March 23, 2007--Guest-Blogger: SpeedyFixit--Pot Shot
Despite a vast amount of research and personal accounts showing in no uncertain terms that the use of marijuana can be a great help in coping with any number of illnesses, both terminal and chronic, lawmakers continue to deny access to it to those in need. Several states have passed legislation making it legal for patients to possess and consume cannabis with a prescription from their doctor; however, state law does not overrule Federal law, and anyone following doctors orders and state law can still be denied treatment and prosecuted.
The spark that ignited this discussion was the case of Angel McClary Raich as reported on March 15 in the NY Times. (Article linked below.) Ms. Raich, who is terminally ill with a brain tumor, as well as a battery of other ailments, went before the federal appellate court to get legal permission to continue the course of treatment, marijuana, which had been helping her to maintain her appetite, suppress nausea, and relieve her pain. The court said that neither her condition nor situation gave her the right to violate federal law. Treatment was denied.
If Ms. Raich, had been prescribed opium, a schedule 1 narcotic, her local pharmacist would be able to hand her a bottle of opium tincture on the spot. This despite the fact that opium has in the neighborhood of 40 different addictive or psycho active compounds and the difference between a therapeutic dose and a lethal dose can be just a few drops. Had her doctor prescribed methamphetamine, the drug behind the newest and fastest growing addiction epidemic this country has ever known and has also caused peoples hearts to actually explode, Ms. Raich could have a bottle of pills covered by her HMO, assuming she went with a generic brand. Even cocaine has its place on the pharmacy shelf, just ask your ear nose and throat doctor. The humble marijuana plant on the other hand, has been relegated to the shadows of complete illegality and the black market. Ironically is has also become one of this country’s largest cash crop. Untaxed at that.
I can not name a single person I know that has not, at the very least, tried marijuana, including the last president of the United States, and (I believe) our current one. I have not been able to find a single incident of a lethal overdose in the entire history of the world, I have never heard of a pot induced crime spree, and I can find no direct links to cancer of any kind. This begs the question: Why is the position taken by the federal government so absurdly rigid, that it would consider incarcerating a terminally ill patient for utilizing an effective treatment with very low risks and no side effects other than increased appetite and mild euphoria? What would be the worst case scenario if this law was relaxed or abolished all together? If Amsterdam is any indicator, we will end up with superior roads, public transportation, and public education, while lowering crime in a society tolerant and respectful of personal freedom. Imagine how that would tarnish our image abroad.
There seems to be a prevailing attitude that it is more important to maintain the status quo than to reexamine the decisions made by people that had not yet seen fit to outlaw child labor, in a time before penicillin, television, and the ball point pen.
We tend to believe that we are an enlightened society. We act as though we are the final result of years of evolution, and are near perfect. Everybody now knows the difference between good and evil. Well the war on drugs has put people in jail for years for owning a plant –the kind God makes--as well as prevented sick people from getting relief from agony. I can’t help but wonder if Ms. Raich, between her sobs at being denied treatment for her terminal cancer, had any sense of the morality and justice being imposed on her for the greater good. It seems drugs do ruin lives, but not always in a good way.
-SpeedyFixit
The spark that ignited this discussion was the case of Angel McClary Raich as reported on March 15 in the NY Times. (Article linked below.) Ms. Raich, who is terminally ill with a brain tumor, as well as a battery of other ailments, went before the federal appellate court to get legal permission to continue the course of treatment, marijuana, which had been helping her to maintain her appetite, suppress nausea, and relieve her pain. The court said that neither her condition nor situation gave her the right to violate federal law. Treatment was denied.
If Ms. Raich, had been prescribed opium, a schedule 1 narcotic, her local pharmacist would be able to hand her a bottle of opium tincture on the spot. This despite the fact that opium has in the neighborhood of 40 different addictive or psycho active compounds and the difference between a therapeutic dose and a lethal dose can be just a few drops. Had her doctor prescribed methamphetamine, the drug behind the newest and fastest growing addiction epidemic this country has ever known and has also caused peoples hearts to actually explode, Ms. Raich could have a bottle of pills covered by her HMO, assuming she went with a generic brand. Even cocaine has its place on the pharmacy shelf, just ask your ear nose and throat doctor. The humble marijuana plant on the other hand, has been relegated to the shadows of complete illegality and the black market. Ironically is has also become one of this country’s largest cash crop. Untaxed at that.
I can not name a single person I know that has not, at the very least, tried marijuana, including the last president of the United States, and (I believe) our current one. I have not been able to find a single incident of a lethal overdose in the entire history of the world, I have never heard of a pot induced crime spree, and I can find no direct links to cancer of any kind. This begs the question: Why is the position taken by the federal government so absurdly rigid, that it would consider incarcerating a terminally ill patient for utilizing an effective treatment with very low risks and no side effects other than increased appetite and mild euphoria? What would be the worst case scenario if this law was relaxed or abolished all together? If Amsterdam is any indicator, we will end up with superior roads, public transportation, and public education, while lowering crime in a society tolerant and respectful of personal freedom. Imagine how that would tarnish our image abroad.
There seems to be a prevailing attitude that it is more important to maintain the status quo than to reexamine the decisions made by people that had not yet seen fit to outlaw child labor, in a time before penicillin, television, and the ball point pen.
We tend to believe that we are an enlightened society. We act as though we are the final result of years of evolution, and are near perfect. Everybody now knows the difference between good and evil. Well the war on drugs has put people in jail for years for owning a plant –the kind God makes--as well as prevented sick people from getting relief from agony. I can’t help but wonder if Ms. Raich, between her sobs at being denied treatment for her terminal cancer, had any sense of the morality and justice being imposed on her for the greater good. It seems drugs do ruin lives, but not always in a good way.
-SpeedyFixit
posted by Steven Zwerling at
11:21 AM
1 Comments:
I really hope that this issue will dissipate as the years pass. I feel it is all linked to people's perceptions of marijuana smokers. I mean, it makes no sense to me that alcohol is legal and this isn't. I've had those conversations for years about violence surrounding drinking but not smoking and how ludicrous it is that drinking is totally socially acceptable while smoking pot is using a "drug". I loved those Truth commercials trying to convince kids not to smoke pot. The ONLY one that made any sense at all was the one where the kid talked about his brother who lived in the basement and just didn't do anything. And, isn't that the real issue? That pot smokers are seen as lazy and liberal?
Personally, I've seen it work on a medical level since my father used it while having chemo. It was the only thing that worked for his nausea. I've also seen others who self medicate for ADD or just stress.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home