US Supreme Court outlaws 'medical marijuana'

Published

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Supreme Court refused to sanction the use of marijuana for medical purposes, dashing the hopes of thousands of US patients using the substance for pain relief.

By a vote of six to three, the US high court refused to allow residents in 10 states to use the drug with a doctor's permission and under highly regulated conditions.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050606/pl_afp/usjusticedrugs_050606214414

I really don't get what is the difference between using marijuana for medicinal reasons and using opiates or other CNS drugs.

I think our government has bigger fish to fry. Why pick on these chronic pain sufferers who have found something that works for them?

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

One thing that is not good about smoking the stuff is that it is indeed being smoked. Terrible for the lungs. But there are other ways to take this drug in.

Serious users of medicinal MJ usually do not smoke it. It many areas, it is distilled into a liquid (sometimes called Mother's Milk) and mixed with other liquids/foods or used in baking. It is much more discreet that way and less likely to alert legal authorities...very few are going to confiscate your cookies or your vitamin shake.

The problem is that even in states that have "medicinal MJ" laws, there is widespread abuse. Studies have shown that virtually anyone with several hundred dollars can go to an "MD", answer a few questions, get a script and buy MJ. The corruption is quite widespread in California and well documented.

Also, it begs the question. Zofran/Anzemet/Kytril/Aloxi/Emend are well documented to prevent chemo nausea, yet are prohibitively expensive. Ativan works quite well for nausea, yet many MDs will not prescribe it for fear of "addiction".

Quite frankly, MJ should only be illegally if we ban alcohol and tobacco. But decriminalizing it for medicinal use warrants better regulation, than is currently being done, given the current abuses.

Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

The problem is that even in states that have "medicinal MJ" laws, there is widespread abuse. Studies have shown that virtually anyone with several hundred dollars can go to an "MD", answer a few questions, get a script and buy MJ. The corruption is quite widespread in California and well documented.

Would you post or cite a study please. I looked but didn't find anything. Admittedly, however I didn't look for very long.

Oh. But I did find the story about the grower in a previous post of mine:

http://www.igs.berkeley.edu/library/htMedicalMarijuana2003.html

Interesting is this quote from Justice Thomas' dissent in this case:

"In the early days of the Republic, it would have been unthinkable that Congress could prohibit the local cultivation, possession, and consumption of marijuana."

Jim Huffman, RN

Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

Interesting indeed. I wonder what he meant? That mj was not a taboo as it has been made to be today?

Even worse: cannabis wasn't even illegal in the US until 1937.

George Washington grew the stuff. So did Jefferson. Both of them smoked it, and Jefferson mentions in his diaries that he smoked it to relieve his migraines.

I suspect that while Justice Thomas was familiar with all of that, his main concern is that the various states should have the right to regulate -- or not -- their local areas as they see fit, especially on matters like this, in which the federal government has no need to interfere.

Jim Huffman, RN

I think in this case, for debate purposes, leaving marijuana out of the picture would help since this is about the Constitution, Federal Law and State Law.

It is quite interesting . . .

steph

Did you know that California did a study and found that nearly 90% of those receiving "Medical Marijuana" did not actually have the disease they claimed to? Also, how many of those wanting to legalize MJ before the FDA has concluded it safe would be the first to sue Pfizer for releasing drugs without proper approval.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Would you post or cite a study please. I looked but didn't find anything. Admittedly, however I didn't look for very long.

Having difficulty as google is bringing up a ton of legalize MJ sites.

Within the last two monthes, Fox (yes, I look in both conservative and liberal media) showed a story regarding this issue. Healthy volunteers in California with several hundred dollars was sent into several MD offices. They were subjected to NO tests, were only minimally examined and questioned for a minimal amount of time. They left after paying a higher than average (for that area and level of exam) fee, with prescriptions for MJ and references on where to purchase it. They then proceeded to purchase the drug, and in most cases, there was no limit on the amount that they could buy for a certain time period. This was taped, and for portions, filmed. It was then broadcast on the network. There was ample evidence presented.

O'Reilly and some of the conservative commentators went to town on this.

I personally do not have an issue with the drug being decriminalized for medical use. But it was unreal with the ease that these volunteers could obtain the drug. And when it is that available when not nationally decriminalized, what happens when it is? Such publicity plays right into the hands of those that will not permit medicinal MJ. Because if people are flouting the law on this small level, what will happen on the national scale.

I do not have to believe in banning medicinal MJ, to understand where the other side is coming from. I have seen enough of my oncology patients that have their drugs/scripts "appropriated" by loved ones that then sell the drugs on the street. And there are national concerns..if you make it legal, does medicaid/medicare pay for it? Will insurance pay for it? How are you going to "prove" that someone needs marijuana?

Will keep looking on the links that you requested.

Did you know that California did a study and found that nearly 90% of those receiving "Medical Marijuana" did not actually have the disease they claimed to? Also, how many of those wanting to legalize MJ before the FDA has concluded it safe would be the first to sue Pfizer for releasing drugs without proper approval.

Would you happen to have a link to this study? Also, I agree that medical marijuana can be abused (although I personally believe that it should be legal). What is needed is propper regulation of this drug just as everyother drug is regulated. Many people abuse pain medications but no one doubts they have their propper role. Marijuana is the same thing

You know, I'm not sure why all these goody goodies are so down on some loser trying to get some pot by pretending to have cancer! I mean, you'd think the world was coming to an end!:rolleyes: While we're at it, BTW, lets stop worrying about executing innocent people too. So what if we hurt a few innocent people, as long as we get a guilty one once in awhile!!! :coollook:

Yeah, let those poor suckers with cancer suffer, it serves them right, they might be trying to get high on pot!!!! ( and forget the chronic pain sufferers too, a lot of 'em are drugseekers! Let 'em suffer!!!)

The gov't is against med marijuana, because you can grow it yourself. Better that we are all dependent on vicodin and oxycontin so the drug co can continue to rake in record profits to bribe the politicians with!!!!!!!!!!!

You know, I'm not sure why all these goody goodies are so down on some loser trying to get some pot by pretending to have cancer! I mean, you'd think the world was coming to an end!:rolleyes: While we're at it, BTW, lets stop worrying about executing innocent people too. So what if we hurt a few innocent people, as long as we get a guilty one once in awhile!!! :coollook:

Yeah, let those poor suckers with cancer suffer, it serves them right, they might be trying to get high on pot!!!! ( and forget the chronic pain sufferers too, a lot of 'em are drugseekers! Let 'em suffer!!!)

I've never read anything that says people concerned about marijuana use want people with cancer to suffer, that it serves them right. That is just meanspirited.

steph

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