Robert Celt
New Member
Some have characterized the loss of the marijuana legalization initiative in Ohio as an indicator of lack of support for the issue. However, what the defeat of the initiative reveals is the intent of citizens not just to make "pot" legal, but to do it right. In fact, the lack of support for the initiative indicated an unwillingness to carry forward an exploitative model from prohibition into the legal market.
Ten investment groups were behind the Ohio initiative and were its beneficiaries. The title of the initiative called the business model a "monopoly." We can't know how a different model might have fared, but it has been widely reported that large numbers of those in Ohio who support legalization couldn't support the "monopoly" created by this initiative.
Gallup polls reported in October 2015 that support for legalization has reached 58 percent nationally. Harris polls in May 2015 report support for medical use at 81 percent.
These numbers are the result of increased knowledge about marijuana's therapeutic applications and the evidence against the misinformation campaign that was funded, launched and turned into propaganda before we even knew how marijuana worked. It wasn't until the late '80s and early '90s that we discovered how marijuana combines with the human physiology to create the effects it does.
Evidence for the therapeutic use of "cannabis" (the botanical name for "marijuana") extends beyond testimonials. Scientific articles at PubMed, NCBI and more discuss the cellular dynamics triggered by the cannabinoids in cannabis that relieve pain, calm seizures and kill cancer cells.
Our bodies use the cannabinoids our bodies make for the sake of health and physiological homeostasis. The cannabinoids in cannabis, the phytocannabinoids, can be used by our bodies for the same purposes. The science has gone mainstream.
Far from being the "gateway drug," studies now point to cannabis as an "exit drug" aiding people weaning themselves off of opiates and alcohol. A study from the National Institute of Health reported "cannabis may be an effective treatment in curing people of addiction from hard drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines." In October of 2014, the American Journal of Medical Association reported that states with medical marijuana laws have significantly lower opioid-overdose mortality rates.
It's worth noting the term "gateway drug" was coined 40 years ago in a study by Dr. Denise Kandal of Columbia University. However, her study determined if there is such thing as a gateway drug, the gateway drug is nicotine.
While many states debate moving forward on legalization of all adult use, here in Montana, medical use is hanging in the balance. A pending decision in the Montana Supreme Court will determine whether it was within the purview of the 2011 state legislature to pass a law that serves as de facto repeal of the right to access cannabis for medical use.
Preserving medical use in Montana is critical to thousands of Montanans and their families. Some believe the only way is to protect medical use is to pass full legalization. Maybe that's true, maybe not.
There are at least two different ballot initiatives in the works. One creates full legalization. The other tries to preserve the barely workable law Montana has as insurance against the court decision going bad. Currently, neither initiative has the financial resources generally believed necessary to succeed.
Nonetheless, nationally, the tide has turned. Legalization is happening. Losing medical marijuana in Montana will most certainly boost the legalization effort for 2018 or '20, if not '16. Medical will likely get lost in the shuffle.
Montana prohibitionists and the Montana legislature can dig in and deny cannabis' medical application and tell tall tales about its risks, but the world is passing them by. The world isn't flat. The earth revolves the sun. Cannabinoids in cannabis have therapeutic properties.
With luck, the courts won't turn back the clock. With luck, Montana lawmakers will take on the responsibility of regulating and making safe an emerging industry, whether that means regulating for medical use or for all adult use. Leaders lead. It's time to stop denying reality on so many fronts. Cannabis is one of those fronts. Too much is at stake for the thousands whose lives are normalized by its therapeutic properties.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Country Passing Montana By On Medical Marijuana
Author: K.M. Cholewa
Contact: Missoulian
Photo Credit: None found
Website: Missoulin
Ten investment groups were behind the Ohio initiative and were its beneficiaries. The title of the initiative called the business model a "monopoly." We can't know how a different model might have fared, but it has been widely reported that large numbers of those in Ohio who support legalization couldn't support the "monopoly" created by this initiative.
Gallup polls reported in October 2015 that support for legalization has reached 58 percent nationally. Harris polls in May 2015 report support for medical use at 81 percent.
These numbers are the result of increased knowledge about marijuana's therapeutic applications and the evidence against the misinformation campaign that was funded, launched and turned into propaganda before we even knew how marijuana worked. It wasn't until the late '80s and early '90s that we discovered how marijuana combines with the human physiology to create the effects it does.
Evidence for the therapeutic use of "cannabis" (the botanical name for "marijuana") extends beyond testimonials. Scientific articles at PubMed, NCBI and more discuss the cellular dynamics triggered by the cannabinoids in cannabis that relieve pain, calm seizures and kill cancer cells.
Our bodies use the cannabinoids our bodies make for the sake of health and physiological homeostasis. The cannabinoids in cannabis, the phytocannabinoids, can be used by our bodies for the same purposes. The science has gone mainstream.
Far from being the "gateway drug," studies now point to cannabis as an "exit drug" aiding people weaning themselves off of opiates and alcohol. A study from the National Institute of Health reported "cannabis may be an effective treatment in curing people of addiction from hard drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines." In October of 2014, the American Journal of Medical Association reported that states with medical marijuana laws have significantly lower opioid-overdose mortality rates.
It's worth noting the term "gateway drug" was coined 40 years ago in a study by Dr. Denise Kandal of Columbia University. However, her study determined if there is such thing as a gateway drug, the gateway drug is nicotine.
While many states debate moving forward on legalization of all adult use, here in Montana, medical use is hanging in the balance. A pending decision in the Montana Supreme Court will determine whether it was within the purview of the 2011 state legislature to pass a law that serves as de facto repeal of the right to access cannabis for medical use.
Preserving medical use in Montana is critical to thousands of Montanans and their families. Some believe the only way is to protect medical use is to pass full legalization. Maybe that's true, maybe not.
There are at least two different ballot initiatives in the works. One creates full legalization. The other tries to preserve the barely workable law Montana has as insurance against the court decision going bad. Currently, neither initiative has the financial resources generally believed necessary to succeed.
Nonetheless, nationally, the tide has turned. Legalization is happening. Losing medical marijuana in Montana will most certainly boost the legalization effort for 2018 or '20, if not '16. Medical will likely get lost in the shuffle.
Montana prohibitionists and the Montana legislature can dig in and deny cannabis' medical application and tell tall tales about its risks, but the world is passing them by. The world isn't flat. The earth revolves the sun. Cannabinoids in cannabis have therapeutic properties.
With luck, the courts won't turn back the clock. With luck, Montana lawmakers will take on the responsibility of regulating and making safe an emerging industry, whether that means regulating for medical use or for all adult use. Leaders lead. It's time to stop denying reality on so many fronts. Cannabis is one of those fronts. Too much is at stake for the thousands whose lives are normalized by its therapeutic properties.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Country Passing Montana By On Medical Marijuana
Author: K.M. Cholewa
Contact: Missoulian
Photo Credit: None found
Website: Missoulin
