Reschedule Cannabis

“Former Surgeon General: Mainstream Medicine Has Endorsed Medical Marijuana - An historic document from the 12,4000-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.”

Reclassification is another term for “rescheduling” of cannabis…

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.

ACP calls for more research, but then adds a critical point: In some areas, the efficacy of medical marijuana has already been established, and it’s time for studies designed to determine the best dose and route of delivery.

The ACP position paper demolishes several myths, starting with the notion still proclaimed by some politicians that marijuana is unsafe for medical use. The College notes that the most serious objection to medical marijuana — potential harm to the lungs from smoking — has largely been solved by a technology called vaporization, already proven in scientific studies.

We have a right to medical marijuana use…

The ACP position paper also explains that there is no reason to believe that protecting medical marijuana patients leads to increased drug abuse. “Marijuana has not been proven to be the cause or even the most significant predictor of serious drug abuse,” the doctors write. “Opiates are highly addictive, yet medically effective … There is no evidence to suggest that medical use of opiates has increased perception that their illicit use is safe or acceptable.”

This is an historic document. Large medical associations are by their nature slow, cautious creatures that move only when the evidence is overwhelming. The evidence is indeed overwhelming that, as ACP put it, there is “a clear discord” between what research tells us and what our laws say about medical marijuana.

Couldn’t agree more!

There are many Medical Marijuana users who have moved from an area that has access to medical cannabis to an area that it is still illegal, and this creates a problem for those types of patients who have no choice but to live in certain areas. Medical Marijuana should be available to all American citizens who need to use it… below is a quote from a patient defending medical marijuana in the news.

Medical marijuana bill should be law

The medical marijuana bill – passed by the Minnesota Senate last year and likely to see action on the floor of the House in the coming months – should be passed into law as soon as possible.

As a patient suffering from severe neuropathy and other pain-related conditions, this is a major issue in my life. I previously lived in

Hawaii and was a legal medical marijuana patient under that state’s program. It helped me more than the regimen of addictive, dangerous medications I’ve been prescribed over the years.

And just last month, the American College of Physicians — the second largest physician group in the United States, with a membership of over 124,000 medical professionals — recognized marijuana’s many medical benefits with 10 pages of references and citations. Their official policy position “strongly urges protection from criminal or civil penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws.”

Unfortunately, Governor Pawlenty has threatened to veto any medical marijuana bill, based on the knee-jerk opposition of a small but influential group of non-experts. The governor seems to believe that law enforcement officers know better than medical professionals which method of treatment would best suit an individual patient.

The governor should reconsider. This is a mainstream and popular issue, with 2 to 1 support from Minnesotans. It’s time our lawmakers and governor listen to the physicians and their own constituents, and end the cruel, despicable policy of arresting suffering patients for trying to alleviate their pain.

Medical Marijuana should be legalized in your state…

We will begin our picture archive of medical marijuana. Starting with the “Bubba Kush” image above. Taken in a legal medical marijuana dispensary.

The “Bubba Kush” name can cover a few different strains of kush. This is some really good medicinal marijuana. The leaves should be extremely sticky covered with crystal coating. The flavor is smooth and intense. The Bubba Kush should have a nice long lasting high, it is really potent when grown correctly and one of the finest medical marijuana plants you can buy.

To really experience the flavor of the plant - use a Vapor Brother Vaporizer. When using medical grade cannabis you should not operate heavy machinery.

The price of medical marijuana cards is going up in Santa Cruz, California.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.—The cost of medical marijuana identification cards is going up in Santa Cruz County.

Since the county program started nearly five years ago, $35 medical marijuana IDs good for three years have been issued to more than 1,600 residents.

But the IDs are only legally binding in Santa Cruz County, so the county is joining the state medical pot ID program. State-backed cards cost $101 and must be renewed annually.

The Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval to the change Tuesday.

Santa Cruz officials assure medical pot users that information on patients is confidential, noting it is entered into a secured database at the county level before it is sent to the state.

If you haven’t seen this DVD yourself - you need to order Grass DVD now.

Grass is one of my favorite DVD documentaries on our favorite subject - “cannabis.” I encourage all my friends to see it (even if they do not smoke pot) and encourage you to do the same. View it, and get others to watch it so that their mind can be opened to some of the things that have gotten us where we are today. “Why is marijuana illegal?” And other topics are covered, and it is presented in a humorous manner that is appealing and educational.

“Grass, narrated by actor/activist Woody Harrelson, takes a highly spirited and innovative look into one of America’s most deeply rooted cultural myths: the evils of “pot”, “cannabis”, “weed.” From the story of America’s first drug czar, to the absurd scare tactics behind propaganda films like Reefer Madness, and Marijuana: Threat or Menace, director Ron Mann (Comic Book Confidential, Twist) poignantly and humorously exposes the social, political and economic facts behind this enduring weed, and the extent to which it has profoundly shaped our culture.”

Many people are surprised by the info on this DVD and maybe you will be too. It is time for “stoners” to get more involved in the fight for medical marijuana, and/or cannabis legalization. Start by educating those around you, and trying to change the public perception of “marijuana.”

We need your support for medical marijuana on the internet. Please link this site and/or image to show your support for medical use of cannabis.

Patients in every state are fighting for their right to use a natural plant as pain relief, whether it is from cancer, or debilitating migraine’s - if you have a blog or web site - put a link to Reschedule Cannabis to show your support.

Any American citizen who needs to use marijuana as medicine should be allowed to do so which is why we put together this site to help spread the message that “Cannabis is medicine and should be rescheduled so that it may be used legally for medicine.”

Current news regarding Illinois Voter support for medical marijuana within the state.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — Illinois residents favor allowing seriously and terminally ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes by a 68-27 percent margin according to a new poll.

The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc. and paid for by the Marijuana Policy Project was conducted by phone and surveyed 625 randomly selected registered Illinois voters between Feb. 9 and Feb. 16. The survey asked whether respondents believe “seriously and terminally ill patients should be allowed to use and grow medical marijuana for personal use if their doctors recommended it.”

Support was strong across the state, ranging from 70 percent in Chicago to 65 percent in downstate areas.

Majority support for allowing the use of medical marijuana by seriously ill patients was found among Republicans, Independents and Democrats. Democrats favored medical marijuana access by an overwhelming 82-14 percent margin, while Republicans supported the idea by a smaller, but still decisive, 54-41 percent margin. Independents were also strongly favorable, supporting medical marijuana by a margin of 68-27 percent.

The poll results could have a significant impact in the General Assembly this year. Bills to allow the medical use of marijuana have been introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly. A similar bill failed last year in the State Senate, but the latest poll indicates that supporting this years’ efforts could be politically helpful to legislators.

“These numbers prove what we’ve known all along: Illinoisans see this as a matter of compassion and common sense,” said John Walker, director of Illinois Compassion Action Network, an organization of patients, doctors and advocates working to pass the state’s medical marijuana law. “Our elected representatives should take note of what their constituents are telling them about the need for a law to protect our seriously ill citizens who rely on medical marijuana for some small relief from their debilitating symptoms.”

It’s common sense to be compassionate to understand and support medical marijuana.

It looks like the politicians have stalled another medical marijuana bill…

A bill that would have legalized medical marijuana in Kansas is officially dead for this session. It was stalled three weeks ago in the Senate Committee on Health Care Strategies after members chose not to advance it, and under the rules of the legislature, it had to leave the Senate by last Friday.

The Senate committee held a hearing on February 11, but did not vote on it and took no further action. Committee chair Susan Wagle (R-Wichita), an opponent of the bill, blocked any votes.

Committee vice chairman Pete Brungardt (R-Salina) told the Kansas State Collegian the consensus among committee members was that more effective and legal drugs exist. “The impression you get with casual talk from members is that it was not supported,” Brungardt said.

The bill, the Medical Marijuana Defense Act, would have allowed people with “debilitating medical conditions,” including but not limited to cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, to grow, possess, and use small amounts of marijuana upon written certification by a doctor.

Not supported? Maybe not supported by the politicians, but supported by the people.

The bill was pushed by the Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition, which enlisted former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan as a legal consultant and prominent supporter. Stephan joined coalition head Laura Green in testifying before the committee.

“I hope these people who oppose medicinal marijuana never have to suffer like the people I have seen and talked with and the people who use it as a last resort,” Stephan told the Collegian this week. “If I was a researcher, I’d probably say, ‘May God have mercy on their souls.’”

Green said coalition members plan to reintroduce the bill during the 2009 Kansas legislative session.

Another year of pain and suffering for people in need of medical marijuana.

Two SoCal counties seek rejection of medical marijuana ruling

SAN DIEGO—Attorneys for San Diego and San Bernardino counties have asked an appellate court to reject a ruling that upholds California’s law legalizing marijuana use by the chronically ill.

Court documents filed Friday urge the Fourth District Court of Appeal to throw out a lower court ruling because local governments shouldn’t be bound to uphold state laws that are weaker than federal guidelines on marijuana.

California voters approved the law in 1996 that allows sick and dying patients to grow and smoke the drug to relieve chronic symptoms. The state requires counties issue identification cards for medical marijuana users and maintain a registry of people who apply for the cards.

Oral arguments in the landmark case are expected this year.

The law was put in place to allow ALL Californians to be able to purchase and use medical marijuana within the state of California. Counties should not be allowed to dictate (against state law) whether or not local citizens may use cannabis as medicine.

Even United States War veterans are behind medical marijuana. This veteran even uses it for “migraines.”

KALAMAZOO — The atomic explosions off remote islands in the South Pacific seemed to turn night into day.

They also turned Martin Chilcutt into a marijuana user.

Chilcutt said the drug has helped him to ease the pain he says dates back to his exposure to radiation during a 1956 U.S. government project testing nuclear and thermonuclear weapons.

A state ballot proposal could allow voters in November to decide whether Chilcutt’s measures to self-medicate should be legal in Michigan.

The 74-year-old former intelligence officer with the U.S. Naval Air Force has used other medications to help him with his physical and psychological problems, but marijuana helps “so much better,” he said.

“Sometimes I just want to die,” Chilcutt said. “You can only take intense pain for so long before you’ll do anything to escape it.”

He never intended to put his health at risk.

While part of the testing project, Chilcutt remembers, he donned large goggles and turned his back to protect his eyes as the bombs exploded in the early-morning darkness.

There was no protection, though, from the heavy doses of radiation that spewed from the explosions and reached Chilcutt.

He has battled skin cancer three times, including basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of cancer, with about a million new cases reported in the United States each year. He has been in remission for the past 10 years.

Cannabis has many medicinal uses.

Chilcutt’s four years in the military — he served from the middle to late 1950s — also took a psychological toll, he said.

For 30 years, he said, he has suffered chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, including bouts of anxiety, depression and anger, nightmares, arthritis and debilitating migraine headaches.

Marijuana helps them all, he said.

Although there are different ways to use the drug, such as ingesting or inhaling it, there is no difference in the drug’s effect based on consumption, according to the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, which is spearheading the state marijuana initiative.

“It just makes life so much easier,” he said. “It allows you to be comfortable.” Chilcutt, a retired psychotherapist, said he first learned of marijuana’s medical benefits in the late 1970s while counseling Vietnam War veterans in California. They told him the drug could help allay his pain, he said.

Cannabis even helps debilitating migraine. If you are a Migraineur (person who has recurring migraines) then you should know that medical marijuana has been known to be one of the best ways to survive debilitating migraines.