“Unlike Law Enforcement, I Interact With Medical Marijuana Patients”

Lawmakers in New York continue to debate legislation that seeks to legalize medical cannabis for qualified patients. Meanwhile, opponents of this compassionate and common sense measure argue that acknowledging the known therapeutic benefits of cannabis and protecting those who could benefit from its use inexplicably “exploits” the seriously ill.

Unlike medi-pot opponents, I actually interact with cannabis patients. Often, they seek me out — writing me testimonials like the one below. Perhaps if more politicians and, God forbid, members of law enforcement shared in these sort of one-on-one interactions, they’d change their tune. Or perhaps, they would do what Presidential hopeful John McCain did, and simply turn their backs.

Letters for June 16, 2008
via The Oneonta Daily Star

Marijuana works as a medicine

Kudos for your editorial support in favor of legally protecting patients who use cannabis therapy under the guidance of their physician (“Medical marijuana makes sense,” June 7).

While authoring the recent publication, “Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of the Scientific Literature” (NORML Foundation 2008), I reviewed more than 150 clinical and preclinical studies assessing the therapeutic value of cannabis and its active compounds to treat symptoms — and in some cases moderate disease progression — in a variety of illness, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, diabetes and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Nearly all of the studies cited in my work were published within the past eight years.

Unlike many politicians and law enforcement officials, I frequently interact with medical marijuana patients. Many of them write to me daily, as do their physicians. Often they tell me stories like this: “I was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor inside the left temporal lobe of my brain. I had surgery, and I’ve just started chemotherapy and radiation. The surgeon actually apologized for the fact that he could not write me a prescription for marijuana, but he told me it was safe to smoke. … Marijuana is saving my life right now; it has helped to kill my seizures, nausea, dizziness, and calm my headaches. If marijuana can help me with all my other problems in addition to possibly reducing the size of my tumor and extending my life, then why on earth would our government not allow me to have it?”

Why indeed?

Paul Armentano

Washington, D.C.

Armentano is deputy director of NORML and the NORML Foundation. 

Television ads in favor of pending medical cannabis legislation are now airing in select markets of New York state. To view the ad, click here. To learn more about what you can do to support efforts to legalize medical marijuana in New York, please click here.

New York Court Of Appeals: Pot Isn’t “Dangerous Contraband”

So here’s an interesting ruling from the New York Court of Appeals finding that the possession of small amounts of pot in prison does not constitute “dangerous contraband” under state law.

NY court: Small amount of marijuana in prison not a felony
via The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s top court says small amounts of marijuana in prison do not represent “dangerous contraband” under the law and ordered lower courts to reduce two convictions to misdemeanors with shorter sentences.

…The court majority says the test for “dangerous contraband” is its likelihood to be used in a way that causes death, injury, escape or “other major threats” to prison safety or security. 

Naturally, this ruling raises the question: If cannabis can not be legally defined as “dangerous contraband” when it’s possessed in prison, then how can it be legally defined as “dangerous contraband” when it is possessed by responsible adults inside their own homes?

Sounds to me like it’s time for another lawsuit.

NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

Below is this week’s summary of pending state legislation and tips to help you become involved in changing the laws in your state.

California: While early returns indicate a narrow margin of victory for Mendocino’s Measure B — which seeks to repeal the county’s eight-year-old law allowing adults to possess up to 25 marijuana plants — final results may not be available for several weeks. Opponents of the measure are expected to challenge Measure B. They argue that the provision directly conflicts with a recent state District Court of Appeals decision that prohibits municipalities from imposing limits on the quantity of marijuana patients may possess under state law.

Rhode Island: State activists are encouraged to attend a lobby day at the State House on June 11. The lobby day is sponsored by The Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, which is backing legislation to establish state-licensed medical cannabis distribution centers. The Rhode Island Senate previously approved the measure, and advertisments in support of the House bill are now playing in various markets. To learn more about this effort, please visit NORML’s online advocacy system.

New York: Television ads in favor of pending medical cannabis legislation began airing this week in select markets of New York state. To view the ad, click here. To learn more about what you can do to support efforts to legalize medical marijuana in New York, please click here.