California’s largest doctor group has called for legalization of marijuana. Despite its remaining uncertainty over marijuana’s medical benefits, the Trustees of the California Medical Association (representing more than 35,000 physicians statewide) adopted the policy last week and called for marijuana to be regulated in the same fashion as alcohol.
The policy is the result of growing frustration in doctors being asked to prescribe a drug that is still technically illegal. While the group refused to endorse the medical claims of pot legalization advocates, it did agree that the continued criminalization of pot was counterproductive. It is a very significant ally for advocates in their continuing campaign for legalization. What is notable is that this prestigious group views pot as no more harmful or warranting criminalization than alcohol.
John Lovell, spokesman for the California Police Chiefs Assn. as saying “I wonder what they’re smoking” given “the physiological impacts of marijuana — how it affects young brains, the number of accidents associated with driving under the influence — it’s just an unbelievably irresponsible position.”
They clearly did not watch this earlier study below:
Source: LA Times
“prescribe vs. proscribe” one vowel change and 180 degree opposite meaning.
Lol anon, I do not understand the Chief’s association continuing to Proscribe marijuana. I dare him to offer statistics that show marijuana contributes to more DUI than alcohol. Further would remind that alcohol is horrible on brains but we drew a line at 21 and say have at it, a chemical that is addictive and known to make folks agitated and fitful. Seems strange in a state where legalization is on the leading edge that these chief’s have this position, considering the low interest professed by chiefs and mayors in cities like Chicago and Seattle in prosecuting marijuana possession/use. Does the tabacco lobby reach into the Chief’s association?
“John Lovell, spokesman for the California Police Chiefs Assn. as saying “I wonder what they’re smoking” given “the physiological impacts of marijuana — how it affects young brains, the number of accidents associated with driving under the influence — it’s just an unbelievably irresponsible position.”
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I am sure he’s equaly disturbed by incidents of police brutality and the effects of “head busting” on those “young brains.” Just forgot to mention it, I’m sure:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-13/los-angeles-sheriff-investigations/50751096/1
I prefer the not for profit model we have now, that basically requires one to maintain contact with two doctors, if one chooses to consume this particular entheogen.
Given the disastrous effects of prohibition, one would think we would have learned something in the last 79 years since repeall. However, the phony pious moralists and authoritarian enablers, must ensure the safety of their own hypocritical moral code,
I think it is about time….
What Mike said
Mike Spindell 1, October 17, 2011 at 8:45 am
Given the disastrous effects of prohibition, one would think we would have learned something in the last 79 years since repeall.
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Evidently we haven’t.
Finally a reasonable view point. Although i would have to disagree with the statement that marijuana is no more dangerous than alchohol. Marijuana is so much less dangerous than alchohol. Let’s not compromize when victory is perhaps approaching. Alchohol can be demonstrated to cause thousands of deaths every year. I defy anyone to produce proof that Marijuana, by itself causes any where near the number that alchohol does. I would not be surprised to find that there is not one documentable case.
Legalize it. Let’s be done with the pretense that it is a dangerous drug and treat it like what it is. A gift from God or Nature that helps millions of people with a variety of ailments and brings peace to millions more by controlling anger and depression. I don’t give a pig’s whistle what the Federal Government or any other political entity says about it. It is costing the taxpayers Gazillion dollars a year to try to stop the importation and distribution of a natural healing product just because they are too bull-headed to admit that the 70 year old laws and the 50 year old laws and evryother law or statement by the government concerning Marijuana has been so much bulls**t. The strangest thing is that it would seem more logical for them to allow Marijuana and outlaw alchohol. Not only because of the danger but because Marijuana would be much more likely to produce the co-operative, docile populace that the increasingly Fascist Government needs in order to slip their right-stealing agenda of repressive and un-constitutional laws by. It’s time to stand up and be heard. About marijuana, political corruption,thieving bankers and the disenfranchizeing of the American People. GET UP! Attend a protest. Carry a sign. Speak out. America is on the move. “You better start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times; they are a changin’” Bob Dylan
Angrymanspeaks, you’re 100% correct. And your new (G)avatar is spiffy.
Thank you, angrymanspeaks. I agree with you 100%.
angrymanspeaks,
Hear, hear … well said … every damn word!
word up angryman
it’s pretty easy to tell which drivers are under the influence of marijuana, they are the ones doing 14 in a 45 mph zone
Will Durst said it best “crack kills, marijuana giggles”
Angry ms speaks,
Spoke truth.
Mike,
Amen!
Of course the Police cheif thinks it’s irresponsible. HIs vocation would suffer if the federal prohibition on cannabis was lifted. No more easy busts, and no more excuses for not going after real criminals. No more ability to “bust” some schlub with 6 plants in his yard, take away everything he’s worked for, and brag to the public about how they are “protecting the children”.
Plus I’m sure the lobbyist influence on the pols most likely extends to a good number of law enforcement as well.
Hey cheif, how are your pharma stocks doing today ???
I personally have always questioned the continued illegality of MJ.
But on a scale of 1:10, one can be reasonably sure that a primary motive the CMA;’s supporting legalization, is the profit to be made on their side of the equation.
You can bet they’d encourage massive doses of vitamins, if only their were dollars to be made.
Whenever any group of MDs recommend anything, it’s a pretty bright idea to watch the dollar-flow. Then hang onto your wallet
I every time used to study paragraph in news papers
but now as I am a user of web thus from now I am using net for articles,
thanks to web.