New York to Legalize Marijuana

[Ardentfrost]

Bill could bring relief

Richard Williams smokes marijuana regularly.

But he doesn’t consider himself a criminal, and doesn’t think he should be treated like one.

The 46-year-old Richmondville resident has been HIV positive for two decades. Smoking marijuana, he said, relieves the pain in his joints and helps him cope with persistent bouts of nausea. He has hepatitis C and a damaged liver, so he doesn’t want to take pain medication, which is processed by the liver.

Williams supports legalizing the use of medical marijuana in New York. He’s hoping the state Legislature will pass a law that does so before adjourning later this month.

“I don’t use other drugs,” Williams said. “I’m not a drug addict. … I’m speaking out because someone has to stand up for what’s right.”

Last year the Assembly passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana; a new version of the bill has moved out of the codes committee, and another version is pending in the Senate. Those who support the bill are optimistic that this is the year New York legalizes medical marijuana.

The Assembly bill, sponsored by Rep. Richard Gottfried, D-Manhattan, would allow patients to use marijuana only if they have life-threatening or debilitating conditions, and only if their doctors believe it would be the most effective treatment. Patients and caregivers would register with the state and receive identification cards that would allow them to legally purchase marijuana for medicinal use. They would be allowed to grow up to 12 plants and to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, though a state-regulated distribution system would eventually replace home cultivation. This transition would hinge on the federal government’s approval of the state-regulated distribution system.

Last year, the Assembly passed legislation legalizing medical marijuana for the first time, and this year’s version of the bill attempts to address the concerns that derailed its chances in the Senate. Some legislators felt that last year’s bill did not provide for adequate regulation; the new bill mandates that registered organizations such as pharmacies, nonprofit organizations created for the purposing of selling marijuana to chronically sick people and local health departments handle sale and distribution of the drug.

Twelve states have legalized medical marijuana, with New Mexico, which legalized medical marijuana last summer, the most recent to do.

The Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group that supports legalizing medical marijuana and overall reform of the country’s marijuana laws, is pushing the state to pass the Assembly legislation. Right now, television advertisements created by the group are running in the Capital Region, Long Island and the Buffalo area.

RELIEF FROM PAIN

Burton Aldrich, 45, a quadriplegic from Kingston, appears in the 30-second television advertisement. “I don’t know if I would be around if it wasn’t for marijuana,” he says, in the advertisement. “It shouldn’t be a crime to treat pain and suffering.”

Aldrich became a quadriplegic in 1999, when he crushed his spinal cord in a diving accident. He has limited use of his arms and fingers, can wiggle his toes, and remains confined to a wheelchair. “I’m very fortunate,” he said, in a phone interview. “It could have been worse.” His body is wracked by intense spasms, and he experiences searing pain in his extremities, as well as pounding headaches that disrupt his sleep. He said he can’t take painkillers because they cause constipation. But through marijuana and meditation, he said he’s found a solution.

Aldrich tried marijuana around two years ago, while returning from a sailing trip with a friend. He was in pain, and his friend offered him some marijuana. “My spasms went away,” he said. “My pain went away like a bucket of water dropped on me.”

“I don’t flaunt it,” Aldrich said, of smoking marijuana. “I’m only pushing it because I don’t think it should be illegal. It’s a medicine.”

Williams and Aldrich both said they would rather grow their own marijuana than go to state-regulated distribution centers to acquire their drugs. They said they think the federal government is more likely to raid state-designated distribution centers than individuals growing marijuana for their own use.

The Marijuana Policy Project would like the federal government to legalize the use of medical marijuana. In lieu of that, the group supports efforts to legalize medical marijuana at the state level.

“As long as the federal government is opposed, the states are left to deal with it themselves,” said Dan Bernath, the assistant director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project. He said the federal government has made it clear that it will not target and raid sick individuals who are using marijuana to reduce symptoms and pain.

“There are sick people in New York who are relying on medical marijuana,” Bernath said. “They’re using it with a doctor’s recommendation, and right now they’re criminals for doing so. Arrest is always on their minds. It’s a real fear. They’re forced to go on the street and deal with drug dealers.” People who grow their own marijuana also risk running into trouble with the law, he said. “One of the maddening things about the illegality of medical marijuana is that its safety and efficacy has been established. … Real people really do need this. It’s just unconscionable to let them suffer when we could be doing something to help them.”

[...]

So, 12 states currently allow the use of marijuana for medical use, NY is poised to do the same (although it says it hinges on the federal government approving... I don't see how that would happen). Exactly how many states does it take to realize the benefits before the federal government will stop with their war against this harmless drug?

I do find it interesting NY is going to allow people to grow weed themselves (within guidelines). As pointed out, that is so much safer than the people even going to state-sanctioned sites which, if found, would certainly be a target of federal agents.

[7960]

good luck to him.

but, are cigarettes harmless?

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by 7960

good luck to him.

but, are cigarettes harmless?

Particulates are not harmless, they can cause lung cancer.

But smoking a joint is not the only way to take in the THC from marijuana. THC burns off at a far lower temperature than it takes to ignite the material so it can be inhaled without particulates.

Additionally, let's not forget that even smoking joints would be safer if sources were commercial and verifiable. One of the most dangerous aspects of illegal marijuana is not knowing its source, and it has happened where fiberglass was mixed into the dried leaves.

That is part of what is cool about the NY suggestion of allowing them to grow it themselves in small amounts. They wouldn't need to get the drug from unknown sources. Certainly no one is going to mix their homegrown pot with fiberglass.

[Ardentfrost]

Of course, even then, we're talking medical use of marijuana here. How is "increased chance of lung cancer" any different than "increase chance of heart disease" other legal drugs have (as an example)?

At least with marijuana, there are options for taking the drug that are harmless.

And as always I feel the need to remind everyone that I have never smoked marijuana, never puffed a cigarette, never done any illegal drug and even my legal drug use is limited. I drink on occasion (I'll not deny my love for the taste of beer), and have had maybe 3 prescriptions in my whole life including one for strep and another for mild acid reflux that I could get refilled but I never have.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Particulates are not harmless, they can cause lung cancer.

But smoking a joint is not the only way to take in the THC from marijuana. THC burns off at a far lower temperature than it takes to ignite the material so it can be inhaled without particulates.

You are inhaling smoke...burning shit...with chemicals naturally present in it.

"The smoke from any burning plant contains hundreds of chemicals that may have biological effects . . ."

"Cannabis smoke is similar to tobacco smoke in that it is a mixture of very small particles and a gas-vapor phase. Both the particulate and vapor phases contain many identified and probably some still unidentified constituents that, based on clinical experience with tobacco smoke, must be assumed to be potentially harmful. The amounts of some materials in tobacco cigarete and marijuana cigarette smoke are compared in Table 3. Toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and nitrosamines occur in similar concentrations in tobacco and marijuana smoke; so do the amounts of particulate material known collectively as "tars"." (pg 15)

Erowid Cannabis Vault : Info on Smoke composition

And yes, I read the next paragraph, too. All i said was it's not "harmless" and all I'm talking about is the "inhaling smoke" aspect. There's still the "driving while drugged" part I'm ignoring for now.

[lew]

[Ardentfrost]

Driving is pointless to even bring up. There are plenty of legal drugs with the "do not drive" disclaimer.

Inhaling THC is not the same as inhaling smoke. If you smoke a joint then you are actually burning something and creating particulates which go into your lungs. If you use the vaporization technique, you are not exposing yourself to those particulates. The THC evaporates into the air, you inhale it, nothing has ignited.

It is very different.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Driving is pointless to even bring up. There are plenty of legal drugs with the "do not drive" disclaimer.

that's why I didn't bring it up.

[Dispatcher]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Driving is pointless to even bring up. There are plenty of legal drugs with the "do not drive" disclaimer.

Inhaling THC is not the same as inhaling smoke. If you smoke a joint then you are actually burning something and creating particulates which go into your lungs. If you use the vaporization technique, you are not exposing yourself to those particulates. The THC evaporates into the air, you inhale it, nothing has ignited.

It is very different.

It IS different. But that's not the point. If I was in chronic pain and this helped, I would use it. Legal or not. Harmless or not. Most meds prescribed by doctors are not harmless anyway.

[thewise1]

I've never smoked it (or done it any other way, dunno if you even can) in my life, and I'm glad to see this.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by Dispatcher

It IS different. But that's not the point. If I was in chronic pain and this helped, I would use it. Legal or not. Harmless or not. Most meds prescribed by doctors are not harmless anyway.

Sure, my point was really that the THC in marijuana which can be extracted without igniting the leaves is harmless. People want to argue semantics over marijuana's effects to justify keeping it illegal (I guess).

[WickedLou9]

It really makes no sense to me for it to be illegal. We prescribe Morphine which is a Heroine like substance, and it's controlled and strictly regulated but it's available when it's needed medically. We prescribe stuff like Celebrex which has been shown to directly lead to heart problems and strokes. Marijuana is less dangerous than either of these two yet we keep it illegal. Why? There is no rational reason.

[jimeigh]

i had my wisdom teeth removed last week and i was on Oxycontin for a day. now, that stuff was a kick in the head. marijuana's illegal? come on, now.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

It really makes no sense to me for it to be illegal. We prescribe Morphine which is a Heroine like substance, and it's controlled and strictly regulated but it's available when it's needed medically. We prescribe stuff like Celebrex which has been shown to directly lead to heart problems and strokes. Marijuana is less dangerous than either of these two yet we keep it illegal. Why? There is no rational reason.

1. Black People
2. Mexicans
3. Control
4. Refusal to admit wrong-doing

[thewise1]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

1. Black People
2. Mexicans
3. Control
4. Refusal to admit wrong-doing

5. terrorists and jebus

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

1. Black People
2. Mexicans
3. Control
4. Refusal to admit wrong-doing

According to Hooked: Illegal drugs and how they got that way, it was mostly #2.


That's how we ended up with the stamp act silliness.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by Scrum

According to Hooked: Illegal drugs and how they got that way, it was mostly #2.


That's how we ended up with the stamp act silliness.

It was a lot of #1 too. Musicians accosted outside of Jazz Clubs and shit.

I guess if that's where the white girls are going to hang out, you gotta do something... amirite?

But a lot of western states were pushing for it b/c of #2. They're takin our jerrrbbbssss!!!

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

But a lot of western states were pushing for it b/c of #2. They're takin our jerrrbbbssss!!!

And think of all the black market marijuana that comes from Mexico.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by Scrum

And think of all the black market marijuana that comes from Mexico.

They're taking our jobs! (the jobs we would have if it were federally legal)

[Dispatcher]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

1. Black People
2. Mexicans
3. Control
4. Refusal to admit wrong-doing

You forgot #5 Marijuana doesn't have a huge lobby to buy politicians like drug companies do. And to a politician, marijuana law reform is political suicide.