Comments on: Why I’m Not Convinced Big Pharma Is Behind Pot Prohibition (But That’s Not To Say They Aren’t Looking To Cash In On Medical Marijuana) http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/ Working to reform marijuana laws Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:59:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Bruce Cain http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-6174 Bruce Cain Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:56:15 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-6174 You left out an important group: the Law Lobby. Behind most of the 470,000 annual arrests is a $1,000 to $3,000 attorney fee. So the Lawyers Guild and the American Bar Association make contributions to Preseidents and Congressman alike knowing full well this "blood money" will stop Re-Legalization in its tracks. So far this has worked but I feel the times are a changing. The best model for reform is the MERP Model. Learn more about it through the following links: Drug Policy =========== Marijuana: Past, Present and Future from Bruce Cain on Vimeo. http://www.vimeo.com/2056650 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rTwo2tMR2Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or9wfz4rd9o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpThD3tPQBM Why Lou Dobbs Should Support Marijuana Legalization http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VKf5YfQb7s& The MERP Project The Marijuana Re-Legalization Policy (MRP) Project http://www.newagecitizen.com/ReLegalization01.htm http://www.newagecitizen.com/editorial_on_the_marijuana_re.htm Bruce W. Cain Discusses the MERP Model, for Marijuana Relegalization, with "Sense and Sensimilla" http://senseandsensi.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=270029 Video Biography of Bruce W. Cain http://www.newagecitizen.com/Videos.htm The "Hemp Song" by Bruce W. Cain http://www.newagecitizen.com/AudioFiles/HempSongGnosticRaw.mp3 "Rainbow Farm" and instrumental dedicated to Tom Crosslin who was murdered at Rainbow Farm a week before 9/11 (09/11/2001) http://www.newagecitizen.com/AudioFiles/RainbowFarm%20050202.mp3 How Continuing the Drug War could make Nuclear Terrorism a Reality by Bruce W. Cain http://www.newagecitizen.com/Editorials/v8n1NuclearTerrorism.htm You left out an important group: the Law Lobby. Behind most of the 470,000 annual arrests is a $1,000 to $3,000 attorney fee. So the Lawyers Guild and the American Bar Association make contributions to Preseidents and Congressman alike knowing full well this “blood money” will stop Re-Legalization in its tracks. So far this has worked but I feel the times are a changing. The best model for reform is the MERP Model. Learn more about it through the following links:

Drug Policy
===========
Marijuana: Past, Present and Future from Bruce Cain on Vimeo.
http://www.vimeo.com/2056650
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rTwo2tMR2Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or9wfz4rd9o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpThD3tPQBM

Why Lou Dobbs Should Support Marijuana Legalization
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VKf5YfQb7s&

The MERP Project
The Marijuana Re-Legalization Policy (MRP) Project

http://www.newagecitizen.com/ReLegalization01.htm
http://www.newagecitizen.com/editorial_on_the_marijuana_re.htm

Bruce W. Cain Discusses the MERP Model, for Marijuana Relegalization, with “Sense and Sensimilla”
http://senseandsensi.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=270029

Video Biography of Bruce W. Cain
http://www.newagecitizen.com/Videos.htm

The “Hemp Song” by Bruce W. Cain
http://www.newagecitizen.com/AudioFiles/HempSongGnosticRaw.mp3

“Rainbow Farm” and instrumental dedicated to Tom Crosslin who was
murdered at Rainbow Farm a week before 9/11 (09/11/2001)
http://www.newagecitizen.com/AudioFiles/RainbowFarm%20050202.mp3

How Continuing the Drug War could make Nuclear Terrorism a Reality
by Bruce W. Cain
http://www.newagecitizen.com/Editorials/v8n1NuclearTerrorism.htm

]]> By: MrWillieJax http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1204 MrWillieJax Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:52:38 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1204 I am so happy to see people are beginning to voice their opinions....go to love the internet. As far as the article goes, I think the author may have missed one point in particular about the Big Pharma.....STRESS is one of the most influential culprits in bad health. Stress will take a minor ailment and magnify and make it worse....marijuana is probably one of the best stress relievers know to man that does leave the patient with a hangover or drowsy feeling the next morning. The Big Pharma know this and they also know that if people reduced and controlled the stress in their lives, there would be less need for their pills that have countless negative side effects. Makes sense to me! It just so happens I had a meeting with my state senator's local represenative this morning. He was absolutely adamant that No consideration towards the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana would come from his office....right now, politicians are getting free money from the Big Pharma to do nothing. Pot is already illegal, so no action is needed. Our elected officials are no longer represenatives "for" the people, but are represenatives "to" the people.....ie they check with the lobbyist, special interest groups and the "Big Businesses" and then tell us how it's going to be. One last point....for thirty-eight years I have asked the same question from your average man on the street to the Lt. Gov of South Carolina and have never received an acceptable answer.....'Why is marijuana illegal?' The best answer I received was "because Nixon hated hippies" this is based on the fact that Nixon commissioned a study on pot in 1972 and it came back as being no threat to society and relatively harmless and Nixon said, screw this and forged ahead with criminallization. Thw lamest answer came from above mentioned represenative. "You can drink a beer, put it down and walk away....you smoke a joint and you're stoned. I waited for him to finish, but he was finished. Now, tell me, we have people with that mentality running the country. God save us!!!! I am so happy to see people are beginning to voice their opinions….go to love the internet. As far as the article goes, I think the author may have missed one point in particular about the Big Pharma…..STRESS is one of the most influential culprits in bad health. Stress will take a minor ailment and magnify and make it worse….marijuana is probably one of the best stress relievers know to man that does leave the patient with a hangover or drowsy feeling the next morning. The Big Pharma know this and they also know that if people reduced and controlled the stress in their lives, there would be less need for their pills that have countless negative side effects. Makes sense to me!
It just so happens I had a meeting with my state senator’s local represenative this morning. He was absolutely adamant that No consideration towards the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana would come from his office….right now, politicians are getting free money from the Big Pharma to do nothing. Pot is already illegal, so no action is needed. Our elected officials are no longer represenatives “for” the people, but are represenatives “to” the people…..ie they check with the lobbyist, special interest groups and the “Big Businesses” and then tell us how it’s going to be.
One last point….for thirty-eight years I have asked the same question from your average man on the street to the Lt. Gov of South Carolina and have never received an acceptable answer…..’Why is marijuana illegal?’ The best answer I received was “because Nixon hated hippies” this is based on the fact that Nixon commissioned a study on pot in 1972 and it came back as being no threat to society and relatively harmless and Nixon said, screw this and forged ahead with criminallization. Thw lamest answer came from above mentioned represenative. “You can drink a beer, put it down and walk away….you smoke a joint and you’re stoned. I waited for him to finish, but he was finished. Now, tell me, we have people with that mentality running the country. God save us!!!!

]]> By: Brad http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1175 Brad Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:15:38 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1175 I think the article is right on, it's ultimately about follow the money. The G-men and law enforcement at large make a comfortable living "waging war" on narcotics. States spent $42.89 billion on Corrections in 2005 alone. To compare, states only spent $24.69 billion on public assistance over that same period. Since the enactment of mandatory minimum sentencing for drug users, the Federal Bureau of Prisons budget has increased by 2000%. Its budget jumped from $220 million in 1986 to more than $5.4 billion requested for FY 2009. By my estimate, the state of Michigan will spend $3 billion next year on Corrections, State Police and Judicial functions. That doesn't include county, city or federal expenditures on narcotics enforcement. If 15% of incarcerations are for marijuana convictions and those disappear we would no longer need 15% of those "state employees". We're talking about tens of billions of dollars spent annually nationwide, and the drug warriors are fighting hard to keep that river of money flowing! I think the article is right on, it’s ultimately about follow the money. The G-men and law enforcement at large make a comfortable living “waging war” on narcotics. States spent $42.89 billion on Corrections in 2005 alone. To compare, states only spent $24.69 billion on public assistance over that same period. Since the enactment of mandatory minimum sentencing for drug users, the Federal Bureau of Prisons budget has increased by 2000%. Its budget jumped from $220 million in 1986 to more than $5.4 billion requested for FY 2009. By my estimate, the state of Michigan will spend $3 billion next year on Corrections, State Police and Judicial functions. That doesn’t include county, city or federal expenditures on narcotics enforcement. If 15% of incarcerations are for marijuana convictions and those disappear we would no longer need 15% of those “state employees”. We’re talking about tens of billions of dollars spent annually nationwide, and the drug warriors are fighting hard to keep that river of money flowing!

]]> By: Peter http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1103 Peter Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:50:01 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1103 Hey , Randy ! Sounds like you had a little to much to drink . Better lay off the bottle until you sober up . Hey , Randy !

Sounds like you had a little to much to drink . Better lay off the bottle until you sober up .

]]> By: Jerry http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1030 Jerry Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:12:31 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1030 Dear , Randy You either drive a truck for Budweiser or are a bartender if your in defense of the Alcohol , drug or tobacco Companies . This is not a lobbist statement . It's about facts .......... Dear , Randy
You either drive a truck for Budweiser or are a bartender if your in defense of the Alcohol , drug or tobacco Companies . This is not a lobbist statement . It’s about facts ……….

]]> By: Randy http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1020 Randy Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:02:35 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1020 I find this essay to be rather unconvincing. Your goal, according to the first few statements in this essay, is to disprove the Big Pharmacy lobbyist argument. Additionally, you say you want to examine WHY the federal government, if not motivated by lobbyists, wants to keep marijuana illegal. After reading the entire paper, you never address the argument. In fact, you don't make a single accurate, or referenced, point against the lobbyist argument. Moreover, you never even attempt to elucidate WHY the feds keep pot illegal. My main gripe is that you make an argumentative statement without providing referenced support. If you know so much about prohibition, and I bet that you do, please show it. I would have loved to hear an accurate and edgy essay against the lobbyist argument, but for now I still believe that lobbyists are a large part of the problem. I find this essay to be rather unconvincing. Your goal, according to the first few statements in this essay, is to disprove the Big Pharmacy lobbyist argument. Additionally, you say you want to examine WHY the federal government, if not motivated by lobbyists, wants to keep marijuana illegal. After reading the entire paper, you never address the argument. In fact, you don’t make a single accurate, or referenced, point against the lobbyist argument. Moreover, you never even attempt to elucidate WHY the feds keep pot illegal.

My main gripe is that you make an argumentative statement without providing referenced support. If you know so much about prohibition, and I bet that you do, please show it. I would have loved to hear an accurate and edgy essay against the lobbyist argument, but for now I still believe that lobbyists are a large part of the problem.

]]> By: Jerry http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1019 Jerry Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:31:48 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-1019 The alcohol , drug and tobacco companies invented these so called drug tests for their own financial gain . With the use of marijuana you would eliminate tens or hundreds of prescription drugs & cut down on drinking and cut down or even stop smoking therefore the drug , alcohol and tobacco companies lose . They invented these kits to discourage the use of marijuana . Their gimmit worked . They have deceived the public for years using this method . That's why their drugs don't show up after testing and marijuana does . They continue to use deceptive advertising and other clever gimmics to deceive you to think marijuana is bad when all along they are putting out the real drugs that kill or damage the human body ,Use of Alcohol should be a felony . The alcohol , drug and tobacco companies invented these so called drug tests for their own financial gain . With the use of marijuana you would eliminate tens or hundreds of prescription drugs & cut down on drinking and cut down or even stop smoking therefore the drug , alcohol and tobacco companies lose . They invented these kits to discourage the use of marijuana . Their gimmit worked . They have deceived the public for years using this method . That’s why their drugs don’t show up after testing and marijuana does . They continue to use deceptive advertising and other clever gimmics to deceive you to think marijuana is bad when all along they are putting out the real drugs that kill or damage the human body ,Use of Alcohol should be a felony .

]]> By: Gerald Fnord http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-994 Gerald Fnord Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:49:41 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-994 I'm glad to see this measured piece. Too many pot-smokers and advocates very easily fall for what seem to me to be theories requiring large conspiracies when simple stupidity would be a better explanation. Marijuana was illegalised during the Great Depression, a period in which there was great fear of immigrants and also one in which the authorities, unable to remedy much of what was wrong with the country and with the world, were pleased to have something they _could_ do something about. Marijuana was after that associated with the marginalised and the rebellious. Its use was a slap in the face of Authority, and still is. (Its prohibition is a slap in the face of Reason, which in some ways bugs me even more than its making it a bad idea for me to use.) Marijuana can only be kept illegal if it is considered to be tabu-tabu. Any legitimate use for it destroys its place in that category; for those who believe in their guts (or their pocket-books) that marijuana is bad, this makes any claimed benefit from it (in effect) a lie, because any small fact of therapeutic benefit is contradicted by the overwhelming Truth that It is Bad. (A thought experiment: every time you think of the reasonable arguments for medical marijuana, mentally substitute for "medical marijuana" the words "baby skulls". Any argument you make will be met by your opponent's, "But they're BABY SKULLS." That's how our opponents feel about it, I think.) I’m glad to see this measured piece. Too many pot-smokers and advocates very easily fall for what seem to me to be theories requiring large conspiracies when simple stupidity would be a better explanation.

Marijuana was illegalised during the Great Depression, a period in which there was great fear of immigrants and also one in which the authorities, unable to remedy much of what was wrong with the country and with the world, were pleased to have something they _could_ do something about.

Marijuana was after that associated with the marginalised and the rebellious. Its use was a slap in the face of Authority, and still is. (Its prohibition is a slap in the face of Reason, which in some ways bugs me even more than its making it a bad idea for me to use.)

Marijuana can only be kept illegal if it is considered to be tabu-tabu. Any legitimate use for it destroys its place in that category; for those who believe in their guts (or their pocket-books) that marijuana is bad, this makes any claimed benefit from it (in effect) a lie, because any small fact of therapeutic benefit is contradicted by the overwhelming Truth that It is Bad.

(A thought experiment: every time you think of the reasonable arguments for medical marijuana, mentally substitute for “medical marijuana” the words “baby skulls”. Any argument you make will be met by your opponent’s, “But they’re BABY SKULLS.” That’s how our opponents feel about it, I think.)

]]> By: Steve http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-990 Steve Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:15:02 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-990 Dont forget about the dealers. All the old rich white males out there influencing the drug laws are probably afraid that all the pot dealers will suddenly become legal business men with all their means of growing or acquiring their pot and distributing it already in place. And with racial stereotyping they probably believe that it all minorities doing this. Losing some of their perceived superiority would be completely unacceptable to them. Dont forget about the dealers. All the old rich white males out there influencing the drug laws are probably afraid that all the pot dealers will suddenly become legal business men with all their means of growing or acquiring their pot and distributing it already in place. And with racial stereotyping they probably believe that it all minorities doing this. Losing some of their perceived superiority would be completely unacceptable to them.

]]> By: James G. http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-962 James G. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:34:57 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/07/08/why-im-not-convinced-big-pharma-is-behind-pot-prohibition-but-thats-not-to-say-they-arent-looking-to-cash-in-on-medical-marijuana/#comment-962 Ok, I think you're probably right in that "Big Pharma" as a whole isn't very interested in cannabis legalization, although I am sure that specific companies developing cannabis-based drugs are. People in states with medical cannabis laws may still use pharmaceuticals, but I am sure that the majority who use pot for medicinal purposes use the plant and not the pill (not good for companies making the pill). In fact, if pot were to be legalized and the truth to be made more commonplace, the benefits of the plant over the pill would be a part of the knowledge. If I were a drug company trying to produce pot-based meds, I would personally try to disassociate my drug as entirely as possible from the marijuana, so that people wouldn't realize that what they're paying for is free. Best case scenario: the plant would remain illegal, but my drug manages to make it into the market and most people don't know that it's pot-based. Ok, I think you’re probably right in that “Big Pharma” as a whole isn’t very interested in cannabis legalization, although I am sure that specific companies developing cannabis-based drugs are. People in states with medical cannabis laws may still use pharmaceuticals, but I am sure that the majority who use pot for medicinal purposes use the plant and not the pill (not good for companies making the pill). In fact, if pot were to be legalized and the truth to be made more commonplace, the benefits of the plant over the pill would be a part of the knowledge. If I were a drug company trying to produce pot-based meds, I would personally try to disassociate my drug as entirely as possible from the marijuana, so that people wouldn’t realize that what they’re paying for is free. Best case scenario: the plant would remain illegal, but my drug manages to make it into the market and most people don’t know that it’s pot-based.

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