Landmark Prescription Drug Bill Takes Effect; Gov. Beshear Praises Full Throttle Attack on Prescription Abuse

Office of the Attorney General
Landmark Prescription Drug Bill Takes Effect; Gov. Beshear Praises Full Throttle Attack on Prescription Abuse

Press Release Date:
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Contact Information:
Kerri Richardson
502.564.2611

Just days after a landmark prescription drug abuse law took effect, Governor Steve Beshear joined lawmakers and medical providers to report the law has already effected changes in the medical field and positioned Kentucky as a national leader in battling prescription abuse.

House Bill 1 (HB1), sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, passed in a special legislative session this spring. The bill included multiple elements to prevent the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs and to enhance law enforcement's tools to investigate illegal prescribing practices.

"The enforcement of this bill began just a couple of days ago, and yet we already know that four ‘pain management clinics' in Kentucky have waved the white flag and notified us they will shut their doors," said Gov. Beshear. "We know that more than 9,000 medical providers have signed up for electronic prescription monitoring just since this law passed in April – more than doubling the number registered. The word is out. Kentucky is deadly serious about stopping this scourge of prescription drug abuse, and now we have some of the strongest tools in the country to make that happen."

Gov. Beshear was joined by Attorney General Jack Conway as well as representatives from medical licensure boards, advocacy groups and law enforcement organizations, for today's announcement.

HB1 expands the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) system, the state's prescription monitoring system, by requiring all prescription providers of controlled substances to register. It requires pain management clinics to be owned by a licensed medical practitioner, and requires professional licensure boards to investigate prescribing complaints immediately. The legislation allows for better coordination between health regulators and law enforcement to address problems of abuse. Finally, elements of HB1 will help prevent Kentucky from becoming a source state for prescription pills.

According to Kentucky's Drug Control Policy Office, nearly 1,000 Kentuckians die every year from drug overdoses – an annual fatality rate that exceeds deaths from car accidents. More than 5,000 overdose patients are admitted to hospitals annually.

"Let's be very clear – if you need a prescription for a controlled substance for a legitimate medical condition, you have nothing to fear. You'll get your medicine. For doctors who worry their ability to prescribe will be compromised, you have nothing to fear. The law is built to protect valid prescribing," said Gov. Beshear. "But if you're doctor-shopping, buying extra pills for recreational use, or prescribing pills for cash, you'd better change your vocation or change your location, because we're coming after you."

"Prescription drug abuse is killing Kentuckians. Three people will die today from prescription drug overdoses. I believe the provisions in House Bill 1 will save the lives of our friends, our neighbors and our family members," said Attorney General Jack Conway. "The provisions in this law will help shut down rogue clinics and providers who are poisoning people. I appreciate those in the medical community who have joined with us as responsible providers to be a part of the solution instead of part of the problem."

"House Bill 1 and the emergency regulations will help stop tragic loss of life to drug abuse. We are working closely with medical professionals to ensure that legitimate pain management cases are not adversely affected," said Speaker Stumbo. "The joint Implementation and Oversight Committee will be alert to any needed corrections, and we will make sure that all concerns are addressed."

Lawmakers praised the cooperation of the Cabinets, agencies, and boards who worked together to create new regulations, educate patients and medical providers, and build the necessary computer infrastructure to support the implementation of the law.

HB1 Impact – KASPER enhancements

Effective July 20, all medical practitioners who prescribe controlled substances must register to use KASPER and run a KASPER report before prescribing a patient a controlled substance such as Oxycontin or Xanax.

When the law passed in April, KASPER had 7,911 registered accounts. Since then, another 9,137 providers have signed up for the program, a 115 percent increase.

According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), which oversees KASPER, 90 percent of all KASPER reports are completed within 15 to 30 seconds. The reports show medical providers what other controlled substances have been prescribed to a patient and in what amount.

"Some providers worried that running a KASPER report would be cumbersome or time consuming, but 9 times out of 10, it will take as much time as measuring a patient's blood pressure or recording their insurance information," said Mary Begley, CHFS Inspector General. "It's a very short investment of time that will become as routine as taking a patient's temperature. A report can provide crucial information that not only may flag a problem user, but may also warn a provider of otherwise unforeseen complications from drug interactions."

KASPER's cache of prescription information will grow more robust as more users add records. Supporters say patient care will become more precise as medical providers review patient prescription history and know more about existing prescriptions.

A 2010 CHFS poll of KASPER users noted that 94 percent of medical providers said that the program is an effective tool in tracking an individual's prescription history, and nearly 94 percent reported satisfaction with the tool. Nearly 9 in 10 KASPER users reported denying a prescription for a controlled substance to a patient based on information provided by a KASPER report.

To accommodate the steep increase in KASPER use, CHFS has hired additional staff, implemented system upgrades and expanded capacity.

Existing regulations provide that all dispensers (usually pharmacists) report to KASPER when any Schedule II through Schedule V controlled substances are dispensed. For the first time, new regulations provide that all prescribers must request a KASPER report before Schedule II, III and some IVs are prescribed. A list of certain Schedule IV controlled substances, which are known to be used or diverted, is attached.

HB1 Impact: Shared Investigative Information

HB1 requires that when a complaint about prescription abuse is lodged with any of several investigative agencies – the Attorney General, Kentucky State Police (KSP), CHFS, or any of the professional licensure boards – that complaint must be shared with the remaining agencies.

Previously, if KSP was investigating a possible pill mill, the agencies that licensed that clinic were not required to be notified, nor would they be compelled to contribute information to the case.

The Attorney General, KSP, CHFS and the six professional licensure boards have signed a memorandum of understanding to notify the other agencies of prescription complaints within three days of receipt. This will allow the investigators to share information quickly.

The six professional boards – Medical Licensure, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Podiatry and Optometry – are required to share reports with the Attorney General, KSP and CHFS but not required to share among each other. This alleviates concerns that the professional organizations would be forced to report information to other boards that have no jurisdiction over the complaint.

HB1 Impact: Regulations Squeeze Offenders, Offer Grace Period for Providers

Regulations for the implementation of HB1 were filed on July 20, the effective date of HB1. These regulations, which interpret how the law is carried out by each agency, board, or office, uphold the intent of HB1 – to reduce the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs.

New regulations mandate that all pain management clinics must be owned by a licensed medical provider or employ a medical director in good standing with one of the professional licensure boards. Clinics will have some time to meet those requirements, but CHFS administrators say that already, four of the state's pain clinics not owned by physicians have reported that they will close their doors. Another 9 have not yet contacted CHFS regarding licensing, and will be investigated to determine if they are operating illegally.

"Not all pain management clinics are abusing their prescribing authority – many of them are meeting legitimate patient needs," said CHFS Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes. "However, these regulations are designed to make it very, very difficult to stay in business if your clinic is a pill mill, prescribing high volumes of powerful drugs to people who are addicted."

Each of the professional license boards has also created an educational period for practitioners through October 1st. Much like other laws such as the seat belt law, providers will have a few months to get accustomed to the new practices before any disciplinary action will take place.

"We don't want the medical community to be afraid of immediate repercussions if they make an error this early in the process," said Preston Nunnelley, chair of the Board of Medical Licensure. "We'll have a few months to learn how the new policies will work, and we'll be able to correct and guide providers along the way, instead of punishing people for unintentional errors."

Note from a friend: Medical Marijuana and diabetes with obesity

 

Roland A. Duby

I have a patient/friend who was 430 pounds, ate up with diabetes, and had to have oxygen all day, He got around on a little home scooter

for old people, but he ain't old, just 58. He also had sleep apnea and heart problems along with low blood oxygen. I was visiting him after

not seeing him for a few years and that is the condition I found him in. He used to be 300 lbs and in a band and very active. He told me that

his doctor gave him 6 months to live. I told him about hemp oil and the experiences I have had and the miracles I have seen. He told

me he was hoping I had a joint but we would have to sneak downstairs to smoke so his wife would not know. I told him fuck that, I have some

oil and you can eat it, but we should show this Rick Simpson movie to your wife. He ate some oil and then hollered for his wife. she watched

it and said go for it. I gave him a ten gram tube and hugged everyone goodbye.

I got a call a month later and he told me that the stuff was a miracle, and his diabetes was gone. His blood oxygen is up to 75% and he can

walk to the corner store and back.

I got another call 3 months later and he told me he has lost over 100 pounds and is mowing his own lawn, and people see him walking around

in the grocery store and can’t believe their eyes. He said his preacher saw him and told him praise the lord cause they had prayed for him,

and he told his preacher to thank the ones who prayed for marijuana because that is what saved his life! The preacher said “what?’ and he

told the preacher that he eats one drop of marijuana oil a day and it cured all of his problems! The preacher said “Do you mean hash oil?”

and that is when he smoked his first joint with his preacher!

Why Do Clinics Deny Painkillers To Medical Marijuana Patients?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Should health care facilities have the power to make lifestyle decisions for you -- and punish you when your choices don't measure up to their ideals? More and more hospitals are making exactly those kinds of decisions when it comes to people who choose to use marijuana -- even legal patients in medical marijuana states. Apparently, these places don't mind looking exactly as if they have more loyalty to their Big Pharma benefactors than they do to their own patients.

A new policy at one Alaska clinic -- requiring patients taking painkilling medications to be marijuana free -- serves to highlight the hypocrisy and cruelty of such rules, which are used at more and more health care facilities, particularly the big corporate chains (the clinic in question is a member of the Banner Health chain).

Tanana Valley Clinic, in Fairbanks, started handing out prepared statements to all chronic pain patients on Monday, said Corinne Leistikow, assistant medical director for family practice at TVC, reports Dorothy Chomicz at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

"We will no longer prescribe controlled substances, such as opiates and benzodiazepines, to patients who are using marijuana (THC)," the statement reads in part. "These drugs are psychoactive substances and it is not safe for you to take them together." (This statement is patently false; marijuana has no known dangerous reactions with any other drugs, and in fact, since marijuana relieves chronic pain, it often makes it possible for pain patients to take smaller, safer doses of opiates and other drugs.)

LIAR, LIAR: Corinne Leistikow, M.D. says "patients who use opiates and marijuana together are at much higher risk of death." We'd love to see the study you're talking about, Corinne.

"Your urine will be tested for marijuana," patients are sternly warned. "If you test positive you will have two months to get it out of your system. You will be retested in two months. If you still have THC in your urine, we will no longer prescribe controlled substances for you."

TVC patient Scott Ide, who takes methadone to control chronic back pain, also uses medical marijuana to ease the nausea and vomiting caused by gastroparesis. He believes TVC decided to change its policy after an Anchorage-based medical marijuana authorization clinic spend three days in Fairbanks in June, helping patients get the necessary documentation to get a state medical marijuana card.

"I'm a victim of circumstance because of what occurred," Ide said. "I was already a patient with her -- I was already on this regimen. We already knew what we were doing to get me better and work things out for me. I think it's wrong."

Ide, a former Alaska State Trooper, said he was addicted to painkillers, but medical marijuana helped him wean himself off all medications except methadone.

Leistikow admitted that the new policy may force some patients to drive all the way to Anchorage, because there are only a few chronic pain specialists in Fairbanks. Still, she claimed the strict new policy was "necessary."

The assistant medical director is so eager to defend the clinic's new policy that she took a significant departure from the facts in so doing.

"What we have decided as a clinic -- we're setting policy for which patients we can take care of and which ones we can't -- patients who use opiates and marijuana together are at much higher risk of death, abuse and misuse of medications, of having side effects from their medications, and recommendations are generally that patients on those should be followed by a pain specialist," Leistikow lied.

Patients who use opiates and marijuana together are NOT in fact at higher risk of death, abuse, misuse and side effects; I invite Ms. Leistikow to produce any studies which indicate they are. As mentioned earlier, pain patients who also use marijuana are usually able to use smaller, safer doses of painkillers than would be the case without cannabis supplementation.

CONTINUE READING HERE...

Friend of Ky. senator calls marijuana bill 'self-serving'

by Chelsea Rabideau

WHAS11.com

Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:50 PM

Updated Friday, Jul 6 at 10:52 AM

 

 

Related:

• Lou. senator wants to legalize med. marijuana after admitting to using it

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – A Kentucky state senator from Louisville is pitching a bill in Frankfort that would legalize medical marijuana. It’s named in honor of one of medical marijuana’s long-standing supporters, Gatewood Galbraith, who died in January. But, one of the senator’s long-time friends says the bill is self-serving.

David Toborowsky says he’s been friends with democratic senator Perry Clark for 15 years. He’s also a supporter of Clark’s opponent Chris Thieneman. When Clark introduced the Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Medical Marijuana Act of 2013 Thursday, Toborowsky says he was bothered.

“You know, being an elected official is leadership and as a constituent, I would hope for a little more from that. Like I said, there’s more important issues out there,” Toborowsky said.
But, there’s a little more to it.

Toborowsky said he faced an uncomfortable situation during the last legislative session. He claimed he went to Clark’s house to talk politics and the senator was smoking pot.

“They handed it to me, I’m not a pot smoker, it’s not my thing,” Toborowsky said. “I don’t judge anybody, what people do in their personal lives is their business. I didn’t think anything of it and it didn’t bother me until the bill was filed…and I thought, you know, that’s kind of self-serving.”
Senator Clark freely admitted to using the drug.

“I have chronic back pain. I’ve been known to smoke weed. People know that about me somewhat. I’m not a chronic smoker. I’m a 70’s child, child of the 70’s, I’m a veteran,” Clark said. “They put me in not the greatest places in the Orient. We were sailors so, you know what we were doing and we weren’t behaving totally. But, I have been recommended marijuana for my back.”

Again, Toborowsky said he’s been friends with Clark for 15 years. But, he’s also contributed money to republican Chris Thieneman’s campaign in the past. He also caused his own stir when he listed the same address as Thieneman when he filed to run for the Jefferson County School Board in 2010.

CONTINUE READING AND VIEW VIDEO HERE…

Someone needs to clarify (and verify) their stories….

The following is to two (2) different stories that I posted on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kentucky-Marijuana-Party/340390089374245 which contradict each other.

One states that KSP will discontinue use of helicopters to search for “clandestine” marijuana fields, and the other says that KSP is ramping up this week for a search WITH helicopters for the same.

Now, which one is correct?  I guess Kentucky officials change their mind as much as I do, lol.

 

First Story – July 1st, 2012

Ky. State Police Tackling Funding Cuts

Posted: Jul 1, 2012 3:22 PM

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky State Police are curtailing some operations and searching for more efficient ways to perform other duties to deal with high gas prices and a 2.4 percent cut in state funding.
Lt. David Jude said the agency is still hiring and training new troopers and aren't reducing their ability to respond to emergency calls. Jude told The Messenger-Inquirer that the things people "would associated with the Kentucky State Police" haven't been impacted.
"Credit goes to the governor for ... not making a much deeper cut than that," Judge said.
There are currently about 900 troopers on the force, roughly the same number the agency had in the 1970s. That number of troopers is adequate because technology has made patrol work more efficient, with troopers able to file citations electronically, Jude said. Jude said the agency recently acquired equipment, through grants, that greatly reduces the amount of time troopers spend mapping highway accidents.
The goal is to use technology as a way to "improve performance with the manpower we got," Jude said.
Trooper Corey King, public information officer for the state police post in Henderson, said the budget means the post will likely not use a helicopter this year when doing sweeps for marijuana patches.
"We have to prioritize things," King said. "We're cutting a little here and there - and flight time (for marijuana eradication) is part of that - to make sure safety and (response) is No. 1."
In addition to the budget cuts, high fuel prices have affected the operations at the Henderson post, King said.
"We go through a lot of fuel and we patrol a lot of areas. We'll have to sacrifice in other proactive areas" so the emphasis can remain on taking priority calls, King said.
Jude said troopers are identifying areas where there are known traffic issues and are setting up checkpoints on those roads, rather than actively patrolling those areas.
"We would challenge the post commanders to fund the appropriate place for checkpoints," Jude said. "It's not a decision to park your car and not use gas - it's a more efficient way to do what you're doing."
While some vacant positions have been unfilled, the state police are still hiring for trooper positions, Jude said.
"We're fortunate to run a cadet class every year," Jude said. "If you look at ... Kansas and Georgia, some of those states haven't had a cadet class in years."

 

Second Story July 10th, 2012

Kentucky State Police step up marijuana eradication efforts

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky State Police troopers will step up their annual marijuana eradication efforts this week, searching from helicopters and on the ground for clandestine crops.

Lt. Brent Roper, head of the state police marijuana eradication team, said the troopers will begin with two days of training on how to spot marijuana from the air and how to avoid booby traps on the ground.

Several agencies join with the state police to search out and destroy marijuana crops, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Forestry Service and the Kentucky National Guard.

Last year, authorities eradicated nearly $800 million worth of marijuana and made 371 arrests in Kentucky.

The counties where the most marijuana was destroyed were Wayne, Knox, Bell, Lee, Knott, Casey, Monroe, Pike, Harlan and Leslie.

************

Both  are from viable news sources so I’m really not sure who talked to whom or why the story changed.  Maybe someone donated money???  It sure wasn’t me! 

 

Anyone with insight on this please post!!!

Sen. Perry Clark (D)–Jefferson County, Kentucky

Sen. Perry Clark, D-Louisville, spoke during a rally opposing SB 6, a proposal to crack down on illegal immigrants, held on the steps of the State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, February 8, 2011. Senate Bill 6 would make it a state crime Ñ a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances Ñ for illegal immigrants to enter Kentucky, or for anyone to harbor or transport them or encourage their residency in the state. The measure has cleared the Senate but faces long odds in the House Local Government Committee. Charles Bertram | Staff

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/07/05/2249360/medical-marijuana-proposal-named.html#storylink=cpy

Senator Perry B. Clark (D)

Senate District 37
Jefferson (part)

Mailing Address
5716 New Cut Rd
Louisville KY 40214

Frankfort Address(es)
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 255
Frankfort KY 40601

Phone Number(s)
Home: (502) 366-1247
Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 715

Email Address(es)
Annex: click here

Service
House 1995 - 06; Senate 2006 - Present

Bio
Born September 30, 1957. Quality Training. Christian. US Navy. Boy Scouts of America, Vol Merit Badge Counselor, District Chair. Community vol.

Interim Committees
Families & Children; Health and Welfare; Judiciary; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection

Session Committees
Health & Welfare (S); Judiciary (S); Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)

Statutory Committees
Program Review and Investigations Comm.

Legislature Home Page | Who's My Legislator

Medicinal marijuana home grow-ops on Ottawa chopping block

Health Canada plans to no longer allow individuals to grow marijuana for medical use, with all approved grow operations instead being produced by larger industrial growers.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the agency is moving to eliminate personal grow-ops that will not require inspection.

"We are moving forward in looking at medical marijuana in terms of how any other prescription drug is accessed," the minister said.

More than 15,000 people are licensed to grow medical marijuana in Canada, but Health Canada has no record of staff ever inspecting any of the growers, CBC News has learned.

Medical marijuana by the numbers

As of May 29, 2012:

• 19,482 people had a permit to possess medical marijuana
• 12,649 had a licence to grow medical marijuana
• 2,550 people were designated to grow

Burlington resident John Fattore has ankylosing spondylitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones.

It has destroyed his feet and makes him experience immense pain. He spent years bedridden, taking OxyContin and Percocet to ease the pain.

"It will kill him," said his wife Brenda of the disease.

By chance, Brenda met Hamilton's Derek Pedro, a Health Canada designated medical marijuana grower and user, at a doctor's office. He recommended her husband try it.

"The pain relief was instant," Brenda said.

Health Canada implemented its medical marijuana access regulations in 2001. Under the program, people with "grave and debilitating illnesses" can be granted legal access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. People seeking a permit apply in writing to Health Canada, with a supporting document from a medical practitioner.

People who are licensed by Health Canada to possess medical marijuana can then apply for a permit to grow it for personal use, or to have someone else grow it for them through a "designated-person production licence" if they weren't able to grow their own.

Fattore has had a license to grow marijuana for personal use for two years and now grows his plants on Pedro's property. He no longer spends his days in bed, but is mobile in a motorized wheelchair.

As of May 2012, over 12,000 people have a licence to grow medical marijuana. (Julia Chapman/CBC)

Brenda says he uses half of the pharmaceutical medicine he used to, and some days, doesn't take any at all.

The Hamilton Spectator reported that in June, the RCMP charged Pedro with trafficking marijuana and conspiracy to produce marijuana. Police allege he indirectly sold 500 marijuana clones to undercover police officers involved in the probe. Clones are the rooted cuttings of adult marijuana plants.

Pedro is out on $2,500 bail for a court appearance in London, Ont. in July.

Brenda was a health care aid before she quit her job to take care of her husband. At first, she was uneasy about John using medical marijuana.

P.O.V. Should Health Canada centralize medicinal marijuana production? Take our poll.

"I was paranoid for my husband to use it because of my medical background," she said. "Now I totally believe in the transformation of the sick."

If the Fattore's are no longer allowed to have a license to grow medical marijuana, Brenda said they will "absolutely not" be able to afford marijuana at the price health Canada will charge — $150 an ounce. Fattore uses half an ounce a day.

"He'll have to go back on hydromorphine and he'll be a vegetable in bed," she said.

"The government wants the money," she said. "They don't want the little guys taking care of the sick people."

Curtis Wallace, a designated grower who works with Pedro, said he's in the business because of the "satisfaction of helping people" — and because he believes in the plant.

A 2010 report prepared by the RCMP for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police analyzed 190 cases of medical marijuana abuse. Just over one-third of the cases documented in the study involved trafficking or the production of more marijuana than permitted in the licence.

Ottawa isn't expected to unveil new medical marijuana rules until 2014. In the meantime, Health Canada keeps issuing individual growing permits for a program it struggles to police.

Senator Perry B. Clark (D),(KY) to reintroduce SB129

By Michael Bachara, Hemp News Correspondent

On January 31st, legislation that would make cannabis a schedule II drug, thus legal for doctors to prescribe, was introduced in the Kentucky State Senate. Senate Bill 129, sponsored by Senator Perry B. Clark, D-Louisville, is being titled the "Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Medical Marijuana Act".

Gatewood Galbraith was a prominent lawyer from Kentucky and an avid supporter of cannabis legalization. He dedicated over forty years to the restoration of the cannabis plant. Galbraith passed away last month from complications of pneumonia.

"Marijuana has positive medical benefits for patients dealing with illnesses like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS, to name a few," Senator Clark said. "I want to allow this as another treatment option for those individuals."

Senate Bill 129 would limit patients who are prescribed the drug from possessing more than five ounces per month. The patient could choose to fill their prescription at a board-certified pharmacy or to grow their own plants. Patients deciding to cultivate plants would be prohibited to no more than five at one time.

Molly Galbraith, Gatewood's daughter has watched her father fight to legalize hemp and marijuana for many years. She recently posted online "He was talking about protecting our civil liberties, finding alternative fuel sources, boosting Kentucky's economy, and helping ease the pain of the sick and dying and ease the massive burden of ever-increasing healthcare costs. In my opinion, this is an incredible way to honor my dad."

"Gatewood served as a constant reminder that we, the people, are still here and that individual freedom is worth fighting for at all costs," wrote 2011 gubernatorial running-mate Dea Riley. "His hope was that Kentucky would shine as a model of how democracy worked."

"Gatewood possessed incredible insight. He could see the truth and he educated us about liberty and the multipurpose utility of hemp. He taught Willie Nelson, me and many others about hemp seed oil as a biodiesel fuel. History will show he was ahead of his time," said longtime friend D. Paul Stanford.

In 2012, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio are presently considering legislation to allow cannabis for medicinal use, or decriminalization of small amounts. Sixteen states already have similar laws in place.

Many patients in the Commonwealth of Kentucky would be helped by this change to the classification of marijuana. Hemp News encourages patients to create a grass roots movement behind this bill. Please contact Senator Perry B. Clark (D), Senate District 37, and let him know you support his effort to honor Gatewood. Now's the time!

The Proposed Law: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12RS/SB129.htm

Mailing Address
Senator Perry B. Clark
5716 New Cut Rd
Louisville KY 40214

Frankfort Address
Senator Perry B. Clark
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 255
Frankfort KY 40601

Phone Number(s)
Home: (502) 366-1247
Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 715

Website: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/S037.htm

CONTINUE READING...

Supreme Court ruling stokes Colorado pot debate KRISTEN WYATT,

 

 

DENVER (AP) — Marijuana opponents in Colorado are using a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling to gird their argument against making pot legal.

They're not talking about the landmark health care ruling. They're talking about last week's Arizona immigration ruling, in which the court reiterated a foundation of American law — that states can't buck the federal government.

"Arizona may have understandable frustrations" with federal inaction on immigration, the justices wrote, "but the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law."

That line has marijuana-legalization opponents in Colorado warning that the same would apply to states that legalize pot. They argue that states would only set themselves for pricey legal battles with no chance for success against a federal drug law that considers marijuana illegal in all circumstances.

"If Colorado makes us the first state to legalize marijuana, that makes us a pretty big target given what the federal government just said," said Laura Chapin, spokeswoman for the campaign fighting a ballot measure in Colorado to allow adult marijuana possession in small amounts.

Voters in Washington state will also consider marijuana legalization this fall.

Marijuana legalization supporters dismiss the federalism argument as fear-mongering. Already, they point out, Colorado and 15 other states are in direct violation of federal drug law for allowing the use of pot for certain medical conditions.

In fact, the Supreme Court has already weighed in on state marijuana law and announced that federal law trumps it. In 2005, the court ruled against a California patient whose home-grown marijuana was seized by federal agents. His plants were allowed by California law, but the court ruled that the state law gave him no protection from federal drug law.

Despite that ruling, more states have since adopted medical marijuana laws, with spotty federal enforcement. Proponents of full legalization argue that the chances of the federal government cracking down now are slim.

"We don't see this as a major threat," said Brian Vicente, a Denver attorney who helped write Colorado's medical marijuana regulations and now is helping lead the legalization campaign. "There's a possible pre-emption challenge and federal challenge there, but we think it's unlikely."

"Coming after adults in possession of marijuana is in no way a priority" for federal authorities, he said.

Priority or not, the federal government's attitude toward state marijuana laws could play a role in this fall's marijuana debates.

Don Quick, a district attorney for Adams and Broomfield counties and legalization opponent, pointed out that U.S. attorneys in Denver and other states have closed dozens of state-compliant marijuana dispensaries this year. Even if the feds don't go after recreational pot smokers, Quick said, they could decide to at any time.

"There's selective enforcement of all laws," Quick said. "Look at speed laws."

When California voters considered marijuana legalization in 2010, U.S. attorney general Eric Holder warned that the federal government would stop looking the other way if the state embraced full legalization.

"I would certainly expect that same kind of federal saber-rattling here," said Sam Kamin, a University of Denver law professor who tracks marijuana laws.

Kamin said a federal-state marijuana showdown may be looming whether Colorado and Washington approve the pot ballot measure or not. Medical marijuana has flourished nationwide under President Barack Obama, he said, and the election of Republican Mitt Romney could prompt a federal crackdown even if recreational use isn't approved.

"It might come to a head regardless," Kamin said.

___

Online:

Colorado marijuana initiative: http://www.regulatemarijuana.org

Colorado marijuana opponents: http://votenoon64.com

CONTINUE READING...

Is the cup “half empty” or “half full”…

 

 

Why I Do What I Do…

I can never remember the details. The "detail" section of my brain just does not work very well. I've had Major Clinical Depression with Chronic symptoms, Dysthymia, Chronic Anxiety as well. I also, among other things, had a "Cerebellar Vascular Accident (CVA) which is about the same as a ruptured aneurysm in 1998.

It does not matter though, because I can remember where to find the information that I want or need, when I need it! At the same time, the "philosophical" portion of my brain tends to work overtime. I spend a lot of my waking day on the internet, scanning for more and more information for which I know I will not remember the "details" of. Scanning the internet for anything or everything from conspiracy to political, socio-economics, healthcare and the conspiracy thereof, cannabis related medical issues and the conspiracy thereof, then back to the daily news and beyond.

I never had the opportunity to go to college, and I received my education in "Little's" such as our former President Abraham Lincoln, who, incidentally, was also from Kentucky. I read, and read and read some more and then ask "Why?" or "Why Not?", and then I search for more. I believe as George Carlin did when he said that "children should be taught to question". Question everything. Nothing should be taken for granted nor at face value.

In the 1990's my Father and I were discussing "Hemp" one day and he advised me that I should seek out Gatewood Galbraith and go see him. That "He" knew all about it. At that time I was busy raising kids and working and taking care of Mom and Dad on the weekends. Did not even have a computer!

I began about 2002 searching out "marijuana" information on the internet. My Dad had died in 2001 and three months prior to that had called me one day and asked me if I could find him "a little pot". As I was then ignorant of any kind of medicinal use of Marijuana, and he had COPD and Heart Disease. My only answer to him would be, "I'd love to Dad, but I'm afraid if you tried to smoke it at this point it could kill you." His lung capacity was near zero. At that time we knew nothing of the "healing oil". So about 2004 I was browsing one day and it came to my mind to search for "Medical Marijuana", which I did.

The rest is history. Once I found how to access the information nothing was going to stop me from trying to spread the message - through as many sites as I could possibly access. It suffices to say that in the last seven years or more I have learned a lot. The whole world has learned a lot. I have been through many changes in my life and am thankful for most of them. My only hope is that the World have a chance to recover itself before it is too late. Much of that depends upon how we choose to "FREE" this God given gift of Cannabis, and what is done with it once it is.

And then comes the "Human Issue"... I have seen so many abuses against humanity in general that I cannot ignore it. So therefore, I not only am an activist for anti-prohibition, but I have very strong feelings concerning other issues as well. Mountain Top Removal, and strip mining, coal ash and the illness and death as a result of, death penalty issues, prisoners rights issues, "DRUG WAR" Prisoners as well. Human trafficking and Slavery, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Bill of Rights, Constitutional Rights, the list could go on forever.

I am in no way qualified to be a politician, nor a lawyer, nor would I ever want to be. I do not want to be put into a position where I can no longer say what I feel is right, but must succumb to the "for the greater good of the people" clause which they use in order to be able to lie to us with a straight face.

And since there are so many differing opinions within any given movement of Activists, I feel I should be to try to be a citizen reporter and/or journalist. I can bring the news of the important issues which effect our lives to your laptop, and I may have an occasional opinion on a given subject, but basically I want to give you the information that you need in order to make up your own minds about what you think is right. After all, It's not about what I as a single being wish to have happen. It is about a Democracy which believes in the right of the people to decide for themselves who they want in office and how these laws are carried out. In the end, it is only YOU that can help save our Earth and bring it to peace by petition, voting rights, etc., After all, as Gatewood once said: There are only two ways to win a war. One is politically and the other to take it to the streets. I damn sure hope the streets isn't where we end up.... Peace and Prayers to You All! Sheree Krider

Homepage: http://www.shereekrider.com