California State Medical Marijuana Patient Identification

As emotions over medical marijuana and the locations, and numbers of the dispensaries allowed heats up in every city across the state of California… There is still no greater place to live. In one afternoon a properly documented marijuana patients can visit a marijuana doctor, be evaluated, and with 30 min be on his or her way looking for their new favorite medical cannabis club. Of which there are more than a few to choose from.

I think that the medicinal and the recreational use of Marijuana should be allowed and there are facts that support this idea, such as:

More people die from car accidents while under the influence of alcohol than people under the influence of Marijuana.

Smoking tobacco causes more cancer and diseases than the use of Marijuana Even though Marijuana smokers tend to hold in the smoke longer. Smoking tabbaco is legal so what makes weed so much worse?

If the USA were to legalize to recreational use of Marijuana than it would improve our economy. The United States government could tax the buying, selling and trading of pot. The reason why tobacco is legal is just because of all the money that the government gets from taxing it.

If it was legal than there would be less crime. The reason for this is because police try so hard to stop the use of weed but it still happens so the police spends allot of there time trying to catch recreational users of Marijuana. The police should spend there time catching murders and other criminals that are actually doing harm unlike the average pot smoker who's just having a good time. If the police spent there time trying to convince and illustrate people by the media and magazines that marijuana is harmful is much better than they ambush marijuana smokers, because when you just ambush them with out showing them the side effects or the harm of smoking marijuana, if it is really harmful.

“More than 700,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges last year, and more than 5 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses in the past decade. Almost 90 percent of these arrests are for simple possession, not trafficking or sale.” © 2006 NORML

“According to recent statistics provided by the federal government, nearly 80 million Americans admit having smoked marijuana. Of these, twenty million Americans smoked marijuana during the past year. The vast majority of marijuana smokers, like most other Americans, are good citizens who work hard, raise families, pay taxes and contribute in a positive way to their communities. They are certainly not part of the crime problem in this country, and it is terribly unfair to continue to treat them as criminals.” © 2006 NORML

“The majority of epidemiological and animal data demonstrate that the reinforcing properties of marijuana in humans is low in comparison to other drugs of abuse, including alcohol and nicotine. According to the U.S. IOM, fewer than one in 10 marijuana smokers become regular users of the drug, and most voluntary cease their use after 34 years of age. By comparison, 15 percent of alcohol consumers and 32 percent of tobacco smokers exhibit symptoms of drug dependence.” © 2006 NORML In conclusion Marijuana isn't very addictive in comparison.

There should be a limit to how much Marijuana that a person could carry and they should have to be at least 21. Plus there should be a large fine for anyone under the influence of weed while driving or operating machinery just like the laws on the use of alcohol.

If you agree with me than you should sign the online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/Legalize/petition.html also

Marijuana Medicine can help with many ailments. With the recent death of Michael Jackson due to prescribed medications| more and more patients are examining their pill bottles and cannot help but be curious as to what their future holds. Doctors are so swift to write prescriptions for anti-depressants, painkillers, sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Most medical cannabis patients feel that they cannot function on the medications that they have been prescribed for pain, insomnia, depression, etc. and find that they function very well on medical marijuana.

If you are planning on visiting a distant land, then plan on spending some time finding out as much as you can about the particular country and culture you are visiting. You should never think that you will get by on your amazing American charm, and you should never be too naïve or cocky when it comes to learning someone else's social customs. So this means that you must do your homework and find out as much as you can about this cultural experience, especially if you have never been out of the states before. This article is a brief overview of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cultural Etiquette and will give you some of the basic rules of traveling out of the country and things you should do to make your trip go smoothly.

I have already discussed the basic first step with you, which is finding out as much as possible about the country you are visiting. You should learn all about the people, customs, and forbidden things that you will encounter in their society. It would not be a bad idea to find out the names of the President or King of the country. It also would not hurt to learn about the local cuisine. Learning simple yet helpful things about the country itself can help if you happen to get into a crazy situation and can't find your way out of it. Once again don't be cocky and think that just because you are American you don't have to adjust or change who you are for anyone or any culture. You should never go into another person's country thinking that you don't have to follow their rules just because you are from New York or Los Angeles. Many Americans are informal, but don't think that you can go somewhere else and get away with what you may get away with here. Do your research and try your best to fit in, because more than likely the people you are visiting won't care how American you are, you better follow their rules.

Learn the language. I am not saying to go out and take a 5-year Swahili course, although it wouldn't hurt. Take time out to learn basic words and phrases so that you can communicate with the locals, even if it is a bare minimum. Imagine having to go to the restroom so bad and nobody can understand you when you ask them where it is. Or imagine being served a plate of raw snails because you couldn't read the menu. Learning basic sentences can and will help you on your journey. It would be a great idea to take along a simple language book and keep it by your side, just in case your memory isn't that good.

Ok, so you are visiting a country that speaks English, no big deal right? You don't have to learn the language because you already know it. Wrong, think again, you have to remember that Americans tend to use slang while we are talking to one another, and this slang will sound like gibberish to foreigners. Asking a person “Where's your crib?” or “This city is so cool” will probably cause confusion to them. Try to speak basic Standard English and leave out all of the extra jargon.

Take along your business card. This will help because many countries base the way that they treat people on their status. It is also nice to have one side of your business card printed in the language that is most commonly used in the country you are visiting. This is also great for making international contacts and keeping close international friendships. You should research when the best time to present your card to others would be and how to accept when a card is given to you. You should always treat the card that is given to you with respect. Don't just throw it down or away but put it somewhere for future viewing. You should present your card between your thumb and index finger with the side you would like them to read facing up. This makes it easier for the person to take the card and to read it quickly.

Direct eye contact can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on where you are going. Do your research. Some countries consider direct eye contact as being rude, aggressive, or challenging, while others will expect you to stare them right in the face.

Kissing in some countries shows a wonderful display of affection toward the other person whether you know them or not. The most common is “air kissing” or the basic smooch smooch on both cheeks. In America we are more likely to give a firm handshake to one another to show a sign of respect, however, in most countries, handshakes are limp and lifeless, so don't go for the firm handshake. If the person shakes your hand loosely then you try to mimic their action. Some cultures don't want any type of body contact when meeting another person because it is taboo or forbidden. They will probably not like it if you pat them on the back or extend your hand for a handshake, the best option would be to study their cultural customs and abide by them so you don't get into any trouble.

Gifts are a wonderful part of meeting and greeting others. In many countries it is customary to bring a gift when invited to a home or business. For businesses, you will want to do your research because what is acceptable in one country may be strictly forbidden in another. It may not be acceptable for a U.S. businesswoman to present a gift to a male businessman. The women should probably wait to see if she receives a gift from them before giving one. Wrapping the gift is very important in certain countries. The outside of the gift can be just as special as the inside. You should find out what are acceptable colors and styles when it comes to wrapping gifts. Don't try to impress your counterpart with an expensive gift; it may make you seem materialistic. Flowers work very well as gifts especially if you are invited to a home as an honored guest. Be careful when choosing flowers, the type of flower can vary from country to country, so once again do your research.

Conduct yourself at the dinner table the way that your foreign hosts will want you to. Here it may be rude or gross to burp at the table, however, in some countries it is a compliment to the chef. Don't be rude if the host is serving something that you don't like to eat, try it anyways or at least try not to be too overtly grossed out. Learn how you should hold your cup of tea or what dish you should eat first. Scarfing down your food may be rude so try to observe how everyone else is eating, and if you don't know what something is or how to do something, don't be afraid to ask.

Personal space will have a big impact on you when you leave this country. In some countries, the people will be so close together that they will almost be touching, in other countries, the gap may be much farther apart. Study how close the natives are together when they are speaking to one another and try to copy them.

As in this country, always respect your elders. Listen to them when they speak, rise when they enter the room, always treat them with respect. In many countries the elders are highly respected and treated well. In some Asian countries, young people will rise to give their seat to the elderly on a bus. Remember they have been here much longer than you and they deserve your respect.

Research the proper attire that you should wear. In Islamic countries, women are encouraged to cover their hair with the hijab, or headscarf. Wearing what the locals wear will help you to fit in and also give a good impression that you are trying to connect with them and respect their rules and customs. When going on business trips, find out if it is better to wear a business suit or a dashiki.

Green works wonderful in the United States of America, but it may not work where you are planning on visiting. You should estimate or decide how much money you plan on spending and then you should get your green traded in for foreign dollars once you arrive in the country. This will help you to save money because surcharges are placed on each currency exchange transaction.

Don't forget your passport and definitely don't lose it. Your passport and or visa will get you back home God willing, so you should do your best to take very good care of it. You should make sure your passport will still be valid at least six months from the time your arrived and you should check with a travel agent to see if you will need a visa along with your passport. Make sure your passport has your name, address, telephone number of someone to be contacted in case of an emergency, and your photo. You should also keep an extra copy of your photo in another location aside from your passport just in case.

You will need to do some basic but important things before your trip; here is the list.

• Update insurance policies and will, just in case you happen to die on your trip (which I hope that you do not).
• Leave a copy of our power of attorney and itinerary information with a family member or friend.
• Find out if your insurance covers you for theft abroad.
• Find out how to report the loss of a credit card or information. You should probably write down the 1-800 number on the back of the card and keep it in a safe location just in case this happens.
• Carry only basic credit cards and identification with you, try to limit other documents because they may be required to be searched.
• Keep your U.S. identification or driver's license on you at all times. Make sure these have your photo on it.
• You should get an international driver's permit if it is required for the country you are visiting.
• Make at least two copies of credit card numbers, traveler's check numbers, telephone numbers to report lost or stolen cards, and airline ticket numbers.

If you have medical problems you definitely should see your doctor before going abroad. You should have the doctor write out any prescriptions that you may be taking just in case of an emergency. If you think that you will need a doctor abroad, you should check out the American Board of Medical specialist and it's 22 certifying member boards, which may be located at the local library. Take along a copy of your prescriptions, a full supply of any prescription medication you will need, an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses, extra contact cases, international vaccine record certifying you have had all of your vaccinations, list of your blood type, allergies, medical conditions, and special requirements.

Check to see if your health insurance is willing to cover you abroad. You may be excited to know that in some countries, insurance is not required and medical treatment is much cheaper than in the states. However, you will need to be cautious of some treatment facilities. You may also want to get international coverage while you are on your trip, just in case of an emergency.

Try not to look like a tourist. Hawaiian shirts, cameras, binoculars and other tourist paraphernalia will draw immediate attention to you. You want to make sure to dress casual, don't look too much like a traveler, and try to carry your valuables underneath your clothing. Avoid using fanny packs and outside purses.

Tag all of your baggage with your name, home address, phone number and emergency contact information. You should also put your information inside of the luggage just in case the tag happens to fall off. You should secure your luggage with locks; however, they can be broken into, so for more security place a piece of nylon filament tape around the suitcase.

Hotel safety is very important. You should consult a travel agency on the best and safest hotels in the country. You should make your own travel arrangements and reservations, you should use your employer's business address if going on a business trip, you should NOT identify your company, and you should use your own personal credit card to pay your bills. You are very vulnerable while traveling from the airport to the hotel because there are people that wait around to rob tourists who don't have a clue, the best thing to do is to get to your hotel as soon as possible and don't hang around the airport talking or taking pictures, get to your room.

What you should look for in a hotel is very important. You want to feel safe and secure while traveling out of the country. You should ask the hotel for a room between the second and seventh floor. You want to be in a room that is above ground and does not have easy window or sliding door glass access. You also want a room that is not near an elevator or stairwell. When you get to the hotel, scope it out and find the closest fire exits and nearest phones outside of your room just in case of an emergency. Make sure that your room door is secure and locked and always keep your door closed and or locked.

If you are feeling sick, don't waste time thinking that you are going to be ok. Foreign lands can sometimes bring foreign diseases. Get checked out or get to the nearest U.S. embassy to gain access to the local physicians and medical facilities.

Find out where the U.S. Embassy is located in the country you are in. If something should happen you would probably want to locate and get to the U.S. Embassy as soon as possible.

Be safe while traveling. Try to stay out of the crime scene. Here are a few tips for staying safe.

• Never leave your luggage unattended in public areas.
• Never accept packages from strangers.
• Don't look like a tourist; we already went over this one. You should avoid wearing expensive jewelry and don't carry large amounts of money on you.
• When exchanging money only deal with authorized agents.
• Do not publicize your travel plans, or discuss your information with people you don't know.
• Always inspect any gifts you may receive from business or personal contacts.
• You should never pack money, traveler's checks, or expensive valuables in your checked luggage.
• Try to get all of your money exchanged before going abroad, this way you will avoid being a target and getting your money stolen.

When renting a car, you should choose a common model and have the car rental place take all of the markings that will identify that the car is a rental. You should make sure you have universal door locks, power windows, and air conditioner. These luxuries may help to keep you out of a jam and out of the way of thieves targeting tourists. Air conditioners will help because you don't have to role down the windows. With open windows you are allowing unknown persons to come inside of your vehicle. You should always keep your door locked, avoid driving after dark, never leave valuables in your car, do not park the car on the street overnight, if the hotel does not have a parking garage, park your car in a well lit area.

Don't try to bring drugs back with you. We have all heard of Amsterdam and their legality of marijuana and other drugs, but you have to remember, these drugs are illegal in the U.S. and it is illegal to leave the country with paraphernalia. Be smart and don't travel with illegal substances.

Get street smart. Know where you are. Try to know your surroundings. Find out where the U.S. Embassy is located, where the police and fire stations are. Take alternative routes when leaving and returning from your hotel, so that no one can track you down. Learn how to call locally and know the exact amount of change you will need in order to use a pay phone. Keep extra change on you at all times just in case you need to make a local call. Don't go out jogging or walking alone, especially at night in unknown lands. Be careful entering public restrooms and try not to do so alone. Be aware of scams where people may spill a drink on you while someone else is stealing your wallet. Be street smart, not street dumb.

If you are arrested in a foreign country you will probably freak out and think that it is the end. There is hope, however, there are a few tips you will need to follow to get you out of the mess.

• Ask to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate that is representing your country. You will probably have to bug them in order to get this phone call, but don't give up.
• Never provoke the arresting officer.
• Admit or volunteer nothing.
• Never sign anything, especially if it is written in another language. Ask for an attorney or an embassy representative to look over the document before signing it.
• Ask for identification when the person arrives from the embassy. You don't want to end up in more trouble.
• Don't agree to anything. The police may try to bribe you so that you can get out, or they may try to threaten you. Don't agree!!!
• Once you are out contact the local embassy right away and get out of their country.

I hope that this will help you God willing.

Marijuana Medicine has a long history of helping, With the recent death of Michael Jackson due to prescribed medications| more and more patients looking at the prescription drugs and cannot help but be curious as to what their future holds. Doctors are so swift to write prescriptions for anti-depressants, painkillers, sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Most medical cannabis patients feel that they cannot function on the medications that they have been prescribed for pain, insomnia, depression, etc. and find that they function very well on medical marijuana.

Medical cannabis is the use of the components of the marijuana plant for relief of a multitude of medical symptoms and terminal illnesses. A review of the study literature in 2002 shows that the benefits of medically used cannabis to be effective relief for a variety of symptoms. There have been numerous studies all over the world in major countries that lead the world in medical advances indicating the use to be beneficial. The most recent study in the United Kingdom found the use promising in even more neurological disorders and chronic pain sufferers than first indicated.

The studies have proven the use of medical marijuana to be most beneficial for muscle spasm and skeletal disorders such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and partial seizures, spasms of cerebral palsy and spinal injuries. It was also indicated as a bronchodilator for asthma. The oldest indication for the use of marijuana is for nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy drugs. It also reduces chronic loss of appetite for cancer and AIDS patients, and reduces the inflammatory process in inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Now the studies are headed in the direction of mental illness such as bipolar, depression, mood disorders attention deficit disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. This is only a tip of the iceberg. There are many other conditions that are being trialed for the use of cannabis. The Australian Parliamentary Library at www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/20 has conducted many studies

Cannabidiol also known as “CBD” is the component of the marijuana plant that is found to be of the greatest benefit. This component is extracted and is what is used for the medical purposes described above. Studies have actually found that CBD inhibits the growth of the cancer cell, so it is definitely leading to some promising interventions for terminal illness. The use of medical marijuana has been approved in certain states in the United States, but remains a federal crime. It is available only by prescription and each state has its own statutes on how much one is allowed to grow and possess. There are some synthetic derivatives that are available is various forms. Nabilone approved for use in 1985 is in pill form, but most cancer patients have difficulty swallowing this pill because of the mouth sores and the irritated throats from all the vomiting. It was then converted into a crystallized powder that can be sprinkled on anything the patient likes. Marinol approved in 1992 is in pill form only, and sativex approved in Canada in 1995 and 1997 is a sublingual spray.

Patients are allowed to cultivate and smoke the plant if they so chose, and as said before each state has their own laws governing the amount one can possess. The effects of smoking marijuana are immediate; which is very different than waiting for a pill to disintegrate and migrate throughout the bloodstream to become effective. Eight States started to approve the use in 1970 and more in 1980 as more studies were proving the benefits, even though these state approvals defied the policies of the federal government.

Since the proof has become overwhelming there have been twelve medical organizations that have supported the use of medical marijuana including The American Medical Association. Although there are some organizations that have not come on board, even though it helps the patients they represent. Organizations such as American Cancer Society, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

There is criticism against the use of medical marijuana; in 2006 the FDA advised against smoking the drug because smoking is harmful. According to the website Wikipedia, the Institute of Medicine conducted studies that showed there were no benefits for any of these conditions and that smoking marijuana is highly addictive and does not mitigate any symptoms or promote treatment None of the studies claim to reverse or cure these diseases, the use is merely a way to keep these patients more comfortable and give them back a certain quality of life that they may not have had if not for the medical use of marijuana.

Availability is not as widespread as one would think with all the new evidence. It is available is Austria, Canada, Spain and the United States. An example of one of the thirteen states that has approved marijuana use for medical purposes is Rhode Island. The State allows a patient under the care of a practitioner for the following diseases cachexia, cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis C, debilitating pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe muscle spasm, multiple sclerosis, crohns, IBS and alzheimers disease. The patient or the primary caregiver may legally possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana and/or twelve plants stored at an indoor facility. The state does have a registry and issues identification cards stating the marijuana is for medical purposes and is legal for them to carry. Most states have similar laws and similar amounts stated in the law. Each state has their own website to see what the regulations are; however, you can find Rhode Island's regulations at www.health.state.ri.us if you need an application and believe you fall within these guidelines the website is www.health.ri.gov/hsr/mmp/index.php.

It has been used all through history ancient Greece, ancient India, Ancient Egypt, Medieval Islamic world all used cannabis for the same symptoms that we are studying now; everything from glaucoma to mental illness to spastic muscle diseases. The studies need to continue to find out more about its benefits. If it makes a terminally ill person more comfortable during their illness and in their last days, why shouldn't they have that right? Would you take away a cancer patient's morphine during the same time frame because it's addictive?

There are some other studies that can be referenced through their websites:

Cannabidiol A novel inhibitor of Id-I gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells

Cannabis in the Ancient World Cannabis Effects www.lycos.com/info/cannibas-effects

Synthetic THC / Marinol www.ardpark.org/marinol_research.htm

The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical cannabis patients and their medical marijuana collective as long as they comply to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday (4/26/2010).

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medicinal marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.

Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

California is unique among those for the presence of dispensaries — businesses that sell medical pot and even advertise their services.

A.G. Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.

A 3-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the fourteen states and also to top officials at the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.

At the same time, the officials said, the government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity. The memo particularly warns that some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business.

In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or other crimes.

And while the policy memo describes a change in priorities away from prosecuting medical marijuana cases, it does not rule out the possibility that the federal government could still prosecute someone whose activities are allowed under state law.

The memo, officials said, is designed to give a sense of prosecutorial priorities to U.S. Attorneys in the states that allow medical marijuana. It notes that pot sales in the United States are the largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

Shortly after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

___

On the Net:

Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/

Medical Marijuana became legal in 1996 when California voters approved Proposition 215, known as the Compassionate Use Act. The proposition removed state-level criminal penalties for the use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana by patients who have received recommendations by their physician.

In 2003, Senate Bill 420, known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act, was signed into law. The act established statewide guidelines outlining the amount and weight of marijuana a patient and their caregivers may posses and grow. Patients who have received physician recommendations may possess no more than eight ounces of dried marijuana and/or six mature (or 12 immature) marijuana plants. Counties and local municipalities may approve local ordinances permitting patients to possess larger quantities of marijuana.The bill also mandates the California Department of State Health Services to establish a voluntary medicinal marijuana patient registry and identification card program to qualified patients. Senate Bill 420 also granted right to medical marijuana collectives.

Medical Marijuana collectives, also known as dispensaries or clinics, provide their members access to medical marijuana. Dispensaries offer marijuana in a variety of forms, from traditional bud to smoke, to edible treats. “The dispensaries range from Hollywood-day-spa fabulous to shoddy-looking storefronts with hand-painted billboards.'' “Across California there are an estimated 2,100 dispensaries, co-operatives, wellness clinics and taxi delivery services in the sector known as “cannabusiness”. That is more than all the Starbucks, McDonald's and 7-Eleven outlets in the state put together.”''

Los Angeles police to raid medical marijuana stores

California dreaming of full marijuana legalisation

Cannabis is not physically addictive, despite what many anti-medical marijuana people want us to believe. Cannabis Patients users can use it regularly, even multiple times daily, without any problem giving it up.

The National Enquirer is claiming that Track Palin, the eldest son of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, was a drug-addicted hard-partying teenager whose participation in a monumental act of vandalism forced him to choose between jail or the Army. Using unnamed sources in and around Wasilla, Alaska, the Palin family's hometown, the Enquirer alleges that it discovered that Track Palin was addicted to Oxycontin, a powerful pain killer, for the better part of the past two years.

Sarah Palin, Track's mother, was present at the send-off for her son Track's Army unit, which was being deployed to the Iraq. Acting in her capacity as the Governor of Alaska, she gave a speech to the troops in which she told the soldiers that they were taking on the enemies of America, including terrorists responsible for the 9/11 Attacks.

An enthusiastic suporter of the Iraq War, Sarah Palin has told the press that she is proud of her son's service with the U.S. Army.

The National Enquirer justifies its digging into Sarah Palin's family background on the grounds that she is exploiting her family for political ends. Palin has been using Track Palin's enlistment in the Army and his imminent service in Iraq to make political capital. During the interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson, she made what might be a Freudian slip, insisting that Track's decision to join the Army was his “independent” decision, and his decision alone. The National Enquirer believes that a judge encouraged the youngster to serve his country rather than serve time in jail.

In its most recent issue, the National Enquirer is expanding on its “revelations” that Sarah Palin allegedly had an affair with her husband's business partner. The Enquirer has cast a broader net and is now published “revelations” about her children.

The super rmarket tabloid alleges that her son Track Palin and her daughter Bristol are “hard partiers” with a taste for dope (and in Bristol's case, for fooling around with all comers). Whether the revelations are true likely is beside the point. The John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign is being criticized by the liberal and moderate press for trafficking in lies and for being engaged in the sleaziest electioneering since the knock-out, drag-out electoral fights of the 19th Century. The editors of the Enquirer would argue that Sarah Palin, as an Evangelical Christian, is conversant with the Bible: What you sow, you shall reap.

What Sarah Palin has reaped is a story claiming that her 19-year-old son Track is an OxyContin addict. A powerful analgesic that has become popular with substance abusers, OxyContin is nick-named “Hillbilly heroin.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration describes the drug thusly: “OxyContin® is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high pain relief….OxyContin® contains oxycodone, the medication's active ingredient, in a timed-release tablet. Oxycodone products have been illicitly abused for the past 30 years.”

It is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic.

The DEA notes that the problem with OxyContin addiction reached Alaska and Hawaii in the early parts of the decade.

According to the anonymous Wasilla source that gave the Enquirer the skinny on Track's bad-boy ways, Track has even gone so far to snort and inject OxyContin for a better high.

In the recent Saturday Night Live episode, with Tina Fey portraying Sarah Palin, the simulacrum of the Republican Vice Presidential nominee says, “What an amazing time we live in to think that just two years ago, I was a small-town mayor of America's crystal meth capital, and now I am just one heartbeat away from being the President of the United States,” Fey chirped.

Bristol Palin also comes under the microscope for more scrutiny by the supermarket tabloid. The Enquirer, citing “another family friend” as a source, is quoted saying, “Bristol was a huge stoner and drinker. I've seen her smoke pot and get drunk and make out with so many guys. All the guys would brag that the just made out with Bristol.”

Sarah Palin allegedly was so outraged at her daughter's getting knocked up, she banished her from the governor's mansion in Juneau. Bristol Palin went to live with Sarah's sister, until the family was reunited to further the governor's career.

Bad Boy

The National Enquirer's source also characterized Track Palin as manipulative, using his mother's status as a heavyweight Republican politician in Alaska (she was the mayor of Wasilla for eight years) to get sex from the local girls. He allegedly also manipulated his male friends into stealing things for him.

Track Palin also allegedly loved to drink and smoke marijuana and was involved in an incident in which 44 school buses were vandalized in 2005. Four teenagers were involved in the incident, and three were caught and sentenced by the courts to pay restitution and serve a sentence of in-house arrest. Two members of the posse that vandalized the buses has never been revealed.

The progressive radio station 1080 KUDO (Anchorage) reported a fortnight ago that Track Palin was the fourth, unidentified teenager who took part in the rampage. Citing an anonymous courthouse sources, KUDO reported that Track, who was then 16 years old, initiated the incident when he stole a bottle of booze. The drunken teenagers then deflated the tires on 44 buses and broke the mirrors and disconnected the engine block heaters (a necessity in freezing Alaska) of 110 buses.

The vandals were nothing if not industrious. The attack was carried out in sub-zero temperatures.

A National Enquirer writer appearing on the Howard Stern Show on radio claimed that Track, whose involvement in the episode of vandalism was covered up, was ordered by the judge to join the Army or be sanctioned by the court.

The New York Daily News disputes the allegation that Track Palin was part of a gang that vandalized the school buses. The Daily News interviewed 20-year-old Deryck Harris, who was convicted of participating in the incident and was sentenced to pay $4,000 in restitution and put in household detention for 90 days. That entailed his wearing an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his whereabouts. He also was sentenced to perform community service and was put on probation for give years

“Track wasn't with me,” Harris told the Daily News. “Track had nothing to do with it,”

Harris told the Daily News that Track was one of his buddies, but that he wasn't there the night of the incident. He also denies that his friend was forced to join the service. “I talked to him before he joined, and he was trying to decide between the Marines and the Army,” Harris told the Daily News. It was totally his decision.”

Harris' contention that Track Palin was not one of the unidentified teens who took place in the vandalism incident was confirmed by a mother of another boy who was convicted of the crime. According to Capi Coon, “Track Palin was not involved.”

Sources:

National Enquirer, “PALIN FAMILY SHOCKERS: WHAT SARAH'S REALLY HIDING!”

New York Daily News, “Reports that Track Palin vandalized school buses aren't true, says pal”

Additional Links:

What Books Did Sarah Palin Try to Have Banned from the Wasilla Public Library?

Was Sarah Palin a Buchanannite? Did She Support Pat Buchanan's Presidential Campaign in 2000?

What College Did Sarah Palin Graduate From? What was Her Major in College?

How Old is Sarah Palin? What Generation Does She Belong To? is She a Member of Generation X?

Recently, a survey of medical marijuana patients show cannabis is being used by many people to treat depression with good results. Many studies also show that medical marijuana patients who have depression as a result of another debilitating disease, such as cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis or chronic pain, report less depression symptoms with the use of medical marijuana.

For two years, Madeleine did everything her doctor advised to treat her fibromyalgia. She tried Tylenol, Tramadol and then Aleve for the pain. Prozac did little if anything to help her sleep or relax. She briefly took an anti-seizure medicine that sometimes helps reduce fibromyalgia symptoms.

She left counseling after just one session because the therapist suggested the pain helped her get attention. Physical therapy and various hot and cold compresses failed to lessen her discomfort. An acupuncture session left her in more burning pain than when she arrived for the appointment.

Fed up, Madeleine joined a growing group of individuals with fibromyalgia. They're the patients who turn to medical marijuana, or cannabis, to control their pain.

How fibromyalgia affects patients

According to the Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of the individuals living in the United States. The risk of developing the condition increases with age, and women are far more susceptible to it than men are. While signs of fibromyalgia sometimes appear after some type of physical or emotional difficulty, for many patients, doctors never find a trigger.

Most patients describe their pain as a constant dull ache, though some experience burning sensations. They state that the pain feels as though it originates in their muscles. Some experience pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist. Many fibromyalgia sufferers complain that they just plain hurt all over and feel exhausted.

Patients usually cite a number of places on the body so tender that even a small amount of pressure hurts. The classic tender points of fibromyalgia are the back of the head, between the shoulder blades, top of the shoulders, front sides of the neck, upper chest, outer elbows, upper hips, sides of the hips and the inner knees.

Health care providers connect fibromyalgia pain to the theory of central sensitization. This theory suggests that affected patients have a lower-than-normal threshold for pain linked to their brains' heightened sensitivity to pain signals.

Experts have concluded that repetitive nerve stimulation eventually causes the brains of these patients to have abnormally high levels of neutrotransmitters, chemicals that signal pain. They also believe the pain receptors somehow learn to remember the pain over time. This leads to overacting to the pain signals emitted.

How marijuana helps

CNNHealth reports that standard medications relieve the pain in less than half the fibromyalgia patients who try them. Physicians consider it a difficult condition to treat.

Another hurdle to treating these patients is that most need a variety of medications for other conditions like sleeplessness, depression and restless legs. Marijuana by itself can successfully treat multiple symptoms for many patients, however.

The human body manufactures endorphins, which are chemicals that are natural pain relievers. It also produces other substances that provide pain relief in the endocannabinoid system. This system regulates how an individual reacts to pain. The cannabinoids in marijuana closely resemble those the body produces naturally.

Drawbacks

Even if a patient lives in one of the 13 states where medical marijuana is legal, there are some drawbacks to attempting to use herbal cannabis for fibromyalgia pain. For starters, it's made up of around 60 distinct compounds potentially capable of interacting with each other.

The amount of these compounds isn't standard. Since marijuana is grown, not manufactured, each batch can vary.

Doctors admit that their fibromyalgia patients frequently ask them about using marijuana to control symptoms. Their hope is that researchers will synthesize some of the compounds in cannabis to effectively help these individuals after the appropriate clinical trials.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic site

CNNHealth site

Fear and Loathing Cannabis in Las Vegas

Thanks to medical marijuana it seems that Nev…of all states, is looking at getting involved in the distribution of medical cannabis. I'm currently in Las Vegas right now doing a little research into the different medical marijuana doctors offices that are here, if any.

Well it looks like Nevada is starting to try and figure out their role in the distribution of medical marijuana in the state. I'm currently in Las Vegas right now doing a little research into the different medical cannabis doctors offices that are here, if any.

THC, the main chemical component in medical cannabis, is a natural antiemetic and can help battle chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). CINV can cause patients to stop much needed treatment due to the intolerable side effects. Although recent advances have resulted in new medications to fight CINV, some patients prefer using a more natural way to treat these symptoms. Many Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Centers patients report improvement in their quality of life with less CINV when they use medical marijuana before, during, and after their chemotherapy treatments.

Despite the strong voter support and health advocates for the legalization of medical marijuana, the Congress still holds the power to decide if states will be able to legalize the drug. Many Americans do not feel that this is fair, however, the Congress can prohibit the drug’s legalization according to the United States Constitution, the U.S. House of Representative and Supreme Court votes, and the Controlled Substance Act. 

Medical marijuana use has proven to be effective in many patients suffering terminal and painful diseases. People who undergo pain from illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and epilepsy have found medicinal marijuana extremely helpful in the treatment of their symptoms. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, during the year 1999, the most comprehensive study of medical marijuana’s effectiveness to date by the Institute of Medicine, concluded, “Nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety…all can be mitigated by marijuana.” This statement opened the doors for many people in over 26 states to support the legalization of the drug. However, despite the strong support for the legalization, Congress still holds firm that they will not allow the legalization without their approval, regardless of the majority of Americans who have voted to legalize the drug. 

In July of 1787, five members of the Committee of Detail began arranging and preparing the United States Constitution. This Committee was in favor of allowing the United States Constitution to have “essential principles only; lest the operations of government should be clogged by rendering those provisions permanent and unalterable which ought to be accommodated to times and events.” 

During their task they were able to enumerate 18 powers for Congress, the 18th power being the “Elastic Clause.” This clause gave Congress the complete authority “to make all laws that shall be necessary for carrying into execution the foregoing powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States.” The Committee decided that along with the decision to enforce the “Elastic Clause” they would also implement the “Supremacy Clause”. 

According to article VI, Paragraph 2 of the United States Constitution the “Supremacy Clause” states, “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.” 

This portion of the United State Constitution solidifies the fact that everyone must follow the federal law even if it conflicts with state law. Valid state laws or court orders cannot override the federal law because the United States Constitution clearly states that federal law is supreme to anything in the Constitution or laws from any state to the contrary notwithstanding. These two clauses make it nearly impossible for a state to legalize medical marijuana without authority from the U.S. Congress.
June 14, 2005 lawmakers of the House of Representatives voted 161-264 against a law stating that the federal government could not prosecute patients who use medical marijuana under a physician’s orders in states that allow the practice. The Congress could have had the opportunity to prohibit the Justice Department from spending money to undermine state medical marijuana laws, however, the 161 votes for the bill did not pass even though it was the most votes that had ever been received during the past three years that the amendment has been offered. This vote came one week after a 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court that the federal government can still enforce national anti-drug laws in the states that allow medical marijuana uses. This decision ultimately gave Congress the right to regulate and decide about medical marijuana use regardless of state laws. 

Many people have opposing views on the Supreme Court and House of Representatives’ decisions; however, their arguments have not won. Several of the lawmakers believed that allowing states to set their own medication policy would undermine the Food and Drug Administration, which has the responsibility of approving new drugs and monitoring their safety. 

These federal laws continue to be in effect regardless of the 99% of arrests made from marijuana use at the state and local levels. The current states that successfully remove state-level criminal penalties for growing and or possessing medical marijuana include: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The most recent passing of a medical marijuana bill would be the state of Rhode Island. In 1998, District of Columbia voters were 69% in favor of approving a medical marijuana initiative, however, the Congress was able to void the results because the District of Columbia is a federal district and not a state. 

The use of medical marijuana is considered one of the most supported social issues in the drug policy reform. According to a 1999 Gallop poll, 73% of Americans were in favor of marijuana being legal if prescribed by a doctor to reduce pain and suffering associated with severe illnesses; and in a 2004 poll arranged by AARP, 72% of Americans ages 45 and older were in favor of marijuana being legalized for medicinal purposes. However, Congress refuses to give up their power to decide what laws can be effective. 

The Controlled Substance Act is another way that the federal government fights drug abuse. According to The Controlled Substances Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, “The law is a consolidation of numerous laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances.” 

This act makes it very clear that Congress must control and distribute any and all drugs in the best interest of the public. Marijuana is considered to be a Schedule I substance, which is defined as having a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. However, scientific research contradicts this statement due to the fact that marijuana has been proven to have positive medicinal effects on patients. There have been many petitions in favor of rescheduling marijuana submitted to the Food and Drug Administration over the last 30 years. However, the most recent petition submitted in 2002, by the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, still hasn’t received any responses from the administration. 

So, does Congress have the authority to prevent states from legalizing marijuana use for medicinal purposes? The answer is yes. The United States Constitution clearly states that the Congress has the right to override anything in the U.S. Constitution or from any state. The Supreme Court and House of Representatives final votes as well as the Federal laws that back them up solidify their rights to do so. Should America continue to fight against these prohibitions? Yes! Americans should. If the American people continue to stand up for what they believe in and continue to fight for those who need medicinal marijuana the most, there is no limit to what the future of medicine can achieve.

[flickr(medical Marijuana}]

Patients with spinal cord injuries with paralysis of their legs and/or arms, often have severe chronic pain and muscle spasms. The conventional treatment for these symptoms is synthetic medications, including high dose opiates, tranquilizers, and sedatives. Medication of this type have noteworthy, and unhelpful side effects that can even turn out to be fatal if taken together or incorrectly Many of these types of patients have already found tremendous relief with medical cannabis use and find that they do not need prescription medications. There have been a number of scientific studies that found THC (the main compound in cannabis) to be effective in reducing spasticity (muscle spasms).

The Controversial Medical Marijuana Topic
Medical Marijuana continues to rear its head in the political arena. It’s an emotionally charged issue on both sides, and among some people, “them’s fightin’ words”. Of course, there are also the people who don’t seem to really care one way or the other. The ones who figure it doesn’t affect them, so why should they waste time thinking about it? Maybe you’re one of them.

Pay Attention, Big Brother is Talking
Something that fascinates me is that many of the people most vehemently opposed to it have no experience with a chronic or terminal illness, or marijuana. They often think they have all the facts about marijuana, but what they usually have is something from the government’s anti-marijuana propaganda.  

I am a leukemia survivor who did two years of chemotherapy as a medical marijuana practitioner. I’m not looking to debate or argue, just to share my experience in hopes that people might pause to reconsider their stance, maybe even change their minds.  

Come Walk in My Shoes?
Leukemia is cancer of the blood. In addition to the chemotherapy, I also had nearly three weeks of brain radiation. There are no words to adequately express how it felt. I had no idea a human being could be so miserable. Once, I vomited for nearly six hours. Of course, I emptied out quickly and most of that time was spent dry heaving. Unless you have experienced this, you don’t know how bad it hurts. I was gulping water between heaves, hoping that having something to bring up might ease the pain. It didn’t.

Brain radiation sucks all your strength. By the end of the treatments, I wasn’t able to be on my feet and moving more than an hour a day. And that’s a total of the five minutes here and five minutes there involved in getting to the next radiation treatment, getting water, and getting to the restroom.

Chemotherapy is an “umbrella” word that covers a wide variety of anti-cancer medications. Depending on the medication, chemo may be administered orally (through the mouth), intravenously (through the vein), intrathecally (through the spine, to make sure it gets to your brain), subcutaneously (injected into the skin), and in a few situations, as a topical (on the surface of the skin) cream.

You have no idea how your body will react and it can be different each time. The methotrexate that made you swell up and vomit for six hours the last time you took it, might just give you seizures today. In fact, why don’t we take a look at some of the side effects for methotrexate?

• Thinned or brittle hair
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Mouth blisters
• Fatigue
• Painful urination
• Red urine
• Black, tarry stools
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Congestion
• Fever
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Swelling of the feet or ankles
• Vomiting
• Pain in the joints
• Seizures
• Severe skin rash
• Dry cough
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Weakness
• Yellowness of skin or eyes
• Enlargement of the lymph nodes
• Decreased number of blood cells in the bone marrow
• Cancerous Lymphomas
• Severe damage to the liver, kidney, lungs and gastrointestinal tract (sometimes fatal)

If I may be so bold as to quote myself from another article I wrote on this topic:

“I think they should just make a generic label for chemo meds, something like the warning on cigarette packages: A warning from the Surgeon General: We have no idea what the hell will happen to you when you take these pills. Best wishes and good luck.”

One of the most common arguments against medical use of marijuana is the “potential side effects”. That seems kind of a joke next to the side effects from chemotherapy. I suppose it’s because chemotherapy is legal. Does that make sense to you? 

What are the side effects of marijuana anyway? 

1. Drowsiness/sleepiness
Trust me, with the insomnia induced from brain radiation, chemotherapy drugs, and the stress of wondering if you’ll survive the chemo, never mind the cancer, you will come to appreciate the drowsiness it offers.

2. Temporary problems with short-term memory
“Short-term memory? What’s that?” asked the woman who had her brain microwaved for three weeks. Someone did suggest to me that I drown my miseries in alcohol, but the more I thought about it, the less sense it made.

With marijuana, you sometimes forget what you went to the other room to grab. With alcohol, you sometimes forget where you live, what color car you own and where you left it, and that you are married.

3. Increased appetite
Nausea and loss of appetite are two of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. In addition to the increased appetite, marijuana controls nausea. It’s a double whammy bonus that can make the critical difference in how your treatment goes. If you don’t eat, you have no strength, if you force yourself to eat but then throw it up, you still have no strength.

This may very well be the greatest benefit of marijuana during chemotherapy. You need to be taking in enough calories for your body to do its normal functions, to fight the cancer, and to perpetually heal itself from the side effects of the chemotherapy. It’s a downhill domino effect, unless you can find a way to hold down food. Marijuana provides that way.

4. A calming effect
Well, you’re in the hospital, on your deathbed, putting toxic waste in your body to fight the cancer that’s trying to kill you. Your whole life is on hold, your kids are in someone else’s hands, you are too weak to even move yourself, and the crazy treatments that you are taking are just as likely (or more likely) to kill you than the cancer is. What’s there to be freaked out about?

Sure, I could have asked for a Valium or something, but why should I have to take another laboratory-created chemical pill when I can use a natural herb that addresses not only the nerve issues, but most of the other side effects as well? Before the horrible Leukemia adventure, I didn’t even take aspirin.

In the final analysis, isn’t it my body? Shouldn’t I have the right to choose what I want to put in it? How I want to cope with my own personal pain? Why should a natural herbal choice cause so much commotion? Does anyone lobby against the herbal teas that claim to put you to sleep?

More Pot Propaganda
Right about now conventional anti-marijuana wisdom will step up to say that it’s not regulated, and therefore I may possibly harm myself with an overdose. No person in history has ever died of a marijuana overdose. Not one. You can’t kill yourself with marijuana, even if you try really, really hard. The most that will happen to you is that you’ll fall asleep after eating one more cookie that you didn’t really need.

It’s not like alcohol and the often fatal alcohol-poisoning that comes from legally overdosing on that at the local bar. Of course, not all alcohol overdose ends in death for the drinker, there are also all those cases of the ones who make it out of the bar and onto the road, where they cross over the double line and kill innocent people who on their way home from the grocery store. 

Smoking is Bad for You! 
This is a true statement.  But it should be noted that tobacco cigarettes are far more dangerous than marijuana cigarettes, have no medicinal value whatsoever, on the contrary, they are responsible directly or indirectly for the majority of deaths in the United States, yet they are completely legal.  But that's a conversation for another day.

It is not necessary to smoke marijuana to reap its benefits.  Marijuana is an herb, and like most other herbs that you have ever heard of, it's edible.  There are lots of marijuana recipes out there, but people seem to be familiar with the marijuana brownie.  Those work, and work well.  

I have a friend who was fading away from lung cancer.  He was ready to give up, tired of living weak and defeated.  He had heard about marijuana helping with chemo, but didn't know there was a way around smoking it.  His wife learned how to make marijuana cookies and everything turned around.  He experienced the appetite increase, ate better than he had in months, and got stronger everyday.  And he felt a lot better. These positive changes encouraged him to keep fighting; suddenly the battle didn't seem quite over.  Last time I saw him, he looked more like a triathlete than a cancer patient.

It’s Against the Law!
This is also a true statement; it is indeed against federal law to use marijuana for any purpose at all, including medical. At one point in time, it was against the law for a woman or person of color to vote, or for a person with a dark skin to drink from the same water fountain as a person with fair skin. Just because a law is in place, does not mean it is a just law.

Before the prohibition, there was no law against alcohol. Then the prohibition became a law. Then after organized crime found their place in the world—thanks to the prohibition, the prohibition law was repealed. Laws can be changed, and it is obvious that many should be.

Why Should You Care?
When discussing the legalities of marijuana as medicine, it is important to remember that we are not talking about some abstract legislation that affects people who want a permit  to go duck hunting in their bare feet on volcano peaks. We are talking about the government telling you what you can and cannot do to deal with the potentially fatal illness that you are dealing with. We are talking about the government wanting to lock sick people in jail for wanting relief from their sufferings. We are talking about the government threatening to arrest and jail your doctor if he suggests that marijuana, an herb (like chamomile) that you can grow for free (pharmaceutical companies don’t like that) in your backyard, might help you to feel better.

Maybe you are still thinking, so what? It’s not my problem, I don’t have cancer. It’s very easy to be apathetic about something that you don’t think affects you, but statistics say that one in three people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. That’s a big percentage of the population.

If you are one of the lucky ones who fall in the other two-thirds, consider the fact that you will definitely be the spouse, child, sibling, parent, other family member, co-worker, or friend of a cancer patient. Sometimes I think it might be worse to have to watch someone you love suffer.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not asking anyone to mandate that every sick person use marijuana. I’m not asking you to take marijuana. All I’m saying is that when it’s you or someone you love going through it, you are going to want all options open. It’s all about options and personal choice. It’s about the government not poking their nose in your medical records and harassing you while you are dying.

So it is about you. And you. And you. And me. We’re all in this together. And we’ve only covered the benefits for chemotherapy patients. We haven’t even got a chance to hear from all the others. I’ll have to step down off my soapbox now and clear the way for one of them. I know what I’ve heard, but I haven’t had glaucoma, or anorexia, or…

If you’re one of those people who feel that I ought to be in jail for surviving leukemia with a little herbal assistance, please think about your position. Don’t wait until it’s too late to see that the grass really is greener on the other side. The side that cares about your right to dignity, relief, and freedom while you are ill. No one should have to fight cancer and their own government at the same time.