Cops vs. Doctors
Tonight, after a week of calls by activists, the Drug Enforcement Administration updated its Web site to reflect the American Medical Association’s recent call for a review of marijuana’s Schedule I status.
The update removed several references to the AMA, including: “the American Medical Association recommends that marijuana remain a Schedule I controlled substance,” and “the American Medical Association has rejected pleas to endorse marijuana as medicine.” These changes came just over a week after the AMA released its new position on marijuana.
When it comes to marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug, there is now a battle between cops and doctors. The cops say it has no medical value, but the doctors — who one might think are in a position to know — either say it does or, at a minimum, want the government to review its stance. And again, medical marijuana advocates are left wondering why the cops have a say in this debate at all. It will be interesting to see how the DEA does characterize the AMA’s new position. MPP will let you know when they do.
Tagged with: AMA and DEA and Schedule I by the author
37 comments
Many cops are dumb as rocks. Doctors go to school for years and continue their education throughout their careers.
Cops, prosecutors, lawyers, Senators, shouldn’t be making any sort of testimony or have influence on medical decisions.
why cops against it… 2 words Job Security
Everyone should look in the yellowpages under doctors, then call them and get their fax#. Then print good articles about medical marijuana and make copies of them and fax them to all the doctor’s offices. It might cost a few bucks but if they get articles from lots of senders it will make them think about what medical marijuana can be used for.
doctors 1, cops 0…..
I got an email from MPP asking me to give more money than I already give each month, to help get Arizona’s medical marijuana onto the ballot. Although I want them to get mmj legalized, I will not help stop patients from having the right to grow their own plants at home just because someone opens their store near them. Stop using my money to take away patients rights. Fight for our rights, don’t pay lip service to bullies that say you can play, but only by my rules. MPP you do such great things most of the time, but this won’t fly. It will only cause riffs to divide the troops, and not unite us.
A Sheriff was quoted on a LEAP article when he was caught saying:
“But when it comes to talking to marijuana to kids, I tell them the truth, I tell them that it has four times the nicotine and tar tobacco has…”
Notice marijuana doesn’t have any nicotine…
Bud, once a marijuana STORE is in your neighborhood, I doubt anyone will care if you have a couple of plants in your garage… take it easy. lol.
Sometimes we gotta do things to get there measures passed that aren’t exactly easy, but don’t worry, we can change technicalities later, lets change the BIG laws first.
Bud #5,
You are the one dividing us. I don’t know if you live in AZ (I assume you may not from your name), but trying to get everything we really want won’t happen for another 5-10 years in AZ. In the meantime get out of the way of people like myself who want to get SOMETHING in place, and NEED to. I’ve had three doctors tell me cannabis can help. Out here, it’s like talking to a brick wall trying to get any positive cannabis legislation without getting the prohibitionists all riled and tearing apart what we have already achieved! So stop complaining, unless you are in the fray of it and are seeing what myself and many others are seeing out here. It’s bad enough we have prohibitionists getting in our way, than to have people like yourself get in the way. Thanks for making it so much more difficult!
I bet they don’t characterize it at all. They’ll pretend like it doesn’t exist just like everything else. But still, I’m pretty sure that the thing that just happened is huge. At first I questioned the AMA’s motives, but my worries have just been assuaged by the coolest and most important person on earth at this particular moment in time.
After perusing the humorous “facts” purported by the DEA’s website on cannabis, I decided to make a concerted effort and write the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics. I figured if the AMA can change their minds and look to reviewing cannabis, maybe we can get others to do the same! It doesn’t hurt to try. Besides if mroe organizations like AMA start changing their minds, then what the heck is the DEA going to do? So, I suggest taking a moment and writing those organizations asking them to have their quotes removed from the DEA’s website and update them.
May be I’m being a fool, but at least I won’t feel like a tool.
OK Mr. Ben & Mr. Trogo,
I live in Kentucky and I’m not proud of it. The laws here are far more harsh then yours in Arizona. I lived in Mesa and believe me you got it made. Even if your made to wear pink panties every once in a while. I have diabetes and neuropathy plus severe nerve damage from incountering 300 amps of electricity while being wet from head to toe. Until you have felt my pain you don’t know how good you have it. My doctor wants me to move to a legal state because she knows that pain medicine has little effect on me. She can’t even recommend medical marijuana to me because she can loose her job and be sent to jail.
As far as me standing in the way, I support MPP even though they pass on trying to get MMJ in Kentucky because they know they would be waisting their time. I also support NORML, LEAP, SAFER and most of all I support Jack Herer, the “Emperor of Hemp” who had a heart attack while fighting these very rules of taxing a plant that is here on earth for us to use and passing laws preventing us from growing our own plants, just so NON – PROFIT STORES can charge more money than the drug dealers on the streets charge. If you have plenty of money to throw around, thats fine and dandy. But if your really a true patient, struggling to pay medical bills and buying multiple prescriptions of very expensive anti-siezure drugs and pain medications, the last thing you need is some jerk telling you you have to buy their herb when you can grow your own.
The email I recieved said this regulation will be used to model all other states after. This is not doing something to get a foot in the door. This is a plan to make sure huge amounts of money will line the pockets of a privileged few.
Then you have the gall to attack me for trying to stand up for the little guy. Put yourself in my shoes and you will cringe at the thought of one day of living like this. I hope your proud of your hurtful words.
Hey Bud, I understand your worries. I really dont want to be forced to buy from someone either,nor should a few make huge profit. It bothers me these collectives are charging so much that it forces folks like you to consider buying from street dealer becuase it may be cheaper. It just needs to be legalized for all to fix all of these problem.
Now I know many of you here will say”one step at a time”. Yes at this point it is just that but, please,lets not attack one another. Its going to take all veiws ,all position to get this beast tamed. I guess its all healthy debate though. Thats what will ultamatly get this stupid drug war ended.
Hey Bud, I know what you mean. The laws in Iowa are about as bad. I’m thankful I dont NEED to use cannabis as you do. So I dont. Hang in there man! we are working hard on this.
I am the little guy. I am drowning in debt from medical bills and prescriptions. The cost it would be per month to acquire medical cannabis would be far cheaper and cost effective. And in Mesa may be….some time ago. I live in Tucson, even closer to the border and all anyone wants to do here is crack down harder. I attacked you for beating down on the simple steps that are hard enough to pass as it is. We all have problems and we are all doing the best we can. I’m tired of hearing this conspiracy theory crap all the time. What we need is optimism for once. So, I’m sorry if I was being a little offensive, but living in a city near the border with constant gang wars on the south side fighting over this cr*p, it gets wearing to constantly hear people pitch conspiracy issues. I won’t apologize for wanting some optimism for once. And in my instance, I don’t know what yours is in this regard, I have a very ill wife and two very young daughters to care for. So, I can’t take the chance of even thinking of doing anything illegal without CPS getting involved.
Now for the topic.
Why do cops think they ?
Heres a couple reasons.
1) They have a finanical reason,as already stated.
2) They say they have seen the damage drugs do.
Yes many drugs are very damaging. (Cannabis not being one of them). One reason I feel they say this maybe because they are to close to the problem and dont really see that the majority of the damage IS cause by prohibition.
3) It an immoral thing to let drugs be legal.
Whanna talk about morality?
Its immoral to keep throwing people into this meat grinder we call law enforcment and justice system over something that ISNT being controlled.
Its immoral to keep up an insanity that is helping no one.
“Oh but the kids!” Ya what about it? They are still able to get drugs anytime they want. Just ask any teen. You want something..they can find it. So hows your prohibition doing?
Ok I’ve ranted enough.
I was rather over zealous and arrogant in my previous statement. I am just writing out of frustration and wish there to be more solidarity on this very important subject. So, I apologize if anyone takes offense. Everyone take care, and keep on pushing for truth.
Cops know more about meds than doctors. I pour concrete, so maybe I should be in charge of N.A.S.A.. It is the same concept. We all do some kind of job but not all of us are little dictaters. For a cop to give medical advise is to me, impersonating a doctor, and should be dealt with by arrest. Thats what would happen to anyone else. Why are cops above the law anyway? Keep tokin and overgrow big bro.
“She can’t even recommend medical marijuana to me because she can loose her job and be sent to jail.”
That’s just not true. The Supreme Court ruled in the early part of this century that the 1st amendment protects doctors in this specific instance. Perhaps you should research it, print out the ruling, and show it to your doctor.
The one thing that gets me about the whole hypocritical nature of the DEAs side of this debate is that on their own website they claim that cannabis has “no medical value” and also say that Marinol is a good drug for chemo releated N/V and lack of appeitie.
Marinol is “synthetic” THC.
THC is the substance that gets people high as far as marijuana is concerned. Therefore without THC marijuana would be useless as an intoxicant. THC is the drug when anyone is talking about marijuana, sure other cannabinoids play a role, but THC is what gets people high, so logically speaking to classify marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, violates the drug scheduling criteria since THC is already an approved medicine.
A drug by definition has to be a chemical, and and an herb that contains that chemical is just that an herb. THC is the drug in question and it’s an FDA approved medicine. More people need to make this point in the debate. Marijuana is not a drug and it never will be, it is a plant that contains a chemical inside it, that chemical happens to be a drug. (THC)
If poppies didn’t contain codiene or morphine would they still be able to produce intoxicating opium, if the coca leaf didn’t contain cocaine would it be of any drug value, if beer contained 0% alcohol would it still get you drunk?
I don’t think so.
Marijuana is a plant, THC is a drug. It’s the drug.
So THC is legal but cannabis isn’t . . . surely this is an upside down world we live in. (Also marijuana is non-toxic, how about that, but I guess the DEA doesn’t care.)
Just wanted to add one thing.
Its unfair to say cops want it illegal.
Some cops, hell most cops, but those that really worked DEA and judges and higher ups do not want it to remain the way it has.
Your average idiot trooper, bucking for a promotion, and smoking a fatty at home himself, loves to make pot busts, good for his career. But it should be mentioned that LEAP does exist, not all cops are idiots on this subject, just a huge majority who swallow the red pill, and do as they are told.
The cops will lose, most people hate them for trying to control the population instead of assist it. We view them all as stupid, usually. I wish they would just go to hell.
President Nixon spoiled the DEA with his sinister plan by placing cannabis as Schedule One.
Ryan – (#19)
Wow! Well put! Simple logic rules!
“THC is the drug in question and it’s an FDA approved medicine.”
You are totally correct – THC has already been approved by the FDA! THEREFORE Cannabis’ uses as a medicine HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED by the FDA!
Why is it that we are having such a hard time re-legalizing Cannabis? At least (the very least) as far as a medicine, it should already be legalized!
——————————————-
Trogo – (#9)
What a great idea! Would you provide the information that you have found concerning contacting the American Cancer Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics? Who are the right people to contact within these agencies?
We should all email/write/call the ACS & AAP and do what we can to get them to voice their support of Cannabis!
Legalize Cannabis Now!
Ryan @ #19:
I like your line of thought, however the problem is that the CSA is the Controlled “Substances” Act…. not the Controlled Drug Act…
I’m pretty sure this is how they can add a plant into the schedule.
The DEA held the AMA statment up as a standard or wwhy marijuana wasnt medicine, in fact to me it was the only truthful talking point they ever had, at oleast the only one we couldnt say was a lie.
Now we shall see how well they hold to the AMA new statement and if they hold it up as a standard anymore? If they dont and they start acting like its no big deal we have to hold their feet to the fire and show them how they use to use the statment and how now they cant go back and change their standard becasue its no longer what they want it to say. We have to start pulling all the quotes over the years and be ready to use them to stop any chance they will pass this off as nothing..
Crap…!! I been saying for quite a while that since marinol is legal and approved bt the FDA the our government cant have it both ways! Either they take marinol and anyother patented drugs OFF the market, or they Legalize cannabis…PERIOD!!!
In my veiw…THERE IS NO VIABLE REASON TO KEEP CAANBIS ILLEGAL ANY MORE !!
R.O.E., I totally agree with you.
Not only is there NO REASON to keep Cannabis illegal, but it is both ILLEGAL and NON-CONSTITUTIONAL to keep Cannabis illegal!
There should be NO legal way for our Government to continue this immoral and unlawful prohibition while benefitting on the U.S. Government’s patents on Cannabinoids & THC-based medicines!
Legalize Cannabis Now!
For al those who are interested, I contacted the American Cancer Society at:
(http://www.cancer.org/asp/contactUs/cus_global.asp)
I chose “American Cancer Society” as the subject since the issue at hand is their public relation to marijuana.
At the American Academy of Pediatrics I went to:
(http://www.aap.org/guestbook/contactus-form.cfm).
Although this is the customer service area, it is a start in the right direction. For more people t contact at AAP, go to:
(http://www.aap.org/visit/contact.htm)
Let me know if there are any other questions. I also plan on contacting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) and The Institute of Medicine (IOM) soon.
I surmise that since the DEA’s reputation and stance on cannabis is due to supportive dialogue from these organizations, it will be easier to change policy and legislature if the DEA can no longer rely on the support of these institutions. Basically, cuttin’ off at the feet!
If anyone else has more ideas please let me know. This is the most exciting time for cannabis policy change. Hence, I am going at this head on trying to help with change.
Cannabis = a big source of the LEO’s funding. We will NEVER convince them that there is anything good about cannabis so long as their paychecks depend on it being illegal.
I like to keep reminding people of this little known fact:
patent number 6,630,507 states unequivocally that cannabinoids are useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases including auto-immune disorders, stroke, trauma, Parkinson’s, Alzeheimer’s and HIV dementia. The patent, awarded in 2003, is based on research done by the National Institute of Health, and is assigned to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Cops like to say “WE are only enforcing the law, not making it”.
But reading through the DEA website gives the clear impression of an organization attempting to put forth a very specific and almost childishly obvious agenda.
Hello Trogo,
I thank you for what you do, as you seem tireless in your efforts. You should use your strength to ask MPP to be more forceful in blocking the ban on growers, not only in Arizona, but in all their efforts in the future. As it stands now, they plan on using the ban in all they do from now on. I never mentioned anything about a conspiracy theory. They are openly doing this and have not offered an explanation as to why. This only goes against rulings that are working just fine in other states. Everything is falling into place for full legalization and MPP should add to our rights, not take them away. Attacking me for standing up for your rights is not very cool. With what your going through personally, you should be asking them to help you so you or someone you know can grow your medicine for $150.00 an ounce, so you don’t have to pay $300.00 to $500.00 an ounce at the so called “non-profit dispensairy” where they can pay themselves over $100,000.00 a year.
glad about this. i sent them an e mail and told them i’m a substance abuse counselor and they need to take all the BS off their site. of course i didn’t say it quite like that but you know what i mean.
Bud,
I appreciate all that do as well. I agree with what you are saying, and all legislation for cannabis is a concern to me. I guess my mind is more about just getting it in the air where debate can happen and some kind of mobilization will finally happen. But the details are important, and when we get to that point I will be right in front to make our rights are heard. Until then, it’s a waiting game with local news media not helping in any way. So far AZ seems to want to encourage harsh tactics and embarrassment….very much like Joe Arpaio’s philosophy. I appreciate your concern, and I am right there with you.
Hey if you guys want to try and help out the cause some more head over to Facebook and become a fan of Chase Community Giving. They are giving out money to charities. Vote for the Marijuana Policy Project and any other groups for marijuana reform posted on there. (Leap and Students for Sensible Drug Policy are on there as well)
[...] The American Medical Association has recently stated that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance must be reviewed (article). The DEA suffered a blow and has been working to remove references to the AMA’s stance on marijuana from their website and publications (article). [...]
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