a history of Med. Marijuana

[Tamil Tiger]

Federal Medical Marijuana Program Marks 30th Anniversary on May 10

May 6, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. ‹ A little-known federal government program that
supplies medical marijuana to a handful of patients will mark its 30th
anniversary on May 10.

The federal medical marijuana program -- referred to as a Compassionate
Investigational New Drug (IND) program -- resulted from a lawsuit filed
by glaucoma patient Robert Randall, who successfully showed that his use
of marijuana was a medical necessity.

The program slowly grew for over a dozen years. In the wake of a flood
of new applications from patients battling AIDS -- who found that
marijuana boosted their appetites and relieved the nausea often caused
by anti-HIV drugs -- the George H.W. Bush administration closed it to
new applicants in March 1992, but continued supplying federal marijuana
to those already receiving it. Four of those patients survive today.

"Most Americans would be shocked to know that the federal government
supplies medical marijuana to patients while claiming that marijuana is
a harmful drug with no medical value," said Rob Kampia, executive
director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "If federal
officials believe their own statements, they're knowingly poisoning four
innocent people, but in fact they know better. The four remaining
patients in the federal program have benefited from their medical
marijuana use, groups like the American College of Physicians and the
American Public Health Association have said that marijuana is a safe
and effective medicine and, as a result, we must change the federal laws
that prohibit medical marijuana."
for the rest of the story, visit;

http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/federal-medical-marijuana-prog.htm
l

[viet nam vet.]

In article

Post by Tamil Tiger
Federal Medical Marijuana Program Marks 30th Anniversary on May 10
May 6, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. ‹ A little-known federal government program that
supplies medical marijuana to a handful of patients will mark its 30th
anniversary on May 10.
The federal medical marijuana program -- referred to as a Compassionate
Investigational New Drug (IND) program -- resulted from a lawsuit filed
by glaucoma patient Robert Randall, who successfully showed that his use
of marijuana was a medical necessity.
The program slowly grew for over a dozen years. In the wake of a flood
of new applications from patients battling AIDS -- who found that
marijuana boosted their appetites and relieved the nausea often caused
by anti-HIV drugs -- the George H.W. Bush administration closed it to
new applicants in March 1992, but continued supplying federal marijuana
to those already receiving it. Four of those patients survive today.
"Most Americans would be shocked to know that the federal government
supplies medical marijuana to patients while claiming that marijuana is
a harmful drug with no medical value," said Rob Kampia, executive
director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "If federal
officials believe their own statements, they're knowingly poisoning four
innocent people, but in fact they know better. The four remaining
patients in the federal program have benefited from their medical
marijuana use, groups like the American College of Physicians and the
American Public Health Association have said that marijuana is a safe
and effective medicine and, as a result, we must change the federal laws
that prohibit medical marijuana."
for the rest of the story, visit;
http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/federal-medical-marijuana-prog.htm
l

up date;

http://www.NewsLI.com/2008/11/05/national-sweep-for-marijuana-reform/

November 5, 2008

Massachusetts Decriminalizes Possession in Historic First; Michigan
Becomes 13th Medical Marijuana State

(Washington, D.C.) Defying the scare tactics of state and local
officials, voters in Massachusetts and Michigan gave current marijuana
policies a resounding vote of no confidence Tuesday. Massachusetts
voters approved the first marijuana decriminalization initiative ever
passed by voters, Michigan voters enacted the nation¹s 13th medical
marijuana law, and local reform measures appeared to be passing in
several communities.

³Tonight¹s results represent a sea change,² said Rob Kampia, executive
director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which sponsored the
Massachusetts and Michigan campaigns. ³Voters have spectacularly
rejected eight years of the most intense government war on marijuana
since the days of ŒReefer Madness.¹²

In Michigan, White House drug czar John Walters personally campaigned
against Proposal 1, calling it an ³abomination.² In Massachusetts, all
11 district attorneys warned of huge increases in teen marijuana use
and other dire consequences should Question 2 pass, even though
studies in the 11 states with similar laws, as well as Australia and
Europe, have found no such increases due to decriminalization. Under
Question 2, criminal penalties for possession of an ounce or less of
marijuana will be replaced by a civil fine of $100, much like a
traffic ticket.

Several local reform initiatives appear on ballots around the country.
For a complete list as well as their results as they become available,
visit http://www.mpp.org/library/2008-ballot-initiatives.html.

³Last year an American was arrested on marijuana charges once every 36
seconds, which is more arrests for marijuana possession alone than for
all violent crimes combined.² Kampia said. ³Our ideologically stunted
marijuana policies have been a catastrophic failure, and the voters
have loudly said, ŒEnough!¹ Marijuana prohibition is about to take its
place next to alcohol Prohibition on the ash heap of history.²

Michigan¹s vote makes that state the 13th to protect medical marijuana
patients from arrest. One in four Americans now live in a state with
such protections. Barack Obama has pledged an end to federal raids on
patients and caregivers obeying state medical marijuana laws should he
become president.

Copyright 2008 Newsline Inc.