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June, 2003 Edition
A publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN). Contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net). |
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June, 2003 Edition
A publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN). Contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net). |
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The following new items are included in this month's
OPNews:
ORGANIZATION NEWS: 1. Bill to Protect Ohio Patients Ready for Introduction 2. 15 Minute Mission 3. Two OPN Members Published in June 4. Dr. John Morgan Informed at OPN Patient Forum 5. OPN Educates at the Comfest June 27 - 29 STATE NEWS: 6. Judge Throws Out Medina's Pot-Possession LawNATIONAL NEWS: 7. Pot Compound Effective in Alzheimer's Treatment, Study Says
8.
Study: Pot Doesn't Cause Permanent Brain Damage
9.
The Missoula Study
10.
Israeli Company Receives Notice Of Allowance From US Patent Office For
Synthetic Marijuana Pharmaceuticals
11.
Senator Feinstein Breaks Silence About Medical Marijuana
12. Dean Acknowledges "Appropriate Uses" of Medical Marijuana But Refuses To Protect Patients From Arrest
13. Ed Rosenthal's Appeal
14. State Urges Congress to Recognize Pot Law
15. Movement Mourns Passing of Medical Marijuana Patient and Activist Cheryl Miller
16.
Burnout in Billings
17.
Bipartisan Compromise Reached on Anti-Drug
Advertising
18. New Poll Shows Greatest-Ever Public Support for Legalizing MarijuanaINTERNATIONAL NEWS: 19. Judge Allows Marijuana Ruling to Stand The following items are included in every OPNews: * OPNews Disclaimer * You Are Invited to OPN Meetings * How to Get Your Information in OPNews * How to be Removed from the OPNews List * How To Contact Your State Representative And Senator
*************************************************** *************************************************** 1. BILL TO PROTECT OHIO
PATIENTS READY FOR INTRODUCTION By: Jim White News that Democratic state Representative
Kenneth Carano will step forward as the first elected patient advocate and
introduce legislation to protect Ohio medical marijuana patients from
prosecution has sparked enthusiasm among grassroots supporters who have
been calling the switchboard in Columbus trying to find out if their
representatives are supporting the measure. Grassroots activists are spreading the word and
organizers are putting pressure on the legislature and distributing
educational materials to the media as well as legislators and other
interested organizations. Carano has promised to bring the bill to the
attention of the Ohio House of Representatives the moment he has four
republican co-sponsors, an inside source revealed. With 80 percent of
Ohioans in support of such a measure, introduction can't be far away. An Act of Compassion Compassionate
use of cannabis is legal in Canada and most of Europe, but federal law in
the United States does not recognize marijuana as having any
"accepted medical use," ignoring modern sciences' understanding
of the plant. Under
the Bush administration, the Justice department and Attorney General John
Ashcroft have increased federal prosecutions of medical patients in the
state of California, citing only the "need to enforce federal
law". State
activists hope to push back against the misguided Justice Department and
offer a little comfort and compassion to sick and dying patients. What it does The
bill, known as the Ohio Medical Marijuana Act or OMMA, is out of the Legislative
Services Commission and ready for introduction. The bill would create a
patient registry with the department of health and require that patients
and caregivers be issued identification cards. The
only legal source of medical marijuana in the United States is controlled
by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, and only seven patients out of
potentially millions in the United States receive medical marijuana from
NIDA. These seven patients
receive about 300 pre-rolled cigarettes each month. NIDA
has no provisions for providing marijuana to states that permit the use of
medical marijuana. Lacking a reliable government controlled source, most
state medical marijuana bills are drafted to permit the cultivation and
possession of marijuana, and this one is no exception. The
bill provides for the possession of up to 1000 grams of dried marijuana
and for a number of plants to be grown for medical use, and it includes
provisions for the state health department to enact regulations to assess
and categorize which ailments and patients will be treated with cannabis. Left
out in the cold Ohio
patients were incensed after Governor Voinovich dismantled an
"affirmative defense" clause for medical marijuana in 1997. The
clause permitted judges and juries to consider medical-use testimony
provided by physicians and other health care officials, and whether or not
marijuana was being used for medical purposes when determining sentencing. The
action left hundreds of patients out in the cold and at the mercy of
criminal gangs in order to obtain their medicine. While the bill protects
patients against state prosecutions, where most marijuana offences are
tried, the federal law would still remain in effect - a task congress
needs to take up. *************************************************** 2. 15 MINUTE MISSION by
Deirdre Zoretic OK
guys, this is the mission that we have been building up to!
This month, call your state representative.
Tell them to sign on as a co-sponsor to the Ohio Medical Marijuana
Act that is being introduced by Representative Carano. As
an organization, we here at the Ohio Patient Network have worked very hard
to have this bill introduced. We
are at the point that we can't do much more without your participation.
This is what we have all been waiting for, a bill to be introduced.
Please call right now, today. You have no idea how much
impact your one phone call will make.
Most people go through their entire lives without ever having
called one person who represents them in our state government. Statistically,
your one phone call can represent a whole lot of people. Please do
this. I need your help. ************************************************** 3. TWO OPN MEMBERS PUBLISHED IN JUNE OPN Vice President Jim White’s letter to the editor “A CRUCIAL BILL” was published Wednesday, June 25 in The Press. Jim explains the OMMA and practically dares House Minority Leader Chris Redfern to take a stand. View the archived LTE at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n955/a04.html. Joe Zoretic, OPN member and Ohio Cannabis Society Director of Education, had his letter “Adopt a Rational Policy Toward Marijuana” published in the Friday, June 13 Cleveland Plain Dealer. The LTE, which details compelling arguments for marijuana decriminalization, is archived at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n888/a12.html. *************************************************** 4. DR. JOHN MORGAN INFORMED AT OPN PATIENT FORUM By
Robert Ryan Ohio
Patient Network was pleased to host Dr. John Morgan, co-author of
“Marijuana Myth: Marijuana Facts,” at our monthly Patient Forum via an
internet audio conference on June 5.
In
this discussion, "Cannabis is More Than Just THC," Dr. Morgan
spoke on the history of medical marijuana research and his testimony
experience. A variety of patients, professionals, activists, and
others attended, bringing with them a wide range of questions for Dr.
Morgan. Issues
such as patient confidentially and drug testing were discussed. Dr. Morgan's presentation was followed by a question and
answer session from the audience. This was a wonderful opportunity
to interact with Dr. Morgan for many of us who are unable to travel to
conferences. OPN
Patient Forums are open to all and held on the first Thursday of each
month.. The next event will be held on July 3rd at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Dr.
Ethan Russo is scheduled to address OPN at the August Patient Forum. *************************************************** 5. OPN EDUCATES AT THE COMFEST JUNE 27 - 29 (Columbus,
OH) Visit OPN’s booth at
the Comfest (http://www.comfest.com/index.htm),
a community street fair held in Columbus from Friday, June 27 through
Sunday, June 29. OPN
volunteers will be sharing medical marijuana information and signing up
new members all weekend. Stop
by and meet your fellow OPN members.
Bring some friends and sign them up for this newsletter. The
Comfest is packed with artists, vendors and community organizations.
You can enjoy just about any kind of music playing continuously on
five stages, so plan on spending the day.
We look forward to seeing you there! *************************************************** 6. JUDGE THROWS OUT
MEDINA'S POT-POSSESSION LAW Source:
The Plain Dealer (http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/),
June 13, 2003. Author:
Stephen Hudak, Plain Dealer Reporter (Medina,
OH) It
was, until Wednesday, almost always better to be caught with a marijuana
cigarette anywhere in Ohio but here. Jail
was mandatory, fines could be harsher and, if you planned to be a teacher,
lawyer, or other licensed professional, your future was suddenly dimmer
under Medina's marijuana law. Medina
Municipal Judge Dale Chase decided Wednesday that the tough, 14-year-old
city ordinance was unconstitutional because it conflicted with the law as
written by the state legislature. City
prosecutors have not decided whether to appeal. But they previously have
argued Medina has the right to adopt local laws that address local
problems - including marijuana. Last
year, police cited 69 people under the city ordinance that says possessing
a small amount of marijuana is a first-degree misdemeanor, the same
category of offense as domestic violence. The
law defines a small amount as less than 100 grams, but most of those cited
under the Medina ordinance had tiny amounts - a burnt roach in a car
ashtray, flakes and seeds in a bag. The
rest of Ohio considers possession to be like jaywalking, a minor
misdemeanor, punishable by a $100 fine. Minor misdemeanors generally do
not show up on background checks. But
first-degree misdemeanors do. Under
Medina's law, offenders not only had to serve three days in jail and pay a
fine of up to $1,000, but they also were saddled with criminal records
they would have to report on applications for a job, a license or college
financial aid, said lawyer Robert Campbell, who challenged it. [snip] *************************************************** 7. POT COMPOUND
EFFECTIVE IN ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENT, STUDY SAYS Source:
NORML News, May 29, 2003, http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5656. (Baltimore, MD) A synthetic version of the marijuana compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) appears to reduce agitation and stimulate weight gain in patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to clinical trial data presented earlier this month at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (http://www.americangeriatrics.org/) . Nine patients suffering from Alzheimer's-related dementia participated in the trial. Treatment with up to 10 mg of synthetic THC for one month resulted in significantly reduced agitation in six patients, and all patients gained weight. Prior to the treatment, all patients had experienced weight loss due to anorexia. Weight loss, a common symptom associated with Alzheimer's disease, is a predictive factor of mortality. No adverse side effects to the THC treatment were reported. A previous trial of 12 Alzheimer patients in 1997 also found that THC significantly decreased negative feelings and induced weight gain. A 1999 report by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) (http://bob.nap.edu/books/0309071550/html/) estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of patients prescribed Marinol (synthetic THC) use it to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's. *************************************************** 8. STUDY: POT DOESN'T
CAUSE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE Source: Reuters (Wire),
June 26, 2003. View the
entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n966/a09.html. By: Deena Beasley (San Diego, CA) Smoking
marijuana will certainly affect perception, but it does not cause
permanent brain damage, researchers from the University of California at
San Diego said on Friday in a study. "The findings were kind of a surprise. One might have
expected to see more impairment of higher mental function," said Dr.
Igor Grant, a UCSD professor of psychiatry and the study's lead author.
Other illegal drugs, or even alcohol, can cause brain damage. His team analyzed data from 15 previously published, controlled studies
into the impact of long-term, recreational cannabis use on the
neurocognitive ability of adults. The studies tested the mental functions of routine pot smokers, but not
while they were actually high, Grant said. The results, published in the July issue of the Journal of the
International Neuropsychological Society, show that marijuana has only a
marginally harmful long-term effect on learning and memory. No effect at all was seen on other functions, including reaction time,
attention, language, reasoning ability, and perceptual and motor skills.
[snip] ************************************************** 9.
THE MISSOULA STUDY Source:
Austin Chronicle (http://www.auschron.com/),
June 20, 2003. View the
entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n928/a05.html. By: Michael King The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study examined the overall
health status of four of the seven surviving patients in the Compassionate
Investigational New Drug (IND) program of the Federal Drug Administration.
The patients had used "a known dosage of a standardized,
heat-sterilized quality-controlled supply of low-grade marijuana for 11 to
27 years." The study, performed by researchers associated with the Montana
Neurobehavioral Specialists in Missoula and others at the Univ. of Montana
and the Univ. of South Florida, concluded: "Results indicate clinical
effectiveness in these patients in treating glaucoma, chronic
musculoskeletal pain, spasm and nausea, and spasticity of muscular
sclerosis. All four patients
are stable with respect to their chronic conditions, and are taking many
fewer standard pharmaceuticals than previously." The study did note
mild changes in lung function in two of the patients, but no other
significant negative health effects. "These results would support the provision of clinical cannabis to
a greater number of patients in need," concluded the researchers.
"We believe that cannabis can be a safe and effective medicine
with various suggested improvements in the existing Compassionate IND
program." [snip]
NOTE:
For a fee, you can obtain a copy of the study, "Chronic
Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program: An
Examination of Benefits and Adverse Effects of Legal, Clinical
Cannabis," by Ethan Russo, et al., Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics,
Vol. 2 [1] 2002, from The Haworth Documentary Delivery Service:
1-800-HAWORTH or www.haworthpress.com. *************************************************** 10.
ISRAELI COMPANY RECEIVES NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE FROM US PATENT OFFICE FOR
SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA PHARMACEUTICALS Source: NORML News, June 19, 2003. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5675 (Isrelin, NJ) The Israeli-based Pharmos pharmaceutical company announced last week that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application relating to the use of the company's synthetic marijuana derivative Dexanabinol in the treatment of stroke, anti-inflammatory diseases, and other disorders. The company is presently in the patient-recruitment phase of a US Phase III trial on the effectiveness of Dexanabinol for the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). A previous Phase II trial by Pharmos of 67 Israeli patients found that Dexanabinol reduced mortality and eased intracranial pressure in subjects suffering from severe head injuries. Similar synthetic marijuana derivatives have been effective in preclinical models in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including "inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, brain ischemia, autoimmune diseases and pain," a Pharmos press release stated. According to a 1999 report by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (http://bob.nap.edu/books/0309071550/html/ ), naturally occurring cannabinoids in marijuana also provide symptomatic relief for a number of indications, including AIDS, cancer, and chronic pain. Authors of the study further noted that marijuana's neuroprotective qualities are the "most prominent" of its potential therapeutic applications. *************************************************** 11. SENATOR FEINSTEIN BREAKS SILENCE ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA Questions DEA Nominee About Raids on Patients Source: MPP, June 25, 2003, Press Release, http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr062503.html. (Washington, DC) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has confirmed that she will question Karen Tandy, nominated to be the administrator of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, about the appropriateness of the DEA's raids on medical marijuana patients and caregivers in California. Until now, neither Sen. Feinstein nor California's other senator, Barbara Boxer, has publicly addressed the DEA's actions against seriously ill Californians. Tandy's nomination will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon. Due to a conflicting hearing on intelligence matters, Feinstein does not expect to attend the hearing in person, but will submit the questions to Tandy in writing. Feinstein will also ask Tandy whether she will support research that could lead to the reclassification of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, ending the federal ban on medical use. [snip] NOTE: For details about the hearing, see “Karen P. Tandy DEA Confirmation Hearing” at http://www.drcnet.org/wol/293.shtml#tandyhearing. *************************************************** 12. DEAN ACKNOWLEDGES
"APPROPRIATE USES" OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUT REFUSES TO PROTECT
PATIENTS FROM ARREST Source: MPP, June 13, 2003, Press Release http://www.mpp.org/releases/gsmm_nr061303.html (Manchester, NH) Questioned at a campaign event last night [June 12] by Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean conceded yesterday that medical marijuana has "appropriate uses." But the former Vermont governor refused to address the fact that seriously ill medical marijuana patients still face arrest and imprisonment. Responding to a question from GSMM Campaign Coordinator Aaron Houston at a campaign reception in Manchester, Dean said he believes there are "appropriate uses for medical marijuana ... like for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients." But when asked if that means such patients should face arrest and jail -- as they do in Vermont, where then-Governor Dean killed a medical marijuana bill that was on the verge of passage in 2002 -- Dean ducked the issue. Dean, who has said that he opposes protection for medical marijuana patients until marijuana is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, insisted that the FDA drug approval process "doesn't take years" to complete. [snip] *************************************************** 13. ED ROSENTHAL'S APPEAL Source:
Anderson Valley Advertiser, June 11, 2003.
View the complete article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n887/a05.html.
By: Fred Gardner The light sentence meted out by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer
June 4 --time served, one day -- represents a personal victory for Ed
Rosenthal and his family and friends.
There was a legal victory, too: publicity around the case has
notified prospective jurors in California that they are ideally suited to
monkey-wrench the drug-war machine. Rosenthal's attorney Dennis Riordan has already notified the 9th U.S.
District Court of Appeals that he will challenge the conviction... For openers: Breyer should have allowed the jury to hear that Rosenthal
-- who had been authorized to grow marijuana under a program created by an
Oakland city ordinance -- thought he was acting legally... Riordan is also challenging Breyer's ruling that the Oakland
cannabis-distribution program is invalid under federal law. The
program relies on the same section of the federal Controlled Substances
Act, 885(d), that entitles undercover police officers to obtain, handle,
and sell illicit drugs. Section 885(d) states that "no civil or criminal liability shall be
imposed" on any state or local "authorized officer...who shall
be lawfully engaged in the enforcement of any law or municipal ordinance
relating to controlled substances." After Prop 215 passed, Oakland
lawyer Robert Raich proposed that the wording of 885(d) could apply to
city-appointed officers engaged in obtaining, handling, and selling
cannabis. The Oakland city attorney agreed, and Jeff Jones, director
of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Co-op, was deputized to make the herb
available to patients qualified to use it under California law.
Jones subsequently assigned Rosenthal to grow clones -- starter plants of
known sex and quality -- for distribution to such patients... If the 9th Circuit eventually rules that 885(d) does indeed apply to
city or state-ordained cannabis operations, it would be like driving a
tank through the Berlin wall of prohibition... Rosenthal's appeal brief will also challenge the propriety of Assistant
U.S. Attorney George Bevan's dialog with the grand jury that
produced the initial indictment. Unlike the jurors who heard the
case in January '03, the grand jurors were aware that Rosenthal was
growing for Bay Area cannabis clubs. The defense charges that Bevan
misled the grand jurors by seeking to allay any fears that indicting
Rosenthal would cut off the supply of cannabis to Californians entitled to
use it medicinally. Another issue to be raised on appeal involves Breyer's ruling that the
conduct of jurors Marney Craig and Pam Klarkowski did not constitute
grounds for dismissal. Craig had asked a lawyer of her acquaintance
whether she could vote her conscience if it clashed with the judge's
instructions. The lawyer/friend's answer had been an unequivocal,
"No. You must obey the judge." Craig relayed this fact to
Klarkowski as they drove to court on the morning deliberations were to
begin. Under the relevant federal rule of evidence, 606(b), the
improper influencing of jurors during the course of a trial can be grounds
for dismissal. The 9th circuit typically takes a year to a year and a half to rule on
appeals such as Rosenthal's. Their ruling on the applicability of
885(d) in the Oakland CBC case will probably precede a decision re
Rosenthal, but appeals move faster in criminal than in civil cases.
[snip] NOTE: For a comprehensive archive of articles, see http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ed+Rosenthal *************************************************** 14. STATE URGES
CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE POT LAW Source:
San Francisco Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/),
June 23, 2003. View the
entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n943/a03.html.
When
a federal judge allowed Ed Rosenthal to walk free earlier this month, the
convicted marijuana guru promised to take his case to state capitols and
city halls across the country... Friday,
he stood on the 14th floor of the state administration building, across
the street from the very courthouse where he almost lost his freedom,
celebrating Assemblyman Mark Leno's passage of a resolution urging
Congress to recognize California medicinal marijuana laws. Last
week the State Senate passed the resolution, AJR-13, in a 21-15 vote.
On April 24, the State Assembly passed it by a vote of 42-32. With
the small victory in California won, Leno said he will enlist the help of
governors and legislators of the eight other marijuana-friendly states in
his crusade. "The
federal government has no business interfering with how state voters care
for their dying and suffering citizens," Leno said. [snip] *************************************************** 15. MOVEMENT MOURNS PASSING OF MEDICAL
MARIJUANA PATIENT AND ACTIVIST CHERYL MILLER Source: NORML News, June 12, 2003, http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5665 (Toms River, NJ) Medicinal marijuana activist and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patient Cheryl Miller died on Saturday from pneumonia and other MS-related complications. She was 57 years old. Miller, along with her husband Jim, was a tireless lobbyist in support of the legalization of marijuana for medical use. The issue was a personal one to Cheryl, who ate marijuana to alleviate symptoms of MS. Even though the disease had left Cheryl severely disabled, the Millers made frequent trips to Washington DC to lobby on behalf of the "States Rights to Medical Marijuana Act." In 1998, Cheryl was arrested for using medicinal marijuana in front of the Congressional office of then-California Congressman James Rogan, who had supported the issue as a state politician, but later renounced it as a member a Congress. Cheryl engaged in a similar act of civil disobedience in front of the office of former Georgia Congressman and strident drug warrior Bob Barr. In 2002, Miller was the focal point in a series of television ads attacking Barr for his anti-medicinal marijuana stance. Barr later lost his bid for reelection. Most recently, Cheryl and Jim Miller were recipients of the Peter McWilliams Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Advancing the Cause of Medical Marijuana at the 2003 National NORML Conference. In a posting to the Cherylheart Project website, husband Jim wrote the following tribute to his wife and best friend: "Cheryl made her life an open book so others could have a better life. ... She was never afraid of the consequences of what we did to help fight medical marijuana prohibition. She was afraid of being able to help seriously ill people, and not doing so. She was a teacher, and I learned from her. I am learning still. "We must not mourn her passing without celebrating her life. Cheryl gave us a lesson that is ours to use or ignore. Don't be afraid of doing what needs to be done. You should however, be afraid of being able to do something, and not taking a swing. For a person that could not move her arms for many years, Cheryl took some pretty big swings. I will not let the example she lived go unused. She will be with me always." NOTE:
Cheryl Miller was a member of the advisory board of the
Wisconsin-based medical marijuana rights group Is My Medicine Legal Yet (http://www.immly.org)
and founder of the Cherylheart Project (http://www.cherylheart.org).
For more information, see: Sad
Day in the Medical Marijuana Movement at http://www.drcnet.org/wol/291.shtml#cherylmiller. *************************************************** 16. BURNOUT IN
BILLINGS Source:
Missoula Independent (http://www.missoulanews.com),
June 12, 2003. View the
entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n897/a06.html
By:
Jed Gottlieb (Billings,
MT) Working under the premise
that there's no smoke without a fire, in April Congress passed The Illicit
Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, better know as the Rave Act. Tacked on
to the Amber Alert bill by Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), the Rave act holds any
concert promoter, nightclub owner or arena/stadium owner responsible for
third-party drug violations at any host's event.
Even modest benefit concerts are potential targets, as the Billings
chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
learned last week. Twentysomething
Adam Jones of Billings NORML had planned on raising money for a campaign
to decriminalize medical marijuana in Montana with a benefit concert at
the Eagles Lodge... In
an e-mail distributed after the event was cancelled, Jones wrote:
"Not only did this cause us to lose money, hope, and face, but it
will seriously endanger the chance of trying anything like this again in
Billings. What the hell happened to my first amendment?" This
is the first example of the Rave act being put to use as a preemptive
strike, says national NORML representative Gretchen Hilmers. [snip] NOTE: For more news about the rave act, see: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rave+act *************************************************** 17. BIPARTISAN
COMPROMISE REACHED ON ANTI-DRUG ADVERTISING Source:
Associated Press; June 5, 2003.
View the entire article at: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n840/a01.html
. by
Larry Margasak (Washington, DC) Republicans and Democrats agreed Thursday that the Bush administration shouldn't buy advertising to oppose state and local campaigns aimed at easing marijuana penalties. The agreement became part of legislation that would keep the White House anti-drug office in business for another five years. The House Government Reform Committee approved the bill by a voice vote. The committee also dropped a Republican proposal that would move some drug enforcement money from state and local police agencies and give it to federal departments in states that legalized marijuana for medical use. GOP sponsors said they never considered the proposal a major part of the anti-drug campaign. The restrictive advertising language would prohibit ads that advocate support or defeat of any clearly identified candidate, ballot initiative, legislative or regulatory proposal. It was aimed at ensuring that the White House could not use the extensive anti-drug advertising campaign to oppose state and local medical marijuana initiatives. [snip] *************************************************** 18. NEW POLL SHOWS GREATEST-EVER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA Source: Drug Policy Alliance June 24, 2003 press release http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/pressroom/pressrelease/pr062403.cfm. A poll by Zogby International released [June 24] found that 41% of Americans agree "the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it and only make it illegal for children" This represents a striking increase from previous nationwide polls on making marijuana legal... Nearly two years ago USA Today ran a front page story with the findings of a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll which found that support for legalizing marijuana was at its highest in 30 years, with 34% in favor, up from 15% in 1972. The jump over two years to 41% is similar to other rapid shifts in public opinion around marijuana decriminalization in Canada, Britain and elsewhere. The poll released today interviewed 1,204 adults chosen at random nationwide... The margin of error is +/- 2.9%. [snip] *************************************************** 19. JUDGE ALLOWS MARIJUANA RULING TO
STAND Federal government loses bid to suspend
decision that legalized drug Source:
Ottawa Citizen (http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/),
June 11, 2003. View the
complete article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n878/a04.html.
By: Shannon Kari (Toronto) An Ontario Court
of Appeal judge declined to suspend a lower court decision that found
there is no law against marijuana possession in the province, despite the
federal Justice Department's claim that the ruling has led to chaos and
uncertainty. Yesterday, Justice Louise Charron said that the Justice Department was
seeking an "unprecedented" order and she had no jurisdiction to
suspend an acquittal imposed by a lower court. [snip] *************************************************** *************************************************** The following items are included in every OPNews: *************************************************** OPNews DISCLAIMER OPNews, a publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN), provides medical cannabis news that affects Ohio patients, caregivers, and health professionals. All articles are intended for educational purposes and do not reflect an official position, either positive or negative, by the OPN or its Board of Directors. Ohio Patient Network does not endorse any candidates running for office. The reports of campaign-related activities are for educational purposes only. For more information, contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net).
*************************************************** YOU ARE INVITED TO OPN MEETINGS The OPN Board of Directors invites you to participate in OPN patient forums, which are held at 7:30 p.m. (eastern time) the first Thursday of each month. You are also welcome to attend the weekly OPN business meetings. These electronic voice/text meetings are held at the OPN chatroom in PalTalk (http://www.paltalk.com/). To receive further information, including instructions for the PalTalk meeting room, check out http://www.ohiopatient.net/Paltalk instructions.htm or send e-mail to info@ohiopatient.net.
*************************************************** HOW TO GET YOUR INFORMATION IN OPNews OPNews is published monthly. To have your information considered for publication, submit your story to editor@ohiopatient.net. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Please do not boldface or italicize text. Include a contact name with a phone number and/or e-mail address with submissions.
*************************************************** HOW TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OPNews LIST You may sign off this list at any time by using the webform at www.ohiopatient.net.
*************************************************** HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR Find your Representative in the Ohio House at http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp Find your Ohio Senator at http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/ Write to your officials care of their district office, or send your letter to their Columbus office at: The Honorable (name) Ohio House of Representatives 77 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43266-0603 -or- The Honorable (name) Ohio Senate Building Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone calls and emails are also persuasive, especially when the constituent contacts the district office.
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