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ASA’s Media Summary for the Week Ending 11/16/07

Submitted by dguard on

DOCTORS: Leading Psychiatrists’ Group Endorses Medical Marijuana

The preeminent association of psychiatrists has come out in favor of legal access to medical marijuana. The significance of yet another organization of health professionals endorsing medical use is heightened by a recent report that alleged a link between cannabis use and schizophrenia. Experts have noted that the science behind the study is shaky, and if there were any correlation, the rate of schizophrenia would have increased dramatically with the increased prevalence of cannabis use, which it has not.

Psychiatrists for Medical Marijuana
by Jacob Sullum, Reason Magazine
The Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association, a legislative body composed of representatives from APA districts throughout the country, has unanimously approved an action paper that urges the federal government to stop interfering with the medical use of marijuana in states where it's legal.

WISCONSIN: Lawmakers Hold Hearings on Medical Marijuana

One of the leading physicians specializing in cannabis therapeutics, Dr. David Bearman, who serves on ASA's Board of Directors, testified before a committee of Wisconsin lawmakers this week. The state legislature is again considering enacting a measure that would remove criminal penalties for patients who use marijuana on the advice of their doctors. Dr. Bearman, a Wisconsin native, also gave an educational talk on “Cannabis and Cannabinoids in the 21st Century” to the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

Experts explain health benefits of marijuana
by Jackie Johnson, Wisconsin Radio Network
Dr. David Bearman is one of thousands of medical doctors who supports legalizing pot for patients. Dr. Bearman testified at an informational Health Committee hearing at the state capitol in support of the controversial drug.

Senate hearing on medical marijuana turns emotional
by Ken Harris, Badger Herald (WI)
A state Senate committee heard heated testimony Wednesday morning at the Capitol both for and against medicinal marijuana.

TENNESSEE: Prosecuted Patient Educates Lawmakers on Medical Marijuana

Lawmakers in the Volunteer State also held hearings this week on medical marijuana. Among those testifying career public health officer Bernie Ellis, who is also a medical marijuana patient. Ellis was convicted in federal court after local law enforcement declined to press charges over the cannabis he grew for himself and a few terminally ill neighbors. His battle to save his family farm from federal seizure has been the subject of recent media attention. Ellis is one of the patients featured in ASA’s "Patients in the Crossfire;" download it at www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/crossfire.

Medical Marijuana Lights Up Debate Again
by Tom Randles, WSMV TV (Nashville)
On Tuesday, Health and Human Resources Committee members got an ear full from those pitching pot as a way to heal and others who would like to see House Bill 486 go up in smoke. "It is both an effective therapeutic agent (and) extremely useful with many fewer side effects,” said Bernie Ellis of Americans for Safe Access.

Medical Marijuana Proposal Debated in TN Legislative Committee
by Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press
November 13th, 2007
Tennessee lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana, although the idea has failed in the General Assembly before and its future is uncertain.

Medical Marijuana Debates Goes Before State Committee
WKRN TV (Nashville)
November 13th, 2007
Whether medical marijuana is beneficial for chronically ill patients and should be allowed in Tennessee was focus of a study Tuesday at Legislative Plaza.

Fowler Witnesses Testify Against Marijuana For Medicinal Purposes
The Chattanoogan
November 13th, 2007
Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee of the Tennessee House of Representatives on Tuesday heard testimony opposed to the legalization of marijuana for “medicinal” purposes from Dr. David Murray, chief scientist for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, and Dr. Kent Shih, an oncologist currently practicing in the Nashville area.

ILLINOIS: Documentary Details Medical Marijuana Benefits, Patient Hardships

The airing of a film that chronicles the medical benefits of marijuana has generated significant debate in the Chicago area. Bills that would remove criminal penalties for patients have been before the state legislature repeatedly in recent years, but lawmakers have yet to act, despite overwhelming public opinion in favor of legal access there. The screenings for the documentary have been organized by IDEAL Reform, an ASA affiliate.

Medical Marijuana
by Rachel Aissen, WMBD/WYZZ TV (IL)
Making marijuana legal for medicinal purposes is a heated debate across the U.S. The Illinois Congress recently took on the issue and now a film maker is asking Illinoisans to take a second look through his documentary "Waiting to Inhale."

Medical marijuana documentary sparks bigger debate
by Deborah J. Siegelbaum, Medill Reports (IL)
Grass, pot, weed, bud, dope, cannabis - it’s a drug with many names. In some cultures it is considered a portal to another realm of consciousness, and vilified in others as a gateway drug to a life of addiction. But treatment for symptoms of diseases like AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological disorders? Can it be that this illegal party drug is…a cure?

CALIFORNIA: Implementation Around the State

As communities around the state grapple with how best to implement the 1996 law that makes safe access to medical marijuana a right, local officials are looking to successful models in other communities and activists are providing additional services. One aspect is the disparity in access in California, an issue the legislature tried to address with the 2003 Medical Marijuana Program Act. New clinics such as the one being opened in Riverside help serve patients locally.

Councilwoman visits marijuana facilities
by Will Bigham, Daily Bulletin (CA)
Claremont Councilwoman Ellen Taylor took a trip to San Francisco last weekend to research that city's medical marijuana dispensary program.

Riverside clinic will offer doctors' notes for medical marijuana
by Gregor McGavin , The Press-Enterprise
Riverside residents could soon have a much shorter drive to get a doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana.

New medical marijuana clinic coming
by K. Kaufmann, Desert Sun (CA)
Riverside County is about to get a new clinic for medical marijuana patients. And Lanny Swerdlow, president of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project, is going to be running it.

Pot ordinance stirs passions
by Mike A'Dair, Willits News (CA)
Supervisors will consider a new, more restrictive medical marijuana ordinance at their December 5 meeting. The measure was returned to County Counsel Jeanine Nadel for review following the board's November 6 meeting after Supervisor John Pinches, father of the main concept behind the ordinance, said he would not support it, and Nadel said she needed to take a second look before the proposed ordinance came to a vote.

OREGON: Expansion of State Law Proposed

At the same time as state health officials are working on redefining rules for medical marijuana patients in Oregon, an initiative has been proposed that would expand the rights of patients and expand methods of access.

Changes to state marijuana law could expand drug growth, possession rights
by Carly Nairn, Daily Vanguard (Portland State, OR)
A drafter of Oregon's marijuana law visited Portland State yesterday, advocating law changes, including increased rights to possess the drug as well as its limited legalization, which could be presented to the state legislature this session. The initiative would give legal rights as well as cost reimbursements to patients who privately grow the drug for medical use. The initiative also calls for the creation of a regulated and licensed dispensary system.

RESEARCH: Cannabis Extract Works when Other Painkillers Don’t

While pain management is one of the oldest and best-documented medical uses for cannabis, with a history stretching back hundreds of years, new clinical research using a dosage-controlled cannabis extract confirms that it can help control pain when conventional drugs fail.

If Sativex Works, So Does Pot
by Jacob Sullum, Reason Magazine
A new study reported in the journal Pain finds that Sativex, an orally administered cannabis extract spray, is effective at treating neuropathic pain in patients for whom standard painkillers do not provide adequate relief. Every study that demonstrates Sativex's medical utility also demonstrates marijuana's medical utility, belying the U.S. government's claim that it has none.

ASA BLOG: Comments from ASA Staff and Guests

ASA's blog is helping keep activists informed on the issues and events affecting medical marijuana patients and providers.

California Weekly Round Up
by Rebecca Saltzman
ASA Fights in the California Supreme Court to Protect Patients’ Rights to Work; Federal Defendant Bryan Epis Remains Free

A Medical Marijuana Patient’s Long Road to Victory
By Nate R.
I wanted to write this post to let others who are qualified patients know that the law is here to work for us.

Advocacy in a Hurry
by Don Duncan
Sometimes, medical cannabis advocates have plenty of time to prepare in advance for an important vote at their City Council or County Board of Supervisors. In other cases, however, you may have to jump and run when you learn about a challenge or opportunity in your community. That is exactly what happened last week in Orange County.

MORE ABOUT AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS

Find out about ASA at AmericansForSafeAccess.org. More medical marijuana news summaries can be seen at www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/News.

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