Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Government Forced NCI To Censor Medical Cannabis Facts

 

Government Forced NCI To Censor Medical Cannabis Facts

 

Thumbnail image for government_censorship_-1.jpeg

 

 

In March, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component agency of the National Institutes of Health, acknowledged the medicinal benefits of marijuana in its online treatment database. But the information only stayed up a few days, before it was scrubbed from the site.

Now, newly obtained documents reveal not only how NCI database contributors arrived at their March 17 summary of marijuana's medical uses, but also the furious politicking that went into quickly scrubbing that summary of information regarding the potential tumor-fighting effects of cannabis, reports Kyle Daly at the Washington Independent.

Phil Mocek, a civil liberties activist with the Seattle-based Cannabis Defense Coalition, obtained the documents as a result of a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request he filed in March after reading coverage of the NCI's action. Mocek has made some of the hundreds of pages of at-times heated email exchanges and summary alterations available on MuckRock, a website devoted to FOIA requests and government documents.

The treatment database on NCI's website is called the Physician Data Query (PDQ). The PDQ entry on cannabis and cannabinoids is maintained by the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Editorial Board. The lead reviewer on the marijuana summary statement is CAM board member Donald Abrams, director of integrative oncology at the University of California-San Francisco cancer center.

Abrams advocates the use of cannabis in cancer treatment, and his wish to accurately portray its medical applications becomes clear early in the documents.

On March 24, just a week after the finished summary had gone online, Susan Weiss -- chief of the Office of Science Policy and Communications within the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) -- sent NCI officials an email saying her agency had just become aware of the summary. Weiss told them the NIDA wanted the summary changed to acknowledge that the FDA hasn't approved marijuana; to take away any implication that it was recommending prescribing marijuana; to highlight the supposed "addiction potential" of marijuana; and to link to the NIDA's own page on the supposed "adverse effects of marijuana."

The NCI balked at the last two requests: "I am unaware of any convincing evidence indicating that marijuana is addictive," communications officer Rick Manrow of the the NCI reasonably said.

But the agency agreed the first two requests were fair. The CAM board grappled for days with how to cooperate with the NIDA without compromising its independence or editorial integrity. Meanwhile, yet more federal agencies offered their two cents' worth.

"[A press officer with the FDA] contacted me this morning because he has been getting calls from FDA staff, as well as at least one high-profile reporter, asking about NCI's 'endorsement of medical marijuana.' I provided him with the background I had," wrote Brooke Hardison, NCI media relations analyst. "He needs to provide information for staff at the FDA, and they are trying to figure out how to respond to this issue. I suggested that it might be good for him to have a conversation with those more closely involved in this issue."

Meanwhile, national attention to the story continued to grow, and NIDA, notoriously anti-pot, was worried about this whole "marijuana treats cancer" thing.

On learning that Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance had tweeted about the summary, the NIDA's Weiss wrote to NCI, "We will be contacting our colleagues at ONDCP [Office of National Drug Control Policy] just to give them a heads up about it."

Weiss also wrote to her NIDA colleagues, saying "We think that ONDCP needs to be informed."

The ONDCP, of course, is the office of the Drug Czar. Current czar Gil Kerlikowske, as with all drug czars, is bound by law to oppose marijuana legalization for any purpose, even to save cancer patients.

In any event, the NCI caved to the NIDA's demands by removing any implied support for prescribing marijuana -- noting that the FDA hasn't approved cannabis as as prescription drug -- and, much to the consternation of lead reviewer Abrams, removing a reference to marijuana's anti-tumor properties.

"You know, the epidemiological data from Kaiser and Tashkin do possibly support an anti-tumor effect in humans," Abrams wrote. "After reflecting for a few hours, I am not happy that NIDA has been able to impose their agenda on us. The text was vetted by the whole Board. I would ask that we [involve] the whole Editorial Board in the discussion before being bulldogged.

"I am considering resigning from the Board if we allow politics to trump science!" Abrams wrote.

All the relevant CAM board members eventually agreed to the version that went up on March 29 and 30. That last day was when Phil Mocek submitted his FOIA request and is thus the last day that appears in the records given to him.

It is interesting to note that, toward the end of the correspondence record, NCI and NIDA officials were discussing the latter agency providing further information on the supposed "adverse effects of marijuana" so that the CAM Board could "take it into consideration" during its May 6 meeting. Several NCI and CAM members said any "convincing evidence" could result in larger changes to the entry.

NIDA prepared a list of anti-marijuana talking points, including the claim that nine percent of cannabis users "become addicted to the drug" and a completely undocumented claim that marijuana use leads to permanent cognitive impairment, in the hopes of causing just such changes in the NCI's entry.

But, the Independent reports, May 6 came and went without any additional changes being made to the database.

One can only imagine the kinds of behind-the-scenes wrangling that continues as we speak.

Cancer.gov-scrub sized.jpg

Graphic: NORML Stash Blog

"NCI apparently got a talking to from someone" ~ Radical Russ Belville, NORML.

Turns out Radical Russ was right, and NIDA was doing the talking.

CONTINUE TO ARTICLE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION….

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

For immediate release: 05/24/12

For immediate release: 05/24/12
This press release is posted with some amazing hyper-links at:
http://today.time4hemp.com/2012/05/24/spend-6-days-at-fukushima-and-take-time-4-hemp.aspx
(Click on http://www.time4hemp.biz/podcast/today/046-Time-4-A-Hemp-Answer.mp3
to listen to a short promo)
SPEND 6 DAYS AT FUKUSHIMA WHILE TAKING TIME 4 HEMP!
On May 25, 2012 'Time 4 Hemp - LIVE!' launches an every Friday segment for 6-weeks focused on the disaster at Fukushima with Maj. Gen. Albert N. Stubblebine III (US Army, Ret.) as the first expert guest airing globally on http://www.AmericanFreedomRadio.com 10-11a.m. (PST) and on AM/FM stations across the USA.
The World Health Organization recently stated that the radiation affecting residents in Japan's Fukushima prefecture since the nuclear plant disaster started is below the reference level for public exposure in all but two areas and the world is safe from any danger once thought to be looming from the area - yet, many experts in the field strongly disagree.
Japanese Ambassador Murata is among those that have joined the growing chorus which include US Senators who are warning the problems at Fukushima nuclear reactor 4 is now the single greatest short-term threat to humanity and has the potential to destroy our world and civilization as we know it. Dr. Michio Kaku, nuclear physicist and professor of physics at the City University of New York states; "the whole world is being exposed to the radiation from Fukushima. The still-ongoing catastrophe at the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan has caused radioactivity to be circulating around the entire Earth.”
After visiting Fukushima, Senator Ron Wyden warned that the situation was worse than reported and has encouraged Japan to accept international help. Currently, an international coalition of nuclear scientists and non-profit groups are calling on the U.N. to coordinate a multinational effort to stabilize the fuel pools.
Evacuations are underway in Japan according to the BBC. Other reliable news sources report that the fall out from 'black dust' could result in health complications and perhaps death for millions of people in Japan and around the world.
This topic might seem to be 'outside the box' for a M-F radio show that is focused on ending marijuana/hemp prohibition; yet current research - along with Human History - indicate that industrial hemp could very well be one of the most important aspects in solving the many different problems that continue grow from a nightmare that began with a tsunami.
Hosting this presentation is Casper Leitch along with Joint-Host, Michale Krawitz. For those who miss the live broadcast, each segment of the series is archived and free to download and share at:
http://www.americanfreedomradio.com/Time_4_Hemp_12.html
Please share this information with everyone you feel would enjoy knowing about it.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day Message from Msgt. Thomas Vance

 


MsgtThomasVance


 


 


 


Madam,
I belong to a group advocating for veteran access to medical cannabis.


Our Director has issued a memorial day statement you might find newsworthy.  


The message is as follows--

Veterans Press Statement:

Veterans For Medical Cannabis Access [VMCA]

Monday, Memorial Day, 28 May 2012

Subject:
White House replies to Veterans petition: http://wh.gov/4xd

Thousands of Veterans requested the Obama Administration to look
into the reliable science now available showing exactly how
cannabis works to alleviate suffering of Veterans pain and
save the lives of Veterans with brain injuries such
as PTSD and therefore make appropriate changes in policy.

According to Dr. Julie Holland, Editor of The Pot Book and a
medical doctor, there have been more suicides than combat fatalities
by a ratio of 25:1. This, given how effectively cannabis works
to save lives, is an unacceptable loss.

Recent research has revealed two things of great importance - one is
that suicide rates drop around the implementation of medical marijuana
laws and the other is that new research indicates similar brain changes from
athletic head injuries, military head trauma and brain changes from
Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. New research available shows how a human
body-wide set of control functions called the Endogenous Cannabinoid Receptor
System may be activated by the ingestion of cannabis to cause both neural


protection and neural regenerative properties to help relieve these 


difficult to treat medical conditions. 

We Veterans petitioned the Obama Administration to: "Allow United States
Disabled Military Veterans access to medical marijuana to treat their PTSD."
The White House response to our petition was very disappointing. We
asked for a change in policy. To have our petition answered by the drug czar,an
ex policeman, is most inappropriate given the drug czar is bound by law to ONLY
discuss current law and has no power to discuss policy change with the public.


Even the lowest ranking staffer at the White House or anyone from the Veterans 
Health Authority would have been more appropriate.

Al Byrne, retired Naval Officer and co-founder of VMCA, was blunt in his
assessment of the White House concern for injured Veterans:
"Vets have used cannabis for PTS since the Revolutionary War.


We know what we need and to be told by our President, the Commander in Chief, 


that he does not care about those he has sent to war by denying medicine to 


the wounded is 
unconscionable.""

The Department of Veterans Affairs is also now in direct conflict with the


White House. 



According to the Veterans Affairs, Undersecretary
of Health in correspondence with our Executive Director, Michael Krawitz:
"The provider (VA) will take the use of medical marijuana into account in all
prescribing decisions, just as the provider would for any other medication.�"
[1.]

The president, when asked why he doesn't do something positive about medical
marijuana, is quoted in Rolling Stone magazine as saying "I can't nullify
congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, 'Ignore completely


a federal law that's on the books." [2.] 

If that is truly the president's position it is either based upon ignorance of
his power or he is playing politics. The president can do many things - the DEA
was created by an executive order! The president could ask NIDA to stop blocking


research or he could ask HHS to finally follow the recommendations of the Institute 


of Medicine [IOM] or he could ask Congress 
to move forward on the issue or he could even properly reschedule cannabis as a
medicine by executive order. The president could do so many things but instead seems


to be sacrificing our nations Veterans. [3.] 



One irony of the drug czar's response to our petition is that his words seem
to be lifted right from the IOM report of 1999 that was actually commissioned by
the drug czar of that day, General McCaffrey. The IOM report did indeed say
that cannabis holds great promise in the future as a pharmaceutical but it
then went on to say that we know enough about the plant material [in 1999]
to give the whole plant material to those patients most in need right now
[in 1999!]. Don't Veterans suffering and dying classify as patients in
extreme need?

Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access thought you should know
of this shameful mendacious policy of ignorance.
First President Obama's administration ejected medical marijuana patients
from the workplace then he threw them out of public housing then took away
their ability to buy a gun then closed down their dispensaries and now
he has apparently set his sites on Veterans.

1. VHA letter of July 6, 2010, signed R. A.
Petzel, MD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Under Secretary of Health.
http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/files/Undersecretary-Jun6.pdf

2. Ready for the Fight: Rolling Stone Interview with Barack Obama
<http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/ready-for-the-fight-rolling-
stone-interview-with-barack-obama-20120425#ixzz1w6QGpmIw>

3. MARIJUANA AND MEDICINE -- Assessing the Science Base
Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A. Benson, Jr., Editors
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS Washington, D.C.
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_idc76

Contact:

Michael Krawitz Executive Director VMCA
3551 Flatwoods Road, Elliston, Virginia, USA
Telephone: 540-365-2141
email: Mkrawitz@vt.edu
http://www.Veteransforcannabisaccess.org

Locally, contact--
Msgt Thomas Vance USAF Ret.
17 Meadow Ln
Alexandria, Ky 41001
859-635-1088

PS- Here is the Memorial piec I wrote for this weeks blog post.


 I'm sending them to Mr Holthaus but I have not heard from him since


 You wrote me back telling me he would contact me.

Memorial Day, the day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the
liberty and continued existence of the Nation. We can not honor them enough or
pay them enough for the gift of their lives to preserve our way of life. After
WWII veterans who had survived their service were also included as deserving the


respect and gratitude of the nation on this sacred day.   While many Veterans 
have given their lives, many more live with wounds and disabilities that cause
them lifelong pain and suffering. Their struggle goes on day after day and they
bear it with dignity and without complaint. They deserve the best that our
medical professionals can provide to make their lives as productive and their
suffering as bearable as we can make it. The Veterans Administration is
dedicated to doing this with all the tools it can muster. The VA does a
remarkable job and is to be praised for it.
The VA has even gone so far as to establish a policy regarding medical marijuana
which relieves the patients from fear of losing their medical care if they test
positive for medical marijuana in a VA urinalysis. Prior to this new policy, the
VA would withhold medical care for patients testing positive, forcing them to
choose between a medicine that works to relieve their suffering or VA medical
care itself being withheld as some sort of punishment meted out only to medical
marijuana users. Fortunately this unofficial policy has been ended and does not
apply to Veteran medical marijuana users in States that have medical marijuana
laws.
This is some progress but it is not enough. It is time for the Veterans
Administration to establish a program to provide medical marijuana to those
Veterans who can benefit from what has proven to be an effective medicine for
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and chronic neuropathic pain. These conditions
are common among wounded warriors and are only two of the many conditions
medical marijuana is effective in treating.
Currently two of America’s closest allies Israel and Canada provide medical
marijuana to their Veterans who can benefit from it. Americas Veterans deserve
no less than the best care we can offer them. The Veteran’s Administration
could very easily provide vouchers to Veteran medical marijuana patients in
states that already have medical marijuana laws allowing the Veterans to get
their medicine directly from Medical Marijuana Pharmacies. In states without
medical marijuana laws the Government could include these Veterans with the
patients that are left over from the old Compassionate Care Program killed by
President H.W. Bush. These patients still receive their medical marijuana from
the Governments marijuana farm in Mississippi on a monthly basis.
Veterans who suffer daily from the pain of their injuries deserve nothing less
than our full dedication to easing their suffering. Medical Marijuana has been
fully vetted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. It’s ability to
positively affect medical outcomes for patients in a variety of illnesses is
unquestioned. There is no logical, scientific or moral justification for not
providing this medicine to those Veterans who can benefit from it.
These Veterans have given all and those, although injured, who did not die from
their service, suffer still and die a little every day. It is our duty and
obligation to provide them with all the care and compassion we can muster. To
do any less is to betray the very sacrifices they made.

--
thomyv
e-mail: thomyv@zoomtown.com

Thursday, May 10, 2012

VIDEO: Colorado marijuana legalization effort launches first TV ad

By Scot Kersgaard
Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 2:29 pm

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (Amendment 64) will run its first television ad beginning tomorrow, May 11, during NBC’s “The Today Show.” The ad will also air during “Ellen,” and the Mother’s Day episode of “The Doctors.”

The ad features a young woman sitting at a laptop sending an email to her mother, explaining why she prefers marijuana over alcohol and asking her mother if she would like to talk about the issue. In particular, she tells her mother that marijuana poses less harm to her health than alcohol and that she feels safer around people using marijuana than she does around those using alcohol.

Betty Aldworth, advocacy director for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol addresses the media in Denver a few weeks ago. She is surrounded by campaign volunteers. (Kersgaard)

“Our goal with this ad is to start a conversation – and encourage others to start their own conversations – about marijuana,” said Betty Aldworth, advocacy director of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. “As more people talk to their family and friends about marijuana, more people understand that marijuana is objectively less harmful than alcohol and ought to be regulated like alcohol.”

The ad directs viewers to TalkItUpColorado.org, a website in support of Amendment 64. The site complements the campaign’s strategy of encouraging young pro-legalization voters to talk about the issue with their parents, grandparents and other older voters.

“We will win this election if more older folks come to appreciate that marijuana is an acceptable and less harmful alternative to alcohol for adults,” Aldworth said. “For years they have been led to believe marijuana is more dangerous than it actually is, and that marijuana users are all slackers and losers. Once they hear from those closest to them that marijuana is used by millions of hard-working and professional people for the same reasons most adults use alcohol, they’ll be forced to think about why they would prefer people use alcohol instead of a less harmful substance.”

Polls have shown a tight election, but one in which the measure has a strong chance of passing. Even Denver Republicans voted in favor of the measure during the recent county assembly.

CONTINUE TO VIDEO HERE

Democrats Look to End Federal Intervention of Medical Marijuana

Submitted by Marijuana Policy Project on May 10, 2012

WASHINGTONDemocrats in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve an amendment to the FY 2013 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill late Tuesday that would effectively end the ability of federal agencies to enforce federal marijuana laws against individuals who are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

The amendment stated that federal agencies may not use any funds to target individuals in states with medical marijuana laws, as long as those people are following the laws of their respective states. This amendment, which was debated five times last decade, was reintroduced after an increase in federal actions against state-legal medical marijuana providers throughout the country over the last year.
The amendment was supported by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (D-California), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-New York), Rep. Sam Farr (D-California), and Rep. Tom McClintock (D-California). It was defeated in the House by a vote of 163-262 at the close of voting. Of those in favor, 134 were Democrats and 29 were Republicans, with 72% of Democrats backing the measure.
The strong support among Democrats is notable in light of recent criticism of the Obama administration’s crackdown on medical marijuana providers despite campaign promises that he would not use federal resources to undermine state medical marijuana laws.
“It is encouraging to see so many members sending a clear message to the Obama administration,” said Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project. “These 163 members are tired of seeing federal resources dedicated to undermining state medical marijuana laws. They understand, especially members from medical marijuana states, that when the Obama administration forces the closure of medical marijuana dispensaries, they are driving patients back to the streets to acquire their medicine. States are doing the right thing by ensuring that patients have safe access to medical marijuana. It is only a matter of time before every member of Congress accepts this truth.”
Currently, 16 states and the District of Columbia allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana with a recommendation from their doctor. Connecticut is poised to become the 17th state to pass a medical marijuana law. Another ten states are considering bills to make marijuana legal at this time. CONTINUE READING...

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Marijuana: Mitt Romney doesn't like your questions about cannabis

 

mitt romney cropped.jpg

 

Mitt Romney doesn't like marijuana or medical marijuana, and he doesn't want to hear your insignificant questions about the subject, either. At least, that's what he told CBS4's Shaun Boyd in an interview yesterday.

As you can see in the video below (starting at around 33 seconds), the reporter asks the presidential candidate a viewer's question about medical marijuana after discussing gay marriage, a hot-button issue for Romney.

Medical cannabis is a big issue here and in sixteen other states, but Romney doesn't seem to think so. Nor did he like the question: He chastises the reporter like a father lecturing a mouthy high schooler for asking him about something he clearly finds trivial.

"Aren't there issues of significance that you'd like to talk about?" Romney asks. "The economy, the economy, the economy. The growth of jobs. The need to put people back to work. The challenges of Iran. We've got enormous issues that we face, but you want talk about -- go ahead -- you want to talk about marijuana?"

Then he dodges the issue of state-legal medical marijuana by equating it and it's users with illegal drugs: "I think marijuana should not be legal in this country. I believe it is a gateway drug to other drug violations. The use of illegal drugs in this country is leading to terrible consequences in places like Mexico -- and actually in our country."

Then the reporter drops the issue, moving on to Romney's official talking points about the economy.

Never mind the fact that medical marijuana is an economic issue in this state, a legal industry that brings in millions of dollars in tax revenue and also creates hundreds of jobs. Apparently an economic reality in 34 percent of the states in this country isn't big enough for Romney to consider. CONTINUE READING....

More from our marijuana archives: "THC driving bill killed in plot that snuffed out civil unions measure"; "Stoner MacGyver marijuana review: High Times cannabis cookbook"

NJ Weedman - Ed Forchion Burlington County Trial

Ed

Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion court verdict: Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion talks before and after the verdict is read in his Burlington County jury trial on charges of marijuana possession and possession with intent to distribute.

 

MOUNT HOLLY — A jury convicted medical marijuana activist Ed “NJWeedman” Forchion of possession Wednesday, but could not reach a verdict on the more weighty charge of distribution.

Following the verdict announcement in Superior Court in Mount Holly, an uncharacteristically agitated Forchion, dressed in a white T-shirt with a green cannabis leaf pictured inside the O of the letters LOVE, challenged an assistant Burlington County prosecutor that he would be ready for a retrial on the distribution charge.

“If he thinks he can get me again, let’s go,” Forchion told Judge Charles Delehey in regards to Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano. “I would go tomorrow.”

Forchion, who is representing himself, shot down his court-appointed lawyer’s plan to file a motion to have the court dismiss the possession with intent to distribute charge, saying angrily that the process would only delay the resolution of his case. The motion would have had to have been heard before a new trial could begin on the outstanding charge.

“I’m stuck here broke,” Forchion said. “I want to get this over with.”

Forchion, 47, grew up in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township but later opened a medical marijuana dispensary in California. He was arrested in April 2010 when he returned to New Jersey to visit his children and was stopped in Mount Holly with a pound of pot in his trunk.

Since then, Forchion has heavily promoted his case in an effort to further argue against New Jersey’s marijuana laws.

“This is bigger than me,” Forchion said while waiting for the jury’s verdict Wednesday. “I’m not in here just fighting for me.

“It’s the cause. I’m on the side of righteousness here.”

In his opening arguments last week, Forchion boldly proclaimed to the jury that the stash of pot was his but he maintained that he never had any intent to peddle his “medicine” to others.

During the trial, experts from both sides presented their opinions as to whether there was evidence that Forchion was intending to distribute the pot.

CONTINUE READING STORY...

Reach George Mast at (856) 486-2465 or gmast@gannett.com