping that not too many people die or have bad effects. The cannabis plant is the only plant in the entire plant kingdom that contains cannabinoids. However, as Dr. Voth said there are many other compounds in the cannabis plant. These other substances are found in many other plants that are not illegal! Therefore there is PLENTY of research regarding these substances. He is ill informed. They are the other myriad therapeutic terpenoids and flavonoids that are easily found in pine trees, roses, lavender, hops, citrus rinds, neroli oil, eucalyptus, rosemary,etc, etc. and all have some therapeutic value in and of themselves or promote some process that positively affects how the cannabinoids work. Every attempt so far – excluding GW Pharmaceuticals excellent work in producing a “whole plant based” pharmaceutical sublingual spray called Sativex currently approved and marketed in the U.K., Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark – has been an abject failure. Marinol and Drabinol have been touted by the likes of Dr. Voth but are virtually ineffective according to research and patients experience. His statement that he couldn’t believe one substance could have so many therapeutic effects is simply narrow flat earth thinking. Has he not been aware of the 20,000 or so credible peer-reviewed studies worldwide that show just that! What a poor example of a scientist/physician!
It is about time big Pharma looks at medical marijuana! Now that they know big money is going to be involved, all af a sudden big Pharma wants in. If that is what it takes,make sure it is good and not swagg!
#24 Skunky, right on there. Big Pharma has all this under control. Surely they don’t want ya’all growing the shit in your backyard.
Voth is just of a certain western med mindset. The same one that discounted acupuncture and chinese herbs etc. when they become popular in the west. He’s not a believer in holistic healing alternatives. That is probably largely how he really feels, but I’m sure that all the added baggage attached to cannabis only polarizes him further. The extent of his beholdenness to corporate pharma is also difficult to determine exactly, but it’s clear that those are his core beliefs. Whatever, he’s clearly motivated to construct a set of rationalizations that he is convinced are “reasons” supporting his point of view.
What he doesn’t address and in fact matters most, is that the exact medicinal properties of pot have nothing to do with the question of whether or not there should be a zero tolerance/schedule 1/total prohibition. There shouldn’t be. The main reason is that prohibition is a very very ineffective regulatory policy with numerous harmful unintended consequences. It does not succeed at its goals. And pot will never be controllable only as prescribed medication (in whatever form that takes) no matter what pharmaceutical companies and the FDA manage to come up with.
Powerful entities like the agencies (FDA, DEA etc) in the executive branch abhor the idea of any human activity circumstances being beyond their control. They view it as an affront to their power and as a challenge to be met. In the US, the mindset is that “we don’t lose, we don’t surrender, we’re in it to win it, no matter what”. That is what we’re up against.
I recently read the human body manufatures it’s own cannabinoids, but they are weak and short-lived.
tht doctor in the beginning is full of crap invite that lady to your house and witness her with the marijuana and without then see if it works. plus hes saying it has harmful side effects WTF every drug on the market comes with a warning label with a list of side effects so whats the difference
I think it’s Past the Time for this to happen. Especially Medical Cannabis!
So Many Pros & actually no cons that I can think of. From previous times, off & on during my life. I have used Cannabis for Many Issues. A couple of examples: Depression, which the Pharma just loves to dump their drugs on that one. I had a Dog, Boston Terrier started having seizures when just a pup. Somehow he ate some Cannabis. At first I was afraid…but no seizures that day. So for the rest of his life, he ate a tiny amount every day & never had another seizure.
I have also seen the effects of Cannabis on the Social Scene. People that ingest or smoked Cannabis were wonderful & fun to be around. Yet people drinking Alcohol turned into real jerks.
No fighting, no Spousal Abuse, No Deaths! Yet Every Year there are 17 Thousand Alcohol Related Deaths in our Country. That’s more than all the murders committed in the USA. Deaths Related to Cannabis???…0..yes ZERO!
Seems to me Legalizing Cannabis would Also Help Stop the Drug Wars at our Borders. And….Gee, We Could Get CA Out of Debt if Cannabis was Taxed! It is a Billion Dollar Industry!! Why is this Product Not Already Legalized? Alcohol is a Drug…a Horrible Drug…but it’s Legal. Coffee’s a Drug? Cigarettes are a Drug.
I could never figure this problem out…but Now We All Know What the Deal Is….Don’t We?
I know a little bit about cell biology and the important role of G proteins in trans surface membrane cell signalling. From the scientific literature, It appears that activated cannabinoid CB1 cell surface receptors cause intracellular sequestration of G proteins, thereby down-regulating trans surface membrane cell signalling.
Even with my little bit of of cell biology knowledge, I can appreciate the wider medicinal implications and the pharmacological excitement.
Let me put this as simple as it can be put!
How much money can a doctor make if no one ever got sick?
How much money can pharmaceutical companies make if no one ever took their drugs?
How much money would drug stores make if no one ever filled a prescription?
How many medical conditions are “created” to support these ????????????????????????????????????????????
The truth will show itself. One day at a time. Im tired of being patient, but what other choice do we have? The bullshit is starting to get old Uncle Sam! Stop fucking with a good thing!
Can someone explain why the number of medical marijuana states is always counted as 16? NORML’s active state programs page lists 17 and the District of Columbia.
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Delaware
Hawaii
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
District of Columbia
[Editor’s note: Some news outlets and wire services do not count Maryland’s change of law because it is so super lame: patients can still be arrested, have their medicine taken away and not returned even AFTER they’ve proven that they have a physician’s recommendation to use cannabis for a specific (and approved) ailment.]
nicklesack says it all
I am planting(forgetting to take with me) a few books at my moms house about Marijuana..
The Emperor wears no clothes
The Marijuana Medical Handbook
The Great Book of Hemp
She will read them,, and she will gossip to everyone about all the cool stuff she learned..
Just planting another seed can grow in many ways.
Did Dr. Lester Grinspoon really say that he has cancer in the full PBS special?
[Editor’s note: Dr. Grinspoon and his family have been attending to an acute form of cancer he was diagnosed with over three years ago.]
one plant shall bring peace to all nations.
He who denies this plant shall not enter thr GATEWAY to the Kingdon of GOD..
SO many have the name correct..It is the gateway herb
Voth is displaying classic symptoms of the Modern Medical community’s bias against Marijuana, not only in being overly loyal to Big Pharma, but in their view that a natural plant of any kind cannot be as effective as the synthetic modern man made drugs.
He says he is skeptical that after 14 drugs with no effectiveness, this one plant helped completely, but I promise you, if it were a pharma drug, originating from the plant, containing the exact full ingredient list of cannabinoids as the plant, it would be a miracle of modern science.
Sorry doc. The plant will always be the most effective. It is a miracle of the greatest Pharmacist of all time. Planet Earth. It makes the cures, and we humans try to replicate it, almost always with inferior effectiveness, and dangerous side effects.
Doctors need to remember that the entire Prescribing Drugs portion of their career, has it’s origins in herbal remedies. Before modern medicine, doctors or their equal incarnation in other/older societies, gave patients herbal extracts, oils, and tinctures, created largely with plants. They forget that many of the most popular drugs, started with plants until synthesized.
It is an all too worrying trend, especially in North America, continent of the newest is best mindset. If it hasn’t happened recently it can’t be all that great. It’s because we’ve come to accept planned obsolescence in all aspects of our life, everything breaks down,or doesn’t work these days, so how can history, culture, and natural medicine possibly teach us anything about medicines? This mindset also applies to Hemp.
Keep on toking in the free world.
[Editor’s note: Dr. Eric Voth is a second generation anti-cannabis zealot as his father, also a physician, was one the major proponents in government in the 1970s for mass drug testing. Apparently, and unfortunately, the apple didn’t fall too from the tree…]
72.dbeall
You might want to consider CANNABIS a history by Martin Booth – published by Picador. Happy reading.
Dr. Eric Voth is from Kansas and an ASSHOLE. He is one of the most evil of Prohibitionists. A pox on Dr. Voth. He is the Dick Cheney of Anti marijuana.
anyone here saying the government is making money off of imprisoning people is just as stupid as dr voth is
imprisoning a citizen costs the government approximately $38,000 a year. Prisoners arent paying for room, board, electricity, food, transportation(when necessary)
Educate yourself before jumping into an argument and making non factual comments
Yes, the government is keeping it illegal partially until they find a monetary plan, but at the same time, it is kept illegal because BIG businesses( Oil companies, food companies, tobacco companies, alcohol companies and so on) have the finances to pay off the right people to keep it illegal.
Do some research before making yourself sound like a TOTAL ASS Deb Hickle
Dr. Grinspoon is is someone who I respect immensely! Although he doubted the medical use of marijuana at first, because of exposure to Govt propaganda, he did the research and came to his own conclusions. Like so many of us, he now believes it has incredible potential for medical use. God knows I wish our Govt would show as much intelligence as Dr. Grinspoon has demonstrated!
Dr. Eric Voth, of the Institute on Global Drug Policy does not earn my respect; not even a little tiny bit. I believe he is a puppet of the DEA. His primary reason for not believing that marijuana can be used for medical use is because it is illegal. He says he has never, in his 27 years, ever thought that advising a patient to “smoke dope illegally” was the right thing to do. His choice of verbage makes his bias against marijuna clear. He goes on to say that he wouldn’t even let someone who is dying use it! I, sure as hell, would not want him to be my doctor! He goes on to say that marijuana does have a side effect and that is the high. While it is possible that a small percentage of patients might not like that effect, isn’t it remarkable that the main problem he mentions (besides that it is illegal) is that it has a side effect which most people actually like! Compare that to the side effects of most of Big Pharma’s drugs.
The Federal Govt, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, continues to insist that cannabis is as dangerous as heroin, ecstacy, and LSD. This is beyond ludicrous! At least a few of our elected officials, God bless them, realize this and are trying to change it. But the status quo thinkers like John Boehner, Barrack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and about 85% of our other current elected leaders continue to stick to the lies and predjudices of the past; thus completely ignoring science and the will of the people. According to the Federal Govt, marijuana is more dangerous and has less medical value than methamphetamine, cocaine, opium, and morphine. I’m glad that at least educated medical practicioners seem to agree that this is complete nonsense and that marijuana is not dangerous, and that it does have tremendous potential for use as a medicine. It’s really too bad that our uneducated biased politicians are making decisions that should be left to our doctors!
One of the things that bothers me the most about the Federal Govt’s position on this issue is that we all know they are lying to us. Since they are lying to us about this, then it begs the question “What else are they lying to us about?”. Can we really believe them when they say they need to tax us more heavily? Can we believe them that UFO’s aren’t real? Can we believe it is really necessary to go to war again (hypothetically in the future…)? How can we find it in ourselves to trust them when we know them to be lying to us about this?
The DEA’s position is just a cruel joke. As far as I have been able to discern, they actually know next to nothing about marijuana. They do know a lot about military and law enforcement tactics however. They are also masters of propaganda and bending the truth.They completely ignore evidence in favor of pushing their propaganda that allows them to continue their funding and existence as an organization. They seem to have no interest in the truth or the welfare of Americans. Among other things they say it leads to other more dangerous drugs which is both wrong and laughable. Marijuana is already listed in the most dangerous category so how could it, by their standards, lead to more dangerous drugs! It does not lead to other drugs unless perhaps you get it from an illegal dealer who stands to profit by pushing them. As someone who has used cannabis, recreationally (not medically since I am very healthy), for 40 years, I can tell you I have no desire to try any of the other drugs the DEA says it leads to. It is very possible that part of the reason I am so healthy, at age 55, is because of my use of cannabis.
Somehow, the powers that be within the DEA, Michelle Leonhart in particular, have come to the conclusion that as long as Big Pharma can profit from synthetic THC, that is okay. They only have a problem with THC if it comes from a naturally grown plant. One would assume that they haven’t tried it themselves since it is their job to try to eradicate it and lock up anyone they catch with it. So, I have to ask why it is that they refuse to believe people like myself who have actually used it for many years and are still perfectly able to function at a high level both mentally, physically, and to lead an otherwise very normal productive life. It is also very worth noting that both of my parents, and all my grandparents had cancer. It runs in my family. But, I have been checked for it am completely cancer free. I am living proof but that’s not good enough for them. Doctors seem to agree that marijuana, in it’s raw form, is much more effective than the synthetic compound that the DEA has approved.
It is completely amazing to me that one person, Harry Anslinger, started the witch hunt that is also known as marijuana prohibition. His entire campaign was based on lies and predjudice; primarily against Mexicans and African Americans. Now, here we are in the 21st century, and millions of us have not been able to get this wrong righted! It also amazes me that almost every country in the world bought into this idiotic witch hunt in spite of the fact that prior to Mr. Anslinger’s prohibitionist activities, it had been used medically for thousands of years!
Well if Voth is such a big part of the push toward workplace drug testing, they’ve done a great job of turning people’s minds against marijuana. Look at all the newscasts where criminals are featured and they make sure to mention if there was marijuana in the picture, and have succeeded in equating marijana with hard drugs (same thing, you steal, can’t hold a job and you die of an overdose but not before you sell to small children), and made sure that the general public believes that if you smoke pot you automaticallly have a drug problem and shouldn’t be around anyone’s kids.
Nothing’s going to change until everyone who smokes pot and/or thinks it should be legal goes down and marches on Washington all together. If everyone concerned showed up, people’s jaws would drop at who they’d find there.
Great video.
Regardless of proven medicinal benefits of cannabis, marijuana should be accepted, approved and legal for medical and recreational use around the country. America should legalize it and charge taxes on it. The saving from wasted “law-enforcement” and “criminal-prosecution” alone would be a huge help to our bankrupt country.It is amazing how backwards politics and medecine have become in this country.
Everyone share this video. Post it on your FB page,send it to everyone you know. I did.
It really bothers me to say this but it seems like the average American is very cowardly. I know a lot of people who use cannabis recreationally. I am the only one who has dared to join NORML. All of them are afraid of getting on some Govt list of marijuana/drug users. Not a single one of them has ever done anything, out of fear, to help the legalization cause. I’m sure they would vote in favor of legalizing if they had the chance but they do nothing but hide until that time comes. One of my best friends, someone I’ve smoked with on many occasions, recently got angry with me for send him an email that made a marijuana reference. He is sure the DEA is monitoring everyone’s emails and he is so very afraid of getting on their list… It’s really pretty pathetic! Even though they are my friends, their cowardice is offensive to me.
Dr. Voth seems to have skipped over that clinical research organizations would NOT research marijuana for potential medical benefits because of the drug wars and the “reefer madness” scare. So, now that the voters finally caught up and passed these initiatives, he’s poo poohing it until the research is done. If they had started the research a long time ago, this would never have had to happen.
We need to find doctors who will research it in it’s raw state as well. This way, big pharmacy won’t have a grip on its use. If the benefits of raw marijuana are proved clinically, then the need for synthesized specific drugs will be minimized.
I wish every time there’s a video on medical marijuana, they would stop showing a person smoking a joint! I don’t do that anymore. I ingest it by eating it and smoking a small puff from a pipe. I was glad to see they showed the woman eating it.
Well there you go NORML…Big Pharma just sunk your battleship! You can kiss all of the progress you’ve made in the medical marijuana movement GOODBYE!!! So now what? What is your game-plan now that your ruse is up, and the Trojan Horse that you supposedly intended to force legalization through the back-door with is ON FIRE! What way (other than pursuing 100% total legalization) are you going to use now to circumvent the will of the machine?
-Oz
[Editor’s note: No change of plans…full steam ahead with legalization, which has always been the principle organizational goal. Pharmaceutical companies are welcomed by NORML to create effective and affordable cannabinoid-based drugs, as long as they don’t lobby to treat cannabis consumers as criminals or try to ban consumers from cultivating their own product.]
It would be nice if you could purchase a license just like a fishing license to grow your own for your own use as well as friends as I would be happy to pay $50 a year to have six-12 plants in my garden & not need to buy from someone in a bar, this prevents me from eating it & I like good MJ Butter!!!
After thousands of years the only thing that seems to be remotely true is that some people usually with high use and predisposition get a little mental but there are plenty of OTC medications that do it & do it faster but.
HEY … who really smokes 10 joints a day as I have not seen anyone person finish an entire joint in 15 years, 3-4 tokes does it for me and most people I know & not even weekly so I have little incentive to help make it legal but I want to help as I like certain strains with a sweet taste & smell & like to know it has no poison on it.
I will not go downtown and speak about weed to strangers as most would call the police & we all know how long metabolites can be detected and in a small town a real feather in a cops hat.
Where in the hell are the 800,000 people who get arrested each year and the other 20 million who do smoke once in a while … why do people pay big bucks for weed then FAIL to do their part to CHANGE THE LAWS … I give a little to NORML, MMP, Innocence Project, hospitals, the poor and several other causes but make less a day than I used to make in an hour.
Is There A Failure To Communicate, Smokers … where are you!
Support the cause …damn it I will only live another 20 years and would like to smoke legally before I die!
Just another worthless piece of shit like Leonhart.
Wait. Wait. wait.
Wait until we can separate each benefit into different drugs.
Wait until we can patent it.
Wait until we can make money from it.
Then we will reclassify it, rush it through FDA approval, market it to our pushers in white lab coats and sell it to you at prices higher than any other country would allow us to sell it for, and pay politicians to keep all the associated laws in our financial favor.
I FIND THE COMMENTS BY THE DOCTOR THAT WORKS FOR THE DFA SO HIPROCATE AND IDIOTIC IS FUNNY IM A CANCER SURVIVOR THAT SURVIVED 17 SUEGERIES CHEMO AND RADIATION THE PUSHED CHEMICALS AND PILLS I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE DOWN MY TROAT AND I WANT TO TAKE SOME THING LIKE CASNNABIS THAT HAS BEEN AROUND THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND THEY ARE PLAYING THIS POLITICAL GAMES AND OF STUPITITY AND IT JUST THE SAME OLD STORY IS A SHAME BUT MY POEPLE DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND GO ON.
I WILL CONBTINUE TO BE A SUPPORTER AND SMOKE FOR ASLL MY CHRONIC PAIN DISORDER, FRIBROMIALGIA, AND SO MANY OTHER CONDITIONS THAT IF I WRITE THGEM ALL I WILL NOT HAVE SPACE SOONER OR LATER IT WILL BE LEGAL! IN THE MEAN TIME SOME GET HEAL FEAL BETTER AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO!!!! IM FROM BUFFAlo ny and what ever happens happens am not scared of the goverment, i have bveen face to face with death and noone is goin to tell me that marijuana does not work for all the conditionsd they have researched on, very encorouage of the cancer fighting experiments that are ongoin. peace on my poeple.
FWIW, this PBS documentary needs a follow-up that exposes the extent to which the USA federal, state, and local governments financially benefit from prohibition, along with the multitude of private for-profit corporate interests that benefit. SoS H. Clinton was correct — there is far too much money (in prohibition) for it to ever be made legal again.
The USA needs its’ own ‘Awakening’ with protesters in the streets like the 1960’s and early 1970’s. The outcome could be as peaceful as the Egyptian Revolt, but it would more likely take an American version of the Libyan Revolt to overcome the entrenched kleptocracy. The murder of students at Kent State was no accident — provocations for police state violence will always be created by undercover instigators should the PtB feel the need.
All of this BS, violence, and repression for over 70 years, over a harmless plant. There is, has been, and will always be far larger issues at play that someday will be revealed — at that point, the ‘blowback’ from the populace will be overwhelming. Think about what anniversary 14 July represents …
Dave 762 you are correct, the PEOPLE need to hear about forfiture and other aspects.
Thanks
Marijuana will never be legal in the US, simply for the fact that it helps people relax and enjoy, and it’s safe. And that’s a nightmare to those in power.
When you’ve exhausted your last breath with words – what’s left? Right! A march leading to a face to face is one answer. It’s a “raise of hands” – and – “physical presence” that must be addressed – usually because the next step is brute force. But- when covering all the angles – maybe they would use this approach to strengthen their agenda of creating a tragedy to take to higher level [the visual effect of mass force]. For that reason – a peaceful assembly would have to be absolutely peaceful. “ONE” egg thrower and the party is over. We hear about a million man march. How about a 75% March. It doesn’t seem possible – that we could get 75% of the people together on the Capitol’s steps – at one time. What does seem possible is that we put 75% on each and every local representative’s door step – at one time – that we meet them where they live – in their own front yard. Pick a day and be there.
well, I have read all I can read. legal or not, decriminalized or not, I will smoke and be high til I die…..no need to fret, as long as the weed I get.
Check out the Feds patent #6630507. They are big fat liars.
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6630507.PN.&OS=PN/6630507&RS=PN/6630507
No Politician Will Ever Admit Marijuana is Medicine Except Ron Paul and Gary Johnson. Ron Paul 2012 BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW & Legalize iT
I recently found myself in the local ER for an extreme infection on my lower leg. It was diagnosed as cellulitus. Being that I am extremely allergic to most pain killers, when prescribed percocet, I asked for something milder darvocet. The doctor told me that darvocet was no longer allowed into the county because the FDA had banned it. He explained that the FDA was really a combination of the biggest pharmaceutical companys in the USA, and since most darvocet was being produced for cheaper oversea,s they had banned it for lack of being able to make money off of it.This was the admission of a Certified M.D. This is the same thing occurring with marijuana in the US. Because they cant make money off of it, they must keep it out of the mainstream. You can get FDA clearance for drugs such as Nas*nex that cause severe nose bleeds, migraines, and possible comma by admission as side effects, but don’t smoke a joint you could get high and really feel good. Then what on earth would you do ?
I saw it last night. It was really show. There all ways going to be anti cannabis. I hope every one will skip a bag give that money to there local P.B.S station. Now if they would just show that show on the cbs / nbc / and abc. This show is going to help our cause Now i must fear for all those on the show who support this drug. The d.e.a cant let them speak so positive about cannabis
Dr. Voth should read my book “Marijuana Gateway to Health: How Cannabis Protects Us from Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease.” when it comes out in about two weeks on Amazon. He clings to his ignorance like a security blanket.
[Paul Armentano responds: Actually, anyone who cares about the issue of cannabis consumption and long-term health ought to read Clint’s excellent book. I highly recommend it.]
A person I know is critically ill with cancer. When I mentioned the use of cannibis my idea was treated as though I suggested being bit by a rabid dog would be a cure.
These people are mega wealthy and are very big in the pharmacy industry.
Goes to show you that the pharma industy controlers are willing to die for what they believe in (their continued wealth accumulation).
this is such propaganda demonizing the plant cuz it has a variety of active compounds in it…seriously…maybe its the fact that all of these working in concert makes cannabis the “wonder drug” many view it as today and throughout history….or like “the fda hasent approved it” as if the FDA has any credibility anymore…hmm maybe if they didnt support things like fluoride in the water and other such cheap garbage and medications that is literally killing people, we would care what they have to say…
and as to how medicine does not work with committees and people voting on things…why does he tell that to his psychologist buddies…im pretty sure thats exactly what they do…they want to talk about credibility why dont they start with themselves, and let the real doctors who know what they are doing, practice medicine, and if they feel that cannabis will HELP their patient then they must prescribe it…either that or the patient must think for themself and if that means breaking the law (they are not infringing on the rights of others so in reality they are not committing a crime) to improve their quality of life then so be it…
The federal whores are sleeping with big-pharma! This is news? When there’s money around, you will find whores. Have we forgotten whom the government works for? For the most part, we have. We hang our heads and say aw shucks, but comply like good little citizens.What do you expect when we forego our right to privacy? What I ingest is of no concern to my mother, much less the federal government. If you keep peeking into my private life, you’re going to get your eye poked out. (figuratively that is)
I watched the long version of the video which really blew my mind. Finally here’s a spot on a mainstream channel that puts it all into perspective in regards to the medical debate surrounding cannabis. How can anybody who considers themself a human being watch this excellent documentary and not be appalled by the greed and lies that are presented about a gift placed on our beautiful planet for our benefit.
You know it comes down to one thing that is destroying us as a race and the world we live in – ignorance. Yes, greed is also a factor as well as fear. But our refusal to open our eyes to the truth has taken such a toll that we are in deep shit if we don’t make an about face very soon. The movement to make pot available for those who need it commonly refers to the laws they present as “compassionate care laws” which pretty much sums it up. There is such a urgency for compassion right now. I just hope that we all are up for it. (BTW the “we” I keep refering to is all of us – enough already of the “us” vs. “them”)
106. Jman
We actually saw the Fabian Society embrace Malthusian theory about over-population, which became part of the socialist movement at the turn of the 20th century. The Rockefellers, the Rosicrucians (Georgia Guide-stones), and certain left-of-center groups today have adopted a similar philosophy.
Sadly, such a mentality seems to dovetail very nicely with how the Capitalists and their henchmen among the bourgeois view Their efforts at globalization, to the detriment of the working class everywhere. The prohibition of cannabis, a harmless plant of significant medical and industrial benefit, would seem to be part of Their agenda — what Big Pharma shovels out as ‘medicine’ is largely a bloody expensive toxic witches-brew of drugs. Factor in the private for-profit prison system, stripping of citizen rights once arrested, and the rise of the police state, and it would appear as if you are exactly correct — They (the PTB) ARE trying to kill We the People off … so far with little resistance.
I WANT TO SMOKE LEGAL BEFORE I DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the papers mentioned in the video were pre-prohibition were they not?i am surprised that the gov’t doesnt hold patents for the diseases they created for the doctors to make you take poisons for.
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The DEA is so full of shit – their eyes are brown – and – if they say no they’re blue – that just means they’re a quart low. Some one stick a dip stick in them to check.
Eric McLaughlin Says:Go Cannabis Science CBIS (OTC) Invest in CBIS
Eric, I followed the link and really like the company & see a future for their work; the 3 cents a share is good & for only a few dollars could pay well in time.
There is a link on the right side of their page about a lady with skin cancer & how after surgeries she treated herself with a cannabis salve & the pictures of her cancer clearing up is quite amazing but not surprising to me.
The sad part is how many years and millions of dollars it would require to get something such as this through the FDA since few if any research is allowed.
Have a nice day!
The sad thing is that our Government is never going to legalize marijuana, until they can find a way too make money off of it. If they would look back marijuana was once of our biggest cash crops. They even import it when they could be growing and making money from it instead of spending money on Hemp.
I think God knew what she was doing when is make the plant I would rather that the FDA would leave the plant alone and let it do what is does.Every time people mess with something that works they usually screw it up.
I have to agree with the majority of posts here. I cannot for the life of me figure out why “our” government doesn’t endorse the use of medical marijuana other than to help the pharmaceutical companies make money. They would rather shove drugs down my throat(at great cost to the taxpayers as I am disabled) than let me grow my own. I live in a medical marijuana state but because of my disabilty I have to have help from the feds to keep a decent roof over my head I cannot get a med card, while my neighbor in the next apt could because he doesnt have to rely on federal aid to house him. So’ I have to make a choice that I loath which is keep a roof over my head and suffer from chronic pain all the while the meds they prescribe for me are a hell of a lot more expensive(and not that effective) than letting me grow some plants. For instance I take about 10 different prescription drugs that cost the American taxpayer about 1400 dollars a month,when I could grow my own and save taxpayers at least 1,000 or more a month. Where is the logic? There is none in Washington. I love my country but our polititions don’t seem to care about us as much they do about getting into every other country’s business. I have always beleived that prohibition does not work and we proved it almost a hundred years ago. I see ads on tv all the time about meds that cause everything hives to death, yet they keep shoving this absurd notion that a plant has no medical use. I have seen first hand many deaths caused by a lot of things but have never ever heard of even one death from marijuana. One last thought (here anyway) Want to bring the deficit down? How about stop ruining peoples lives with the war on drugs which will never be won and take that money (BILLIONS OF DOLLARS every year) and help the people here in america instead of helping EVERY other country in the world solve the problems they created for them selves and let them work it out for themselves instead of us being the police force for the world and stop acting like the Gestapo to our people.
I think everything posted was actually very reasonable.
But, think about this, what if you were to create a killer headline?
I mean, I don’t want to tell you how to run your blog, however suppose you added a post title to possibly grab a person’s attention? I mean Tremendous PBS Video Explains Why Medical Cannabis Works – And How Big Pharma Is Planning To Cash In On It | NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform is kinda boring. You should glance at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they create post titles to get people to click. You might try adding a video or a pic or two to grab people interested about everything’ve got to say. In my opinion, it might make your website a little livelier.