I attended Wednesday’s meeting in Harrisburg, and as always was prepared to be opened minded on both sides of the issues. I am sure it is no wonder that I thought the points raised by 1393 supporters were much stronger than those presented by its detractors.
First off, for all of you stoners out there let me clarify that this is for medicinal purposes only. You may consider this legislation ”gateway” legislation for generalized legalization, but those pure of intention are only seeking relief and an improved quality of life for those that find it through marijuana. These are those suffering through chemotherapy, chronic pain, wasting disease and other serious ailments.
Because this bill is intended ONLY for citizens that have been approved through their physician, and registered through a state organization, it will no more pose a threat to children as does any other controlled substance. Let’s be clear, illegal marijuana is much easier to obtain for children than is legalized tobacco or alcohol. Let’s stop talking about the “Children”. This is a tired argument that attempts to pull on the heart-strings. No one wants to hurt or ruin the future of children.
Detractors will tell you of the danger of smoking ANYTHING. This could be true. I don’t know all of the scientific data, but my logic would tell me that inhaling any burnt substance could cause irritation and perhaps cancer. Ok, that is a valid point, but the detractors fail to recognize that MANY patients receive the benefits of marijuana by either vaporization or consuming the medicine through food or drink. See, this is another emotion hot button as well, and tries to ride to coat-tails of the anti-smoking sentiment that has been growing in this country for years! “If we don’t want tobacco smokers in public areas, then why would we tolerate marijuana smokers?” This is poor logic and is geared to sway the uninformed.
Let’s talk about Maslow’s law of human needs. At the core of this concept is the strongest human need of all and that is the need for oxygen, food, water and revulsion from pain. It is these physiological needs that will drive those in pain to seek relief in any form they can, including illegal marijuana. So, what do we do as a society when we catch them growing medicine for themselves? We throw them in jail where illegal drugs are easily obtained! How we treat our poor and sick are truly an indication of our morality as a society. And guess what? We really stink.
Let’s talk about his concept of gateway drug. First off, marijuana has ZERO chemical components that can create dependency. Furthermore, and this is from my own personal experience, my first introduction into the dark world of drugs was alcohol then tobacco. But of course you will very few politicians with the courage to fight these industries, especially when these organizations are directly responsible for keeping politician’s wallets fat. Shame on you politicians! You have spit on the public trust.
In Harrisburg there were several physicians standing up for medical marijuana, and they made many salient points. For instance, did you know that marijuana has an LD 50 lower than any medicinal substance on the market? LD = Lethal Dose and the 50 represents 50 percent, so an LD 50 is the amount of substance needed to get an individual 50 percent of the way towards a lethal dose. It is virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana, in fact it would take an individual consuming 1500 pounds over 15 minutes for that to even come close!
Emergency room physicians and Neurologist all came to the defense of marijuana with this message, “It helps people in pain feel better and it has no negative side effects.” Both sides of this argument agree that medical treatment is a decision that must be made between a patient and his physician. This is all we are asking for. Allow physicians access to a substance they know works!
The “Political Party Walkers” will tell you that we in Pennsylvania can not approve of medical marijuana because the federal government has not approved it. And yes, this is true. But it is also true that we may act within the concept of Federalism. We as a state have the right and moral responsibility to act on the behalf of our citizens, and to damn what the Washington tell us. This is at the heart of everything our forefathers fought for. Besides, President Obama has already given the states a green light to seek out their own medical marijuana laws without fear of federal prosecution. He may not be able to change the marijuana laws at a national level, but he certainly has given us the “wink” to do what we see fit.
Also, and even our respectable member of the Health and Human Services department didn’t seem to recognize this, the AMA has recently reversed their stance on keeping marijuana as a Class I drug. This means that the AMA sees the potential that marijuana has clinical benefits. Many other medical associations have also given approval, and many others fear providing their approval because of backlash fears from their constituents. Fear is major emotion that is keeping this sensible policy away from the governor desk.
Marinol and other cannabis synthetics are not 100 percent effective. For many they work well for the relief of nausea and pain, but for others the only substance that works is consumed medical marijuana. Why are we denying these people relief? Is it again…Fear?
Ok, let’s move to what politicians understand. Money. It should come to no surprise that for a majority of our country’s history marijuana/hemp was a major cash export. Most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence both sold and profited from its use. But today, we treat this substance it would rob our nation of prosperity and direction. Nothing could be more false. The projected tax revenues expected from legalized medical marijuana in Pennsylvania is $25,000,000. Show me a simpler, safer and more compassionate path to this revenue than medical marijuana.
No one wants another California. We hear all the time about the marijuana dispensaries out-numbering the Starbucks in downtown Hollywood, but the legislation being proposed by HB1393 is not even close to creating another “California” here in the Keystone State. Looks towards Rhode Island if you want an example of where this legislation may take us.
YES! I am slanted towards approving HB 1393. Prejudices, Fear and images of “stoners” hold this legislation from becoming reality. Shame on Pennsylvania, shame on our government and shame on us if we don’t demand approval of this legislation from our elected officials.
Tags: HCR HB1393
