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Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Vote Quimby! — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:27:12 -0000

What are the odds it actually gets to a floor vote?

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

TaxMeMore — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:23:14 -0000

Medical marijuana is good. People that want to lock other people in cages for using are bad. Its that simple.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

wordslinger — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:38:35 -0000

==I don't think anyone's pointed out here that the legislature voted to legalize it, and Thompson signed it, in 1978 because Rep. Joe Ebbesen's roommate (another rep.) needed it as did a senator. ==

I was wondering about the background of that '78 law.

Dr. Joe Ebbesen, O.D., was a Main Street conservative Republican rep and former mayor of DeKalb.

When I was a kid, I used to work at a Wipe the Windows,
Check the Oil, Dollar Gas station and took care or Mayor Joe's Caddy. Great guy, salt of the earth, rock-ribbed conservative of the old school.

A guy like that sponsored a medicinal marijuana law in 1978? My, how the GOP has progressed.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Cubs Fan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:31:08 -0000

==What does science say, folks?==

Ah, but you're not talking about science. You're talking about government chemists that are paid to support or form the government's position. Facts are facts until they become part of a statistical report. Then they become propaganda.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Toast Man — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:46:27 -0000

VanMan -
I don't what to pile on you but "quack medicine?" I think not. Are you aware of how many drugs on the market today came from herbs and plants? A lot. Aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid) is derived from a species of the willow (Salicaceae salix) tree family. Taxol, a very common and useful breast cancer drug was derived from the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia.

Before you disregard the usefulness of "natural" remedies you should research where many of today's drugs came from. Unless you only want to use one of those rushed to market new meds that have extensive side effects, usually including death, in certain instances.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

wordslinger — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:41:53 -0000

--Minus that's its just a way to get pot. It doesn't even seem to need a Rx, just a way to get pot--

Pat Collins, I respect your opinion (unlike some I won't mention), but I don't understand what really bothers you about this.

I'm 45 years old, and I've known where I could get pot since I was 14. No problem. Back in the day, I chose to get some at times. Now, I don't. It's my choice.

But I tell you, I've been on the business end of recreational pot and recreational booze, and it's really no comparison as to which is more dangerous to the individual or society.

You're worried about abuse of prescription pot? There's not abuse of prescription Vic or, unlike pot, other addictive drugs? Come on.

Folks who are in pain say a little herb helps. How does that bother you? And who the hell are we to deny it?

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Larry Mullholland — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:40:12 -0000

VM ==But donâ€™t play games, by claiming it is a necessary medicinal cure to some people. It is nonsense talk.==

To be technical, medical care is not 'necessary'. We use it to improve our lives. If MJ improves ones life without a burdon on the masses then legalize it. To those that say that it is not readily available right now have not looked for it. Make two phone calls to trusted friends and you will find it.

It is not a gateway drug anymore than caffeine or nicotine. It should be available for medicinal purposes and hemp should be allowed to be grown for industrial purposes and at the very least, it should be decriminalzed to clear our jails and court backlogs.

As to the FDA/DEA. I think they will soon back off Canabis under a silent directive from the White House.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Vote Quimby! — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:24:55 -0000

==Next, youâ€™ll start claiming that crystal meth is a great diet aid for fat folks who no longer need their teeth.==

Nice distraction technique...stick to the subject!

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

IrishPirate — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:10:46 -0000

Plutocrat and VanillaMan,

the scientific evidence does support the medicinal use of weed. Now Bush's FDA and Clinton's FDA denied that for political reasons. Think of medicinal marijuana as the WMD's of drug policy. Twist the truth to fit your ideology.

Of course why let facts get in the way of your ideology. Search around for the non FDA tests.

I need a beer.

The opposition to this is like the Obama birth certificate controversy. No matter what proof is offered there will always be more "demands".

Where is the original typewriter the certificate was typed on? Why was it destroyed.

As for failed policies I suggest you ask the Mexican government how much they like our "drug war". It's wonderful when we criminalize a public health issue and destabilize other governments because of it.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Belle — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:41:40 -0000

anyone else thinking bout cheetos and dingdongs?

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

VanillaMan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:36:31 -0000

I haven't been insulted like this since - uh, well, not so very long ago.

You people praise medicinal pot like others praise faith healers, homeopathic medicine, chiropractors and oatmeal. Some are so incensed that I would somehow question or deny that a loved one, a friend, a co-worker, an in-law, or a friend of a friend's loved one's co-worker's in-law knew someone who was forced to use pot because modern medicine had utterly failed them.

What does science say, folks? Is this bill being passed because of scientific evidence as determined by our proven national procedures, (the FDA), or is it just a political move to satisfy a need for a promised tax windfall?

Who is this cure intended for? Sick people, or sick government?

According to the FDA, there is no medical reasons to smoke marijuana for medicinal reasons. When our medicinal community can agree on how to use marijuana so that it can deliver a measured dosage of it's pharaceutical properties to measurably alleviate a medical need - then we can start discussing how to medicate patients appropriately.

Until then, this is just nonsense.

Our governments regulate drugs. We pay them to do this because we have had thousands die over the centuries due to bad medicine. The FDA is doing it's job as a watchdog dedicated to you, the citizen. We have seen what happens when our government watchdogs fall asleep, so why are so many of you hell-bent on ignoring what the FDA is saying about dope smoking?

If you don't have a problem with dope, then say it's OK to smoke it. Try to have it decriminalized or legalized. But don't play games, by claiming it is a necessary medicinal cure to some people. It is nonsense talk.

Next, you'll start claiming that crystal meth is a great diet aid for fat folks who no longer need their teeth.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Plutocrat03 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:34:41 -0000

So this thread is leaning toward decriminalization of pot, but as I recall this thread was in support of banning the use of a legal product - tobacco because it is stinky.

Using that logic you want to legalize it before you ban it.

I want to know who I can sue when someone on pot slams into me on the road. If it was alcohol, then I have a whole body of dram shop laws to fall back on. Since this is a new problem, I probably would include Mr. Lang and associates in a lawsuit.

Regardless of the 'controls' in this bill, this will increase the supply of pot available to the general community. I have been in the Netherlands and have personally seen how their concept works. It does not.

Why do we need to try old failed solutions.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

IrishPirate — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:32:45 -0000

Taxmandan,

if you want to use that argument then alcohol should be banned because some people abuse it.

Let's get rid of gasoline because some people use it to burn other people.

My alcoholic dad used to take fistfuls of aspirin trying to get rid of his headaches. Gotta ban that also.

Any reasonable person would agree that pot is less dangerous than alcohol. Hell even SOME unreasonable people would agree to that.

If you don't want to use pot, don't. I don't.

If you don't want to own a gun. Don't.

If you're against gay marriage don't get gay married.

If you think premarital sex is wrong.......well you get the idea.

Freedom is messy. Sometimes people may even do things you don't agree with. Puritanism is the belief that somewhere someone is having fun.....and it has to be stopped.

As for Pat Collins you stated "involves an oversight strategy comparable to an institutional review board process that could provide guidance within 24 hours of a submission by a physician to provide marijuana to a patient for a specified use."

Now that sounds to me that you want a review board to review every single MD prescription for pot. Perhaps I am misinterpreting your intent.

Will some Docs abuse any medical marijuana law. Yep.

Now if you will excuse me one of my drugs of choice awaits me. Caffeine.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Vote Quimby! — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:27:17 -0000

tax: and if you need any prescription drug out there, you can find a doctor to write you a scrip. Just ask Rush Limbauh and the many, many people who have taken prescription drugs without a prescription in their own name.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

taxmandan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:58:51 -0000

If anyone here thinks it's only going to be cancer and AIDS type patients getting pot cards, then you're a dope. Just look at what is happening in CA. For a fee a "doctor" will "prescribe" marijuana for anything from aches and pains to a headache. What does the state intend to do to prevent this scenerio?

Come on, a pot club?

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

casual observer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:35:21 -0000

My daughter has MS and her husband gives her a shot every night. The shot makes her nauseous and sore. She told me that pot helps her which I won't even question. I only asked that she tell her doctor. When she did he said "Oh yeah, a lot of my patients do. I just can't prescribe it". The only problem is for her to get it, her husband has to meet up with some shady "friends". That's scary and not right. My daughter is a loving wife and mother of 2 wonderful children. If pot helps her to take the medicine she needs to stay out of a wheelchair and active with her family, I'll fight anyone that tries to deny her.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:31:21 -0000

Lang should be applauded for his efforts.

Approve medicinal and decriminalize it the street drug.

Its just silly the amount money spent bring an offender through the judicial system for a petty offense.

As to the argument that we should buy rx drugs that have a similar effect as one someone can grow on the cheap is silly as well. Why should a cancer victim have to pay big $$ money or worse yet why should the government pay premium dollars for pain killers when you can grow it in your house.

I do not believe it is a gateway drug. If it did not exist the addictive personalities would just start with caffeine, then nicotine, then alcohol, then coke on so on.

I used a fair amount of the hydroponic cannabis which was bright green with the orange and red hairs IE the good stuff! and have never moved through the so called "gateway" to harder drugs.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

zatoichi — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:17:50 -0000

Before my aunt died of cancer, my cousins got her as much pot as she wished to use, with her doc's unwritten blessing. It was not much and it made chemo tolerable for her. How much money has been spent and is currently spent to enforce laws that huge numbers of people willfully ignore? There is a strong need for good evidence on both sides of this arguement. Available data seems to be leaning in favor of marijuana. Is MJ a gateway drug? My personal experience (and that of many long term friends) leans more towards beer and cigarettes being the first step gateways. Glad Lang is bringing this up.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

been there — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:57:17 -0000

my recollection is that the state police were named in some capacity in the 1978 bill but you're right, Norseman, anyone who wants to know should just look it up. usually the new bill just amends that section of the statute, so that's where i'm going to look--at the new bill.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Pat collins — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:54:41 -0000

The idea of the committee is to make sure the data is collected properly. And it was the National Academy of Sciences's idea. I just like it.

Why should pot be any different from any other Pharmaceutical? Let it be proven effective like any other drug.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Norseman — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:42:29 -0000

Oops - these bills get introduced.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

Norseman — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:41:29 -0000

"If thereâ€™s already a medical marijuana law on the books that was never implemented because IDPH didnâ€™t bother making rules (or refused to make rules) to implement it, why not just have DPH make rules now, and bring the law out of limbo?"

Because DPH never had that authority. It seems to be an urban myth that keeps getting perpetuated when these bills get implemented. Try looking it up and you'll probably find that this was something the Dangerous Drugs Commission was supposed to do.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

drug advocate general — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:24:04 -0000

as peter tosh said - legalize it don't criticize it

pot is the best recreational drug for people who want to avoid hang overs, depression, violent outbursts, and a host of other maladies associated with chronic alcohol abuse including liver disease

the hypocrisy of the war on drugs is stunning

what illinois should do is LEGALIZE ALL MARIJUANA AND TAX IT TO PLUG THE BUDGET HOLE

most people who smoke pot are your neighbors - professionals like doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, news people, and not burn outs as the spinmeisters for the alcohol and tobacco companies that fund the partnership for a drug free america would have you believe. the entire war on "some drugs" is a fraud and has been so from the very beginning - illinois should say enough is enough we have higher priorities to spend law enforcement funds on and could tax something people are doing anyways

the so-called burn outs are usually the barfly drunks who go home and are belligerent to their families not the pot smokers

if the state legalized it and taxed marijuana they could plug the entire budget deficit overnight

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

IrishPirate — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:15:04 -0000

Pat,

I didn't miss that part. If you were familiar with the term "conservatism of doubt" perhaps you would have more faith in freedom than faith in "belief". I LOVE your idea about a committee deciding whether an MD prescribing the wacky weed was appropriate in every case. When committees decide on all the other drugs, many much more dangerous than marijuana, you may have a legitimate point. NOT.

It's nice to have all the answers. It prevents annoying thinks like "doubt" or "ideas" coming into play. Can't let those naughty facts get in the way of "BELIEF".

As Rush Limbaugh smokes on his nicotine delivery system, whilst drinking his cognac, and eating a large juicy steak he can count on "conservatives" to not think their way into supporting his grand ideas.

I long for the days of Barry Goldwater and Bill Buckley. Until their ideas again are a force to be reckoned with the Grand Old Party will not be so "grand".

What is it about freedom that so scares you?

It's a rhetorical question, Patrick. Think it over while you have a beer.

Re: Medical marijuana clears House committee

bugs — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:54:38 -0000

the dopers have won this one-let it go