AMA New Policy a Breakthrough!
November 12th, 2009Posted by donmorgan
The American Medical Association’s reversal of its 72 year old position supporting marijuana as a Schedule I substance with no medical value, is a remarkable breakthrough. Sunil Aggarwal, Ph.D., who is part of the Medical & Scientific Advisory Board of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), was the primary leader in initiating this change. He deserves a great deal of appreciation from us.
Over and over again in the past the previous AMA position was used as a justification to prevent progress for safe access to needed medicine. Now with both the AMA and the US Department of Justice changing their policies, there is a profound shift in the landscape for gaining safe access for medical cannabis patients. A big thank you goes to Dr. Sunil Aggarwal for his successful leadership in this!
Don Morgan
November 13th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
It’s hard to fathom that there are still those people who believe the negative hype about Marijuana being a poison. They need to do some SERIOUS research before they make judgement. The herb, Marijuana, has been proven, via numerous studies (mostly done abroad), clinical trials, etc… to be helpful in the treatment of many conditions.
One that touches my family is severe Tourettes Syndrome. In a nutshell: instead of numerous harmful drugs and drug “cocktails” prescribe by doctors ( top specialists) Marijuana has eliminated the need for ALL drugs, along with their dangerous side effects (dulling of the senses, lethargy,heart palpatations, breathing difficulties, allergic reactions, possible strokes or heart attack, liver damage and on and on). After 15 yrs of this,ekgs and emergency room visits, one young person in our family with severe Tourettes now has a life! (We do have other members that have inherited this too, and are also finding relief, at last.) A small amount, every couple of days, provides relief from the constant and often painful ticcing, large and small motor movments, as well as verbals etc.. Members of our family, from young to members in their 90’s, call Marijuana a “Miracle”, and fully support federal legalization. Treat this herb as Alcohol was treated after repeal of prohibition. Don’t invade personal privacy, holding the threat of arrest at any time. Or, making video of patients, who already have enough difficulties and challenges, be reasonable, compassionate, with a dose of common sense. Edibles MUST be allowed… with Tourettes, depending on metabalism, the benefits last longer and control better when marijuana is ingested.
As far as learning and brain function: one family member is a Science major, with a minor in Physics (including high level math) and pulling a 4.0… this person (with severe Tourettes and now using Marijuana alone) is doing better than ever!! Not to mention now being able to go out in public without the stares, rude comments or ridicule… since most people think Tourettes is funny… the cursing etc… It’s not.. it can also be quite painful, not to mention isolating. Preplanning any excursion, even to the store.. or midnight movies, so as not to bother anyone… believe me it takes over your life!!
This is but one condition the herb, Marijuana, helps. The true dispensaries are very serious about their conduct, as are Pharmacies (which, with a prescription, you can get really dangerous, but needed, drugs.).
We really need to push for FEDERAL legalization, or these patients, in addition to their physical challenges, will be captives of the state of California (or whichever state they live in), unable to freely travel with their prescribed drug, and thus discriminated against, contrary to the coverage alloted to the disabled by federal protection laws.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Totally agree.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Thank you for your insite and message or hope. We are beginning to see the benefits, we still have some behavior issues, but with the years of wrong medication and facing everyday people with no referance having to deal with this or any other medical condition that has an impact on your whole life it is understandable that it will take some time to rebuild the trust and bonds that need to mend…My hope is that the mending will be stronger in the roots of compasion that which you talked about in your writing. This Thanksgiving we truey have someting to be thankful for, we’d love to support your Thanksgiving event..Not sure if we can make it this year we may need a priviate celebration of our own first.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
“The American Medical Association’s reversal of its 72 year old position supporting marijuana as a Schedule I substance with no medical value, is a remarkable breakthrough.”
AMA was opposed to the “Marihuana Tax Act of 1937″, and Cannabis only became a “Schedule I substance” on Nixon’s watch, in 1970.
See: http://www.druglibrary.net/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm
Nonetheless, it is a long overdue change of their “official position” now that they’re opposing the continued egregious mis-classification of Cannabis within CSA Schedule I.
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
The American Journal of Medicine, has published several articles on the subject. In 1988 my Aunt, a licensed vocational nurse, told me not to smoke cigs, pot was not dangerous, “its only the gov’t that cant legalize it, they lose money if the drug companies go under from a natural substance that heals and relieves.”
Personal note, I had spent many years (better than 10) using anti-depressants and anti-psych. After they damn near killed me trying to solve a problem all the medications created, I am back to using natural measures. I feel better, am not a zombie, lost weight, have only mild depression (seasonal) and asthma. My heart is healthy again, my liver damage was mild, my head is clear, i dont suffer the pain i had from the severe interations and doses of these meds. but the fact remains, that cannabis never would have harmed my body to start with.