June 7, 2005
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TUESDAY POLITICSHere we go again with this demonizing of terminally ill and suffering medical marijuana smokers. What is it with these people?! When was the last time you heard of a crime wave committed by bedridden dopesmokers? As I recall, “back in the day” you could hardly get a dopesmoker to find the keys to his car, let alone steal yours. What – do they think the patients will become addicted? Anyway, it’s kind of interesting here in Oregon because we’re rambunctious enough to have also a physician-assisted suicide law which has been the target of the Evil Eye of John Ashcroft in the past and now will be watched again as we see what happens with the states rights initiative about medical marijuana. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments over the Oregon physician-assisted suicide law in October after both a federal judge and a federal appeals court ruled against Ashcroft. Two birds with one crapshoot is probably what the alert rightwing legal eagles are thinking. The Oregon Department of Human Services was apparently freaked enough on Monday to suspend issuance of new medical marijuana permit cards until the Oregon attorney general’s office reviews the ruling. However, it seems a national marijuana law reform group has threatened to sue the state unless it resumes issuing medical marijuana permit cards. It’s not even about prescribing I don’t think, as it’s my understanding that you have to grow your own and that marijuana can’t be prescribed until it’s defined clearly as a medicine by the AMA. It can only be recommended by physicians. Other attorneys and legal scholars agreed the Supreme Court ruling would have little practical effect, unless federal prosecutors decided to commit considerable resources to a crackdown, a move that was not expected despite concerns among patients and some doctors. In the past enforcement has been rare. Stay tuned – soon we’ll have a new Reality Show as stoned cancer patients are handcuffed and dragged off to jail for our evening viewing pleasure. Or not.
Deep Thought: “On the other hand, we have different fingers.”
Today I am grateful for: Printers
Guess the Movie: “You start to play it and it’s like somebody’s nightmare. And then this woman comes on, smiling at you, right? Seeing you… through the screen. Then when it’s over, your phone rings, someone knows you watched the tape… and what they say is, “You will die in seven days”.” Answer: The Ring, 2002.
Winner: AskDennis.
Supreme Court: Government Can Bar Medical Marijuana Use
by James Vicini
WASHINGTON – The federal government has the power to prevent sick patients from smoking home-grown marijuana that a doctor recommended to relieve chronic pain, a divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday in a setback for the medical marijuana movement. (Rest of article here.)
End of Day: 8:23 pm
+ = First really pretty afternoon in awhile.
- = Going through hard times at work.
Comments (15)
It is a shame. Other countries give heroin to their dying. Here, the dying and suffering cannot get decent pain control and 20 year-olds with “back pain” get hooked on oxycontin. Gotta be a middle ground somewhere.
I get the feeling many states will not help the federal powers to make arrests or busts. They have larger issues at hand…
I too was outraged by the Supreme Court ruling, but not surprised. When oh when oh when will the Bushies step so far over the line of decency that the American people will wake up and elect folks who will start the pendulum swinging the other way? It’s high time. And I’m optimistic it will happen soon, before it’s too late for us all.
When was the last time you heard of a crime wave committed by bedridden dopesmokers?
You and swawg are so right. It just pisses me off because it was the only thing that got me through those last few treatments of taxol. It really made a difference with the neuropathy. And I know lots of people say it works wonders for nausea. I will say, though, that for me it was addictive.
It’s all very silly, really. But then, the government so often is.
It’s THE RING!
The Ring is right, yay Den!
Crazy, huh!..Makes no sense at all…
It’s a real shame. But docs can give patients meds like oxycontin and think it’s okay. IMO, oxycontin is way more dangerous and addictive than marijuana. I’ve tried both.
Just cruel!
I was very disappointed when I heard of the Federal ruling. It is really a shame, to think our gov’t really cares that little about how marijuana gives these very ill people a little relief from their pain and strugggling.
oxycontin, cocaine, morphine, all safe enough for prescriptions
but marijuana! oh my God!
That is just so ridiculous.
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/pain.html
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/pain.html
one really has to wonder at the lack of science that goes hand in hand with lack of ethics that permeates the present administration. the hypocrisy and stupidity of this ruling is unfanthomable, ununderstandable and undeniable.