Cheech,Chong and Woody Harrelson have pledged their support .

Well, it’s a small step forward — every (little) bit helps, I guess!

It’s about time someone had the courage to say the truth about Cannabis, and from a large group of physicians, no less. The government would have you believe that pot is somehow dangerous and addictive when the vast majority of those who have tried it say it’s not. If more people would just try it for themselves, rather than rely on biased propaganda from the Federal Government, they’d be in a much better position to judge.

Marijuana is past due for legalization. It never ceases to amaze me that alcohol is legal, drivers kills innocent people drunk, are loud and abusive and violent drunk, hurt their spouses drunk, and yet no one complains. Let’s make alcohol illegal and pot legal.  You have no idea how much money the federal govt could make with legalized pot. Who is stopping the legalization. . really?

There is no doubt that the use of marijuana for medical purposes is valid. The problem is, doctors are writing prescription to almost anyone for almost any reason in California! The medical screening process is a joke.

All three have demonstrated a much greater knowledge of marijuana, the reason a small group of people was able to make it illegal, why it continues to be demonized by our government, and how our government does its best to suppress the medical benefits than those who work against re-legalization.

“The CMA’s new stance appears to have as much to do with politics as science.”

That says it all.

Interesting that the same group that would vociferously argue against smoking cigarettes, not to mention claims of second and third hand smoke, are now coming out in favor of smoking marijuana. I expect a huge rise in claims of glaucoma.

Come to think of it……

Cannabis is VERY dangerous — to pharmaceutical companies and their paid-for politicians et al.
For everyone else, it’s lot’sa fun and it’s also the safest therapeutic substance we have!

So has Ron Paul.  That must really make your head explode.  

As long as cigarettes and alcohol are legal it’s hypocrisy for marijuana to be illegal.The resources being used to maintain that illegality would be far better used against drugs that deserve that treatment.All medical uses including research should be completely unhindered.Marijuana should be handled similarly to alcohol,with age restrictions,retail control,taxation and oversight.

There are only two ways for this to be fair,all of them are legal or none of them are.they all have their issues but it’s up to the potential used to decide if they are willing to accept the risks.

1) EVERYONE that sees these links sign up at both sites and weigh in on the debate
- http://pvox.co/CdiFqY
- http://wh.gov/gDQ
2) Propagate those two links and ensure that everyone that sees them go to both those sites.

Too many people are blaming the President for enforcing the federal marijuana prohibition. Contact Congress (the LEGISLATIVE branch [that's the important one when it comes to law]) via the first link. Contact Obama (the EXECUTIVE branch [until Obama vetos a passed H.R. 2306 it's on Congress - but tell Obama anyway]) via the second link. It really is THAT easy. Participate in democracy!

You mean like  Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Librium…….

Why do you suppose Cannabis was removed from the United States Pharmacopoeia after a hundred years of medical use?  Science or politics? 

Google anslinger+jazz+swing –That says it all.

Hi, this is the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana. Over the past two weeks, our owner, Lynnette Shaw has been interviewed by numerous media outlets, from CBS and FOX Business News to NPR and the LA Times. We’re currently fighting the battle for the medicinal use of marijuana on two fronts. On March 1, 2011, MAMM was the first licensed dispensary to receive an IRS determination disallowing our business tax deductions. We have filed taxes since 1997 and our books are transparent, as required by our permit. The IRS has advised us for years on ways to save money on MAMM’s business taxes. But now, they have rescinded all our deductions for our permitted business in order to shut us down.

At the same time, MAMM’s landlord has received a letter from Melinda Haag, the San Francisco-based U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California warning him that his property may be seized and he may be prosecuted if the Marin Alliance does not halt the dispensing of medical marijuana on his property within 45 days. Our landlord is in his seventies, which would make any jail time a death sentence.

We see our defenses against the IRS and DOJ as high profile test cases and believe the future of patient access to medicinal marijuana across the nation lies in the balance. If you would like more information, please visit http://www.cbcmarin.com to learn how you can help.

yep
most people do not educate themselves
Who played Jazz and smoked?

Satchmo.

dig it baby

newspapers in 1934 editorialized: “Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.”

…also, Dupont thanks to NyLon.

Earth to California Police Chiefs Association.  You are not scientist. Police’s job is to enforce the law not make it.  Your opinion is not needed.

How about you? Are you going to join all the other rats who are scrambling to leave this sinking ship?

When we legally regulate something, (as opposed to when we foolishly attempt to prohibit something) we do NOT automatically condone it’s use; the legal regulations concerning the sale and manufacture of alcohol and tobacco are there to protect us from the vast increase in criminality and mayhem that would otherwise surely exist if we were foolish enough to prohibit them.

When governments prohibit drugs they effectively and knowingly hand a monopoly on their sale to dangerous criminals and terrorists. Without a legal framework in which to operate, these black-market entities can always be expected to settle their disputes violently, while terrorizing many peaceful and innocent citizens in the process. Were the users of alcohol to blame for the St Valentines massacre in the US in 1929? Of course not! It is just as naive to assume that one can compel all the users of Marijuana or Cocaine to simply quit, as it is to assume that all the users of Alcohol should have stopped drinking after the introduction of alcohol prohibition in 1919.

Protect our Children; Legalize, Regulate & Tax!

Please pay attention: The real joke goes by the name of Prohibition! Ask the Mexicans how much they laugh about it!

When we legally regulate something, (as opposed to when we foolishly attempt to prohibit something) we do NOT automatically condone it’s use; the legal regulations concerning the sale and manufacture of alcohol and tobacco are there to protect us from the vast increase in criminality and mayhem that would otherwise surely exist if we were foolish enough to prohibit them.

When governments prohibit drugs they effectively and knowingly hand a monopoly on their sale to dangerous criminals and terrorists. Without a legal framework in which to operate, these black-market entities can always be expected to settle their disputes violently, while terrorizing many peaceful and innocent citizens in the process. Were the users of alcohol to blame for the St Valentines massacre in the US in 1929? Of course not! It is just as naive to assume that one can compel all the users of Marijuana or Cocaine to simply quit, as it is to assume that all the users of Alcohol should have stopped drinking after the introduction of alcohol prohibition in 1919.

Protect our Children; Legalize, Regulate & Tax!

Try doing some research before making a fool of yourself:

The following text is taken directly from the US government’s National Cancer Institute website: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4

* ANTI-TUMOR EFFECTS 

One study in mice and rats suggested that cannabinoids may have a protective effect against the development of certain types of tumors. During this 2-year study, groups of mice and rats were given various doses of THC by gavage. A dose-related decrease in the incidence of hepatic adenoma tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma was observed in the mice. Decreased incidences of benign tumors (polyps and adenomas) in other organs (mammary gland, uterus, pituitary, testis, and pancreas) were also noted in the rats. In another study, delta-9-THC, delta-8-THC, and cannabinol were found to inhibit the growth of Lewis lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. In addition, other tumors have been shown to be sensitive to cannabinoid-induced growth inhibition.

Cannabinoids may cause antitumor effects by various mechanisms, including induction of cell death, inhibition of cell growth, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Cannabinoids appear to kill tumor cells but do not affect their nontransformed counterparts and may even protect them from cell death. These compounds have been shown to induce apoptosis in glioma cells in culture and induce regression of glioma tumors in mice and rats. Cannabinoids protect normal glial cells of astroglial and oligodendroglial lineages from apoptosis mediated by the CB1 receptor. 

In an in vivo model using severe combined immunodeficient mice, subcutaneous tumors were generated by inoculating the animals with cells from human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines. Tumor growth was inhibited by 60% in THC-treated mice compared with vehicle-treated control mice. Tumor specimens revealed that THC had antiangiogenic and antiproliferative effects.

* ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS

In addition, both plant-derived and endogenous cannabinoids have been studied for anti- inflammatory effects. A mouse study demonstrated that endogenous cannabinoid system signaling is likely to provide intrinsic protection against colonic inflammation. As a result, a hypothesis that phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids may be useful in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer has been developed.

* ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES

Another study has shown delta-9-THC is a potent and selective antiviral agent against Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8. The researchers concluded that additional studies on cannabinoids and herpesviruses are warranted, as they may lead to the development of drugs that inhibit the reactivation of these oncogenic viruses. Subsequently, another group of investigators reported increased efficiency of KSHV infection of human dermal microvascular epithelial cells in the presence of low doses of delta-9-THC.

* APPETITE STIMULATOR

Many animal studies have previously demonstrated that delta-9-THC and other cannabinoids have a stimulatory effect on appetite and increase food intake. It is believed that the endogenous cannabinoid system may serve as a regulator of feeding behavior. The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide potently enhances appetite in mice. Moreover, CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus may be involved in the motivational or reward aspects of eating.

* AS A PAIN KILLER

Understanding the mechanism of cannabinoid-induced analgesia has been increased through the study of cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids, and synthetic agonists and antagonists. The CB1 receptor is found in both the central nervous system (CNS) and in peripheral nerve terminals. Similar to opioid receptors, increased levels of the CB1 receptor are found in sections of the brain that regulate nociceptive processing. CB2 receptors, located predominantly in peripheral tissue, exist at very low levels in the CNS. With the development of receptor-specific antagonists, additional information about the roles of the receptors and endogenous cannabinoids in the modulation of pain has been obtained.

Cannabinoids may also contribute to pain modulation through an anti-inflammatory mechanism; a CB2 effect with cannabinoids acting on mast cell receptors to attenuate the release of inflammatory agents, such as histamine and serotonin, and on keratinocytes to enhance the release of analgesic opioids has been described.

The American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, National Academy of HIV Medicine, two former U.S. surgeon generals, and hundreds of other medical professional groups all say that marijuana should be available to patients whose doctors recommend it.

The DEA’s current position is that a plant containing THC (Marijuana) is so dangerous that it must be classified as a Schedule I substance and that even the ill & dying must not be allowed to use it. Yet the same compound, when isolated and manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, is a relatively safe drug, warranting placement in Schedule III. This is clearly analogous to allowing the sale of pure caffeine while banning coffee.

Here’s something to think about:

It’s time for you to stop being an ignorant hypocrite and start being TRUE conservative!

Pragmatic libertarians (minimal-statists) and “true” Conservatives agree that many, if not most, of society’s problems are caused by government usurping choices that could better be made by individuals and that government is just about the worst way of doing almost anything. Where libertarianism normally parts company with “fake” conservatism is over moral issues. But a true conservative would have no problem with agreeing, that what people do with their own bodies, and especially in the privacy of their own home, should be supremely their business, and that anything else would entail ignoring the basic tenet of limited government.

Fake-Conservatism on the other hand has much in common with socialism; Both Leftists and Fake-Conservatives appear to harbor the belief that nature does not exist and that any human can be anything he wants to be, or can for the “greater good”, be “re-educated” into being. Leftists therefore think little boys can be conditioned into preferring dolls over toy soldiers, and similarly Fake-conservatives believe that adults can be coerced into choosing alcohol over marijuana. A true conservative, just like a pragmatic libertarian, would immediately reject both ideas as nonsense. 

If you support prohibition then you are NOT a conservative.
Conservative principles, quite clearly, ARE:

1) Limited, locally controlled government.
2) Individual liberty coupled with personal responsibility.
3) Free enterprise.
4) A strong national defense.
5) Fiscal responsibility.

Prohibition is actually an authoritarian War on the economy, the Constitution and all civic institutions of our great nation.

It’s all about the market and cost/benefit analysis. Whether any particular drug is good, bad, or otherwise is irrelevant! As long as there is demand for any mind altering substance, there will be supply; the end! The only affect prohibiting it has is to drive the price up, increase the costs and profits, and where there is illegal profit to be made criminals and terrorists thrive.

The cost of criminalizing citizens who are using substances no more harmful than similar things that are perfectly legal like alcohol and tobacco, is not only hypocritical and futile, but also simply not worth the incredible damage it does.

Afghani farmers produce approx. 93% of the world’s opium which is then, mostly, refined into street heroin then smuggled throughout Eastern and Western Europe.

Both the Taliban and the terrorists of al Qaeda derive their main income from the prohibition-inflated value of this very easily grown crop, which means that Prohibition is the “Goose that laid the golden egg” and the lifeblood of terrorists as well as drug cartels. Only those opposed, or willing to ignore this fact, want things the way they are.

This sixty year old has smoked cannabis since I was seventeen.  I worked hard all my life, mostly hard labor, although I have a degree, I have always prefered to get my hands dirty thru hard work, instead of tie and suit.  I have twenty years military behind me, worked in Sensitvie Areas in the Federal Government as a civilian, all the time, I was indulging in cannabis in my private time.  I have never had a problem with the law, hell, I worked in law enforcement also.  I grow my own, don’t hit the bars and party, don’t act crazy, just enjoy the pleasures and healing effects of cannabis.  I am also a disabled Vet, have had a back operation, I am in constant pain, I had Hep C, from a blood transfusion in the military, I have also had a liver transplant five years ago.  The only medication I take is a anti-rejection pill twice a day, and a half a Nexium, since they removed my gall bladder, when they gave me the transplant.  I don’t even take as much as an aspirin!  I have an occasional beer, maybe once a month, but I smoke cannabis every day.  I feel good, I can play with my nine grandkids, my attitude is great, and I am a Strong Christian.  Ezekiel 34:29 (KJV) say – “I shall raise up for them a Plant of reknown and they shall no more be consumed by hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.”  The Heathen must be the Federal Government!  God also stated in Genisis that everything he placed on Earth is GOOD!  God put cannabis here, man didn’t invent or make it, like he does with Heroin and Cocain and so many others.  The government can do whatever it likes, but I will never stop growing or smoking cannabis.  Legalize Cannabis and have the Death Sentence for all Hard Drugs!

While not addressing the points I made you managed to raise a point I expect you will regret.

Your NCI link refers to specific compounds within marijuana that have medicinal effects. No problem, though this would bode well for the future of Big Pharma, and regulated and specific doses of compounds of known quality and potency, as opposed to unregulated and self administered doses of related and unrelated compounds of unknown quality or potency.

You have made an excellent argument for pharmaceutical companies to rake in fortunes as a result of THC research. After all, Sativex, Marinol, Canasol and Nabilone have been around for a while. Go Big Pharma!

Also, while you point out the beneficial effects of specific compounds within delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol you conveniently skip the deleterious effects. This from the NIH http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

“The CMA’s new stance appears to have as much to do with politics as science.”

There has been far too much of this lately on a variety of topics. Just as policy makers should not be determining science, scientists should not be setting policy. Just state the verifiable science, all sides, and back off.

“Interesting that the same group that would vociferously argue against smoking cigarettes, not to mention claims of second and third hand smoke, are now coming out in favor of smoking marijuana.”

I’ll cut and past this one for you. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco/smoking
Those in favor of legalized marijuana are going to have to come to terms with the rank hypocrisy of being against smoking tobacco while being in favor of smoking marijuana. Not all of us will be spending our days baking brownies.

“I expect a huge rise in claims of glaucoma.”

This line, of course, has been the punch line of jokes for years. Blame Leno and Conan.

All that without lowering myself to your level and calling you a fool… oh wait…

Actually, you just raised a point that I expect you’ll regret.

This smoking argument is simply a bunch of bunk. There are many other, and much more effective ways, to ingest marijuana. And no, it doesn’t have to be brownies, either. Google “Green Dragon.”

So, sorry, but there’s no hypocrisy, rank or otherwise, on my part. Even when (and it’s a matter of when, not if) marijuana is made legal, I won’t be smoking it. There are much MUCH better ways.

My point was that the government studies argument is great for Big Pharma but not so good for wandering down Ye Olde Chronic Shoppe for an ounce of pot and bag of Cheetos.

If the point is the medicinal aspect of marijuana then consistency and ameliorative effects are important and getting high is a detriment.

If the point is the recreational aspect then potency is important and the medicinal aspects are, at best, ancillary. Big Pharma, at least, tests their drugs, runs studies and when approved winds up being legally responsible if something bad happens. Not so much for your local marijuana wholesaler where it is buyer beware.

But since you played up the medicinal aspects then clearly getting high is irrelevant.

As to delivery methods even government studies have looked at various forms of delivery from pills to inhalers and everything in-between.

Again, great for Big Pharma.

Very well said my friend! I myself am a “true” conservative. The government can not legislate morality!

And don’t forget Viagra,  levitra, cialis or their generic off shoots.   And pot won’t leave you with a possible extended erection where you end up going to emergency, plus there are no high risk side effects…

For women, it’s the best for any anti anxiety about making love and enjoying it.   It’s truly God’s gift to us.   But ohhh that’s nasty… and we’re so puritanical…. Julia Child’s was right when she’d lament how puritanical we are about wine, and beer, and if she were alive today, I’d guess she’s do her research and she and Paul would add it to their wholesome, balanced blissful life style!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/in-health-care-brief-obama-doj-needles-scalia-on-precedent.php?ref=fpa…Anyone concerned with Obamas seemingly hard stance on Calif. medical Marijuana needs to read this.