Dr. Jocelyn Elders: Mainstream Medicine Has Endorsed Medical Marijuana

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



Former Surgeon General: Mainstream Medicine Has Endorsed Medical Marijuana

By Dr. Jocelyn Elders, AlterNet. Posted March 26, 2008.

An historic document from the 124,000-member American College of Physicians certifies the medical value of marijuana.



One of America's largest and most important groups of physicians has moved to cut through the clutter of political controversies over medical use of marijuana. Lawmakers and the public alike would do well to pay attention.

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second largest physician group in the United States. Its 124,000 members are doctors specializing in internal medicine and related subspecialties, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonary disease, oncology and infectious diseases. The College publishes Annals of Internal Medicine, the most widely cited medical specialty journal in the world.

In a landmark position paper released in February, these distinguished physicians are saying what many of us have been arguing for years: Most of our laws have gotten it wrong when it comes to medical marijuana, and it's time for public policy to get in step with science.

Right now, the laws of 38 states and the federal government bar use of marijuana as a medicine. Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, defined as having no accepted medical use and being unsafe for use even under medical supervision.

ACP's position paper urges "reclassification into a more appropriate schedule, given the scientific evidence regarding marijuana's safety and efficacy in some clinical conditions." The document goes on to call for protection of physicians' right to "prescribe or dispense medical marijuana in accordance with state law" and "strongly urges protection from civil or criminal penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws."

ACP supports its position with 10 pages of scientific documentation and references. They cite data showing relief of the nausea, vomiting and wasting that can worsen the misery of cancer, AIDS and other diseases; of the pain and tremors associated with multiple sclerosis; and for relief of pain caused by a variety of other conditions. They note that marijuana in combination with some pharmaceuticals may produce more benefit than either drug alone. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80582/

[tekisui]

1. Very good. Now if our elected Reps. would.

[drexel dave]

2. our elected reps, Dems as well as rethugs

are fully behind the fascist WOD.

What does that make them?

[tekisui]

3. On the wrong side of the battle.

[drexel dave]

7. not to mention wickedly immoral

to stand by and watch the rise of the prison industrial complex fueled by the WOD.

[DCKit]

4. We'll be seeing "Wasn't she the one who wanted to teach kids to play with themselves?"

By the afternoon.

Regardless, a majority of American's approve the use of medical marijuana.

[trotsky]

5. Quite possibly the best SG this country ever had, or ever will have. n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Well if it's OK for people that are sick or dying then why would it

not be OK for perfectly healthy people?

[noonwitch]

8. It might be on the Michigan ballot this fall.

The voters of Detroit and Ann Arbor have already approved initiatives that make medical marijuana legal. The Detroit Police at one point said they were not going to recognize the new law, but really, pot smoking in public in Detroit has been de facto legal for at least 25 years. It's not the DPD's biggest priority-they have real responsibilities, like providing security for the mayor's parties with exotic dancers.

In Ann Arbor, possession of under an oz of marijuna is a ticketable offence, anyways, with no lasting criminal record, if you are caught at it by the AA cops or the UM campus cops. If the state police get you, they charge you under state law, however, even if you are clearly within the city limits of Ann Arbor.

I don't know if Royal Oak or Ferndale have approved similar measures, as they are also pretty progressive communities. Royal Oak has to fight against an element of non-progressives-they tried to enact a law to protect gays from discrimination, and some guy from outside of Royal Oak got people all stirred up and it got voted down. Ferndale, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and I think even Grand Rapids has the same anti-discrimination law. Traverse City also voted for it, although my Grandpa voted against it. His comment "I though rainbows stood for racial unity-now they're for perverts?". Yeah, well, he is 95.

[High Plains]

9. It WILL BE on the Michigan ballot this fall.

The signatures have been gathered and approved by the state electoral board.

The only way it won't be on the November ballot is if the Michigan legislature acts to approve it in the next month (per Michigan electoral laws). But the legislature won't act, so the people will have to vote in November.

That's good. Michigan will become the first medical marijuana state in the Midwest.