Thoughts of the Day

Picture courtesy of Laurie Avocado

If you think MEDICAL Marijuana has anything to do with south of the border drug cartels, dime bags of weed bought on the street, addiction or gateways drugs -You're wrong and you need to EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Ever wonder why someone using opioids such as Morphine, Demerol or Fentanyl would trade them for MEDICAL Marijuana in a heartbeat if it provided at least the same if not better pain relief?

Ask someone suffering a terminal disease or debilitating chronic pain if they'd use MEDICAL Marijuana if it meant they could be pain free for 10 minutes to do simple things (like standing at the sink washing dishes) you take for granted ever day.

Ask an MS patient with involuntary muscle spasms, an AIDS patient with Wasting Syndrome, or a Chemo patient suffering with severe nausea/vomiting if they think MEDICAL Marijuana has no proven or acceptable medical use.

Before you say anything about SMOKING MEDICAL Marijuana, check out the new delivery systems researchers come up with every day (i.e. Sativex).

And check your facts before you say MEDICAL Marijuana kills. According to FDA data, Marijuana was NOT reported as a primary cause of death at all between January 1,1997 to June 30, 2005.

The Drew Carey Project Releases Another Medical Marijuana Reason.tv Video

Although the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) tells us in Exposing the Myth of Smoked Medical Marijuana that there are no potential benefits of medical marijuana, many states have laws that allow those with specific debilitating medical conditions the right to use it. It is a well documented remedy for many health conditions including Migraine, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, HIV and Aids.

However, federal legislation prohibits the use of Medical Marijuana. Since federal law supersedes state law, the DEA continues to raid and prosecute both users and distributors in the states that allow it's use.

Drew Carey, (yes, that Drew Carey) host of The Drew Carey Project. has released another Reason.tv video on medical marijuana. In this video Carey asks:

Are we really helping minors by keeping them from medical marijuana at all costs? Or are we treating their parents like children?

Do you know what position your presidiential candidates takes on this issue? A press release issued by Reason Foundation points out:

The two major presidential candidates have taken completely opposite positions on medical marijuana and the DEA raids. Last month, Oregon's Willamette Week asked Sen. Barack Obama, "Would you stop the DEA's raids on Oregon medical marijuana growers?" Obama responded, "I would because I think our federal agents have better things to do, like catching criminals and preventing terrorism."

In March, Obama told Oregon's Mail Tribune, "When it comes to medical marijuana, I have more of a practical view than anything else. I mean, my attitude is that if it's an issue of doctors prescribing medical marijuana as a treatment for glaucoma or as a cancer treatment, I think that should be appropriate because there really is no difference between that and a doctor prescribing morphine or anything else."

The Republican National Committee attacked Sen. Obama's response to the Willamette Week's question and Sen. John McCain says he'll continue the Bush administration's aggressive efforts. McCain, who once supported states' rights on the issue, now says, "I don't believe that medical marijuana is necessary for alleving pain, relief of pain. I don't believe it's healthy…I believe it is a national issue and not a statewide issue."

When asked what he'd do to stop federal raids in states where voters have made medical marijuana legal, McCain said, "Nothing."

You can view Drew Carey's other medical marijuana video HERE and additional Drew Carey videos HERE.

The Drug Policy Alliance Network offers lots of additional information including Marijuana: The Facts and Medical Marijuana Fact Sheet.