Medical Cannabis The Natural Way

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Medical Cannabis The Natural Way

PR Canna Zine

http://pr.cannazine.co.uk/content/view/414/1/

22 June 2008

 

Cannabis sentences are set to double when the government reclassifies cannabis from a class C, back to a class B in early 2009. Bringing with it jail sentences of 5 years a real possibility just for simple possession.

 

The change of law also makes no allowances for the tens of thousands of people who use cannabis in the treatment of one or more medical conditions ranging from depression, to terminal cancer, and on behalf of the many medical cannabis users I know in the United Kingdom, I would like to ask "Why"?

 

I think its fair to say the known efficacy of cannabis as medicine is no longer in question, once the American College of Physicians (ACP), a 124,000 member strong group of doctors specializing in internal medicine and related subspecialties, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonary disease, oncology and infectious diseases, spoke out publicly in February 2008,

 

Dr Jocelyn Elders was US Surgeon General for President Bill Clintons Administration giving its full backing to the use of medical marijuana. A reference which was reinforced later by former US Surgeon General (Clinton Era) Dr Jocelyn Elders.

 

Dr Elders has called for more research, but she also added a critical point when she said, "The efficacy of medical marijuana has already been established, and it's time for studies designed to determine the best dose and route of delivery."

 

Doctor Elders also went on to demolish several myths, starting with the notion still proclaimed by some politicians that marijuana is unsafe for medical use.

 

Dr Elders comments, "The College notes that the most serious objection to medical marijuana - potential harm to the lungs from smoking - has largely been solved by a technology called vaporization, already proven in scientific studies."

 

On the gateway theory, "There is no reason to believe that protecting medical marijuana patients leads to increased drug abuse. Marijuana has not been proven to be the cause or even the most significant predictor of serious drug abuse," the doctor writes.

 

Large medical associations are by their nature slow, cautious creatures that move only when the evidence is overwhelming.

 

In this instance the evidence is indeed overwhelming that, as the ACP put it, there is "a clear discord" between what research tells us and what our laws say about medical marijuana.

 

California

In Mendocino County California, its fair to say this county above any other, has embraced the medical marijuana program, which has turned a shady, back-alley, organised criminal trade into a bona-fide multi-million dollar business model.

 

But even in Mendocino, the legislators have started to get cold feet as they try to reign in Proposition 215, (The Compassionate Caregivers Act), which was written into statute in 1996.

 

Since the passage of Proposition 215, Federal officials have tried everything. From criminal raids and prosecutions to Civil injunctions, to (most recently) threatening to seize any property leased for medical cannabis uses, in a bid it would seem, to thwart or slow the progress of medical cannabis in California.

 

The Justice Departments under the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration have taken drastically different approaches to medical cannabis in California.

 

Not wanting to appear too heavy handed against sick and dying cancer and AIDS patients, the Department of Justice under Bill Clinton limited their enforcement to civil measures, such as seeking to revoke the Federal Prescription licenses of doctors who recommended cannabis or filing for Civil Injunctions against the major providers under Proposition 215.

 

The Bush Administration however has taken a much stronger stance in California. One month after the September 11, 2001 attacks, DEA officials served search and arrest warrants on the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center and its directors Scott Imler, Jeff Yablan, and Jeff Farrington.

 

The three plead guilty to charges in Federal Court, but US District Judge Howard A Matz would eventually sentence the defendants to no jail time and 1 year probation and a $100 fee, the absolute most lenient sentence allowable under the law.

 

During sentencing Judge Matz called the prosecution "badly misguided" and said he was "baffled and disturbed" that the Department of Justice would use their limited resources to prosecute the men.

 

In an appeal which would follow along later, over half of the original jury which convicted the three, would turn up at the Appeals Court, to sit with the defendants in a show of solidarity.

 

 

Bubba Kush from The Natural Way of LA

Today Proposition 215 runs along quite happily for the most part, apart from the ambiguity and confusion between state and federal laws, and as a result of 215, an entire new industry has sprung up, creating a surprising new contribution to the Californian public purse.

 

Medical Marijuana Dispensary's

The exact numbers of medical marijuana dispensary's openly selling marijuana on California streets is not known, but a fair guestimate would be in the region of hundreds, all of which sell freshly grown marijuana, as well as marijuana derivatives such as cookies (for those who choose not to smoke cannabis), and a choice of hash varieties which would look good on the menu of an Amsterdam coffee-shop.

 

The Natural Way <http://thelaway.com>

According to its website, Los Angeles based "The Natural Way", is committed to providing its patients with natural alternatives to treat their pain and suffering with an ample selection the highest quality medication at the fairest prices.

 

By alternatives one assumes they mean alternatives to prescription, opioid based drugs.

 

"The Natural Way of Los Angeles is dedicated to keeping our patients safe, discreet and comfortable while providing them with medicines to aid chronic, debilitating and life threatening illnesses."

 

"Our patients come from all walks of life and suffer from various illnesses and diseases including AIDS/HIV, Cancer, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Scleroderma, Chronic Pain, nausea, Anxiety, Seizure Disorder Insomnia, eating disorders and Crohn's Disease to name a few."

 

After reading the website introduction you can then go on to surf a current menu of the products they have available to medical card holders, including herbal remedies such as "Bubba Kush" and "Sensi Star".

 

Non-smokers may prefer ingesting their medicine orally so The Natural Way also includes chocolate chip cookies and Canna Crispies.

 

The Natural way also includes some locally produced hashish including "Danville Blond", "Humboldt Press" and the delightful sounding "Full-Melt Kush", known to locals as "Full Melt Cosh".

 

Pictures from within the dispensary show a comfortable environment not dissimilar to an upmarket doctors waiting lounge, with a glass cabinet which contains the "strains of the day".

 

All in all I found browsing "The Natural Way" website a refreshing taste of things to come. It keeps things out in the open.

 

Away from possible "gray areas" which always seem to surround cannabis.

 

So why oh why, is the United Kingdom government refusing to acknowledge medical cannabis exists?

 

Isn't it about time we voted in our own Proposition 215?

 

All we're lacking to make it happen, is voters!