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Medical Marijuana Training Course
The Montana Caregivers Network is hosting a 3-hour training course with demonstrations for patients and caregivers.
Taught by Atty, Mark Frisbee:
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Drug Warriors for Sensible Drug Policy
Some interesting comments from former drug czar Barry McCaffrey at Huffington Post:
And here's Robert Weiner, former spokesman at the drug czar's office, writing in the Baltimore Sun:
So why are these prominent drug warriors now criticizing U.S. drug policy for its perpetual focus on enforcement and incarceration? The short answer is probably that they now work as consultants with clients in the drug treatment industry who love seeing editorials like these.
But I'd like to think that on some level they feel maybe just a little bit responsible for their role in filling our prisons with an unfathomable number of people who don't belong there.
Our traditional justice system has been inadequate to the task of breaking the cycle of substance abuse and crime. Four out of every five offenses are committed by someone with a drug or alcohol problem; and we just keep locking them up!
â¦
Given the abysmal outcomes of incarceration on addictive behavior, there's absolutely no justification for state governments to continue to waste tax dollars feeding a situation where generational recidivism is becoming the norm and parents, children and grandparents may find themselves locked up together.
And here's Robert Weiner, former spokesman at the drug czar's office, writing in the Baltimore Sun:
Whyâ¦is the Obama administration proposing to spend an even higher percentage of its anti-drug resources on law enforcement than the administration of George W. Bush?
â¦
Mr. Kerlikowske has said, "It is only through a balanced approach - combining tough but fair enforcement with robust prevention and treatment - that we will be successful in stemming both demand and supply of illegal drugs." Yet, in the 2010 budget, there is a 3.3 percent reduction in treatment and prevention initiatives since 2008, exacerbating the bias toward enforcement, which now represents 65.6 percent of the budget, even higher than the last administration's 62.3 percent.
So why are these prominent drug warriors now criticizing U.S. drug policy for its perpetual focus on enforcement and incarceration? The short answer is probably that they now work as consultants with clients in the drug treatment industry who love seeing editorials like these.
But I'd like to think that on some level they feel maybe just a little bit responsible for their role in filling our prisons with an unfathomable number of people who don't belong there.
Blog
Should Employers Provide Reimbursement for Medical Marijuana Costs?
An interesting article from Workforce Management:
It's certainly the case that many patients can effectively treat specific conditions with marijuana at a lower cost than the pharmaceutical alternatives. For starters, marijuana is vastly cheaper than Marinol, which contains the same main ingredient. It would be interesting to see some research into how medical costs for marijuana patients compare overall to those of patients treating the same conditions with other drugs. While you're at it, it would worth investigating which group is happier with their medicine.
To whatever extent medical marijuana offers savings on health care costs, it's another example of the massive often-invisible expenses created by the insane federal prohibition of medical marijuana. It's presently illegal under federal law for health care providers to cover marijuana-related expenses, which just goes to show how DEA raids were just one dimension of the government's continuing war on medical marijuana.
Now that more states are legalizing the sale of the marijuana used solely as a medicine, the next hurdle for reformers who say the drug is more cost-effective than pharmaceuticals is getting those who pay for health careâinsurers and employersâto reimburse patients for its use.
â¦
Reimbursing patients who use it could push them away from otherwise costly drugs that some advocates say are not as effective. Employers, as payers of health care, should champion the legalization of medical marijuana as a potential cost-saving tool, advocates say.
It's certainly the case that many patients can effectively treat specific conditions with marijuana at a lower cost than the pharmaceutical alternatives. For starters, marijuana is vastly cheaper than Marinol, which contains the same main ingredient. It would be interesting to see some research into how medical costs for marijuana patients compare overall to those of patients treating the same conditions with other drugs. While you're at it, it would worth investigating which group is happier with their medicine.
To whatever extent medical marijuana offers savings on health care costs, it's another example of the massive often-invisible expenses created by the insane federal prohibition of medical marijuana. It's presently illegal under federal law for health care providers to cover marijuana-related expenses, which just goes to show how DEA raids were just one dimension of the government's continuing war on medical marijuana.
In The Trenches
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In The Trenches
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #407: Mendocino County Marijuana
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #407 - Monday, 27 July 2009
Last week we distributed an alert about the Wall Street Journal front page article "With 'Med Pot' Raids Halted, Selling Grass Grows Greener" http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n731/a02.html
Today readers of the Washington Post, including the folks on Capitol Hill, may read an article about marijuana in California.
In the first half of this year MAP has archived 782 news clippings about California marijuana. In the first half of last year it was 437. The increased interest in what is happening with the marijuana issue in California is real.
The Post writes on it's website "Letters must be fewer than 200 words and exclusive to The Washington Post. They may not have been submitted, posted to, or published by any other media. They must include the writer's home address, e-mail address, and home and business telephone numbers." 200 words is the average published letter length. However, longer well written letters have been published.
News items about marijuana in California may be found at
http://www.mapinc.org/find?115
PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER
Please post copies of your letters to the sent letter list
([email protected]) if you are subscribed.
Subscribing to the Sent LTE list will help you to review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or approaches.
To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see
http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form
Suggestions for writing LTEs are at our Media Activism Center
http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides
In The Trenches
Drug Truth Network Updates 07/27/09
The Unvarnished Truth From the Drug Truth Network
*** Note: Schedulte & Format Changes & NEW 800 # 1-877-9-420-420 ***
This coming Sunday, August 2nd at 6:30 PM central time I will interview our guest on the Cultural Baggage program, Professor Arthur Benavie author of "Drugs - America's Holy War".
Here's where you come in, following at 7PM central, Century of Lies will feature a new segment: "Face the Inquisition" where you get the chance to question the professor regarding America's 100 year old folly of drug war. You can tune into both programs, live, at 6:30 central time on Pacifica's KPFT at http://www.kpft.org and call in your questions toll free at 1-877-9-420 420. More details available in the 4:20 report for Monday July 20th.
The two, 29:00 shows will appear along with the seven, daily, 3:00 "4:20 Drug War NEWS" reports each Monday morning at http://www.drugtruth.net . (We currently have 64 affiliated, yet independent broadcast stations. With a simple email request to [email protected] , your station can join the Drug Truth Network, free of charge.)
Cultural Baggage for 07/26/09, 29:00 Paul Armentano of NORML & co-author "Marijuana is Safer, So Whey are We Driving People to Drink" + Eric Sterling, president of Criminal Justice Policy Foundation
LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2518
TRANSCRIPT: This Evening
Century of Lies for 07/26/09, 29:00 Paul Armentano of NORML takes listener calls in the first 1 hour Drug Truth Network call in show in more than 6 years. Paul is co-author of a new book: "Marijuana is Safer, So Why are We Driving People to Drink?"
LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2510
TRANSCRIPT: 072709 PM
4:20 Drug War NEWS, 7/27 to 8/02/09 Link at www.drugtruth.net on the right margin - Sun - Bill Piper of the Drug Policy Alliance 2/2
Sat - Bill Piper of the Drug Policy Alliance on US Congress' progress towards drug laws 1/2
Fri - Paul Armentano of NORML takes YOUR CALLS on Century of Lies 2/2
Thu - Paul Armentano of NORML takes YOUR CALLS on Century of Lies 1
Wed - Obama speaks to racial disparity, US marines try to blow up tons of Afghan drugs
Tue - Shane Warner regarding is recent editorial in the Fort Worth Star Telegram: "AMERICANS FLEECED LONG ENOUGH IN A FUTILE AND FAILED WAR ON DRUGS"
Mon - Richard Lee, founder of Oaksterdam University regarding progress in California cannabis laws
Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston, 90.1 FM. You can Listen Live Online at www.kpft.org
- Cultural Baggage Sun, 7:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM CT, 5:30 PM MT, 4:30 PM PT (Followed Immediately By Century of Lies)
- Century of Lies, SUN, 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT
Who's Next to "Face The Inquisition?": Professor Arthur Benavie, author of "Drugs - America's Holy War".
Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org We have potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US, Canada and Australia! We now feature TRANSCRIPTS of most of our programs again!
Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, DTN Producer, 713-849-6869, www.drugtruth.net
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MASSCANN Directors Meeting
Everyone is welcome -- you do not have to be a member to attend.
Directions: The 57 bus from Kenmore & the 502 from Copley Sq. will both take you there.
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