Thousands of Americans die every year from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. That is why the federal government set up a bureau to regulate these products a century ago, but they still are legal to possess and use. Thousands of Americans die every year from common pain medicines including the likes of aspirin, Tylenol and Motrin. These drugs are also regulated but they are legal to possess and use. Thousands of Americans die every year from consumption of sugar and junk food. Thousands die from sporting activities, and thousands die from occupational hazards. There are some regulations on some things but they will always remain legal in a free society. [continues 266 words]
Thank you Northern Express and writer, Patrick Sullivan, for covering the story about Dr. Ed Harwell (who was charged with a felony for prescribing medical marijuana - ed.). I find this situation deeply disturbing. Having been in the health care industry since 1990, and an avid researcher, I'd like to share my ideas. In United States law pertaining to health care providers, it is an M.D. that determines "medical necessity." The presence of medical records only serves to substantiate a doctor's findings. Likewise, the absence of medical records does not indicate that something is not medically necessary. [continues 472 words]
We pride ourselves on how we take care of the sick in this country. We have the best hospitals in the world, as well as the finest doctors. You would think that America totally supports people getting better with whatever resources are available. But wait just one minute. If you choose to medicate with cannabis, (aka: marijuana), not only are you NOT supported by most of the medical industry (which won't treat you if you have THC in your system), but you may find yourself in a jail cell for growing and using it. Not only that, but you're technically driving under the influence every time you get behind the wheel of a car as the active ingredients in cannabis stay in your system for months. [continues 181 words]
Wendy Croze started abusing heroin and alcohol in her teens. She used the substances so much, in fact, that substance abuse came to define her life -- first as a user and later as a counselor who helps others kick the habit. Croze grew up in a comfortable family in the Lansing area and she hopes people understand that children of affluent families are just as susceptible to drug abuse as anyone else. "What is less well known, but it's pretty well documented, is more middle class and upper middle class people early on get into heroin than you would think," said Croze, the residential program director for Addiction Treatment Services in Traverse City. [continues 522 words]
Drug Overdoses Spike Across Northern Michigan Aubrey Checks and Konrad Winston Pressley partied in Traverse City on New Year's Eve and stayed with friends. The next day they returned home to Gaylord and headed to a trailer on Arrowhead Trail, a gravel road in the woods about five miles southeast of Gaylord. The couple hoped to score some heroin there. Maybe they hoped it would take the edge off the suffering they felt from the night before. That's not what happened. [continues 1946 words]
When the Express ran a cover story of Archie Kiel growing medical marijuana plants in Antrim County, people overwhelmingly responded with letters and phone calls with their own stories of marijuana and the law. The following story is about the late Trevor Coddington and his odyssey through the Grand Traverse County probate system. It is by no means typical, but does show the consequences that attach not only to the child, but also to the family. Part II is coming in November. [continues 3776 words]
Northern Express Articles Trigger Raid on Medical Marijuana Grower About two weeks after appearing on the cover of Northern Express with his lush marijuana plants, Archie Kiel sat among the plants on his balcony chatting with a Kalkaska County Commissioner. They noticed a helicopter flying low over the house -- so low that his plants started shaking. Kiel was about to call the police to complain when the police came to him. Police cars filled his driveway and about seven Traverse Narcotics Team officers walked up to his open door. [continues 1398 words]
The conclusion of a two-part series about the impact of the medical marijuana law. Last week, Northern Express profiled two pot growers who have a "passion" for marijuana. They love to grow it, they love to smoke it. They believe it can make people feel better and even cure them. One of the growers, Archie, made a decision to come out publicly as a legal "caregiver" who supplies marijuana for patients. Under the law, he is allowed to grow the plants and be compensated for the cost of growing (lights, energy and the plants themselves). [continues 2723 words]
3,000 Registered Marijuana Patients Seek Out Sources Now that people have had a couple of months to register as patients under the new medical marijuana law, it makes you wonder: How does the whole thing work? Do you just call up a pot grower and put in an order? To find out, I called up a friend of mine, Bob Heflin, who had "come out" in a recent newspaper letter supporting legalized medical marijuana. The weird thing is I had known Bob for years and had no idea he smoked pot. I had much to learn. [continues 2554 words]
When Dr. George Wagoner, a retired obstetrician/gynecologist from Manistee, saw the suffering his wife of 51 years was enduring from her battle with ovarian cancer last year, he turned to marijuana to ease her pain. "During her chemotherapy she experienced intense nausea, and conventional anti-nausea drugs didn't help much. One drug cost $46.20 a pill and didn't help," said Dr. Wagoner. "Another made her hallucinate, so she refused to take it. Basically, pharmaceutical drugs were ineffective and the marijuana -- just a very small dose -- was most effective." [continues 1120 words]
Regarding Robert Downes' Aug. 4 column "An End to Reefer Madness," if health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Like any drug, marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents. The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. [continues 85 words]
Speaking as a former federal law enforcement officer, a retired elementary school counselor, a taxpayer and most importantly, a parent, I would like to respond to a recent Express article, "The end of reefer madness?" We can argue from now until Doomsday whether marijuana is a deadly gateway drug; a simple plant like any other, neither inherently good or evil; or a great boon to mankind given to us a loving creator. The true debate needs to be, is prohibition the best way to deal with the dangers, real or imagined, of marijuana? [continues 347 words]
End reefer madness Thank you for your "voice of common sense" in your Random Thoughts article titled, "The end of reefer madness?" While I may not agree with your statement about potent strains causing psychotic reactions (this study was disproved), I do agree with everything else that you wrote. You nailed it with your very first sentence! My body belongs to me! No one has a right to tell me what I can put into my body as long as I am hurting no one by doing it! The sooner that those who are supposed to represent us, and those that are supposed to 'protect and serve' us get this, then maybe we can move on to more important things. It might interest you to know that U.S. companies bought 92% of last year's Canadian hemp crop. That could have been money in our farmers' pockets, and yet, they all seem to be drunk on corn ethanol as the answer to our gas problems. What a shame, but then, it is hard to undo 71 years of reefer madness that seems to be alive and well yet today. I hope and pray that before I leave this earth, we will finally "get it!" Until then, I will keep fighting, I will keep using cannabis, and I will continue to refuse to be treated like a criminal! Change is a comin'! Rev. Steven B. Thompson, executive director Michigan NORML [end]
Do you believe in having the freedom to do as you choose with your own body? Or should government make those decisions for you? That's the fundamental question in many great controversies of our time regarding smoking, prostitution, abortion, stem cell research, marijuana, wearing a motorcycle helmet, the right to die with dignity, the use of steroids, and drug use to name a few. At least half the time, we (ie. society) decide to limit ourselves. If you want to make money by inviting strangers to enjoy your body, too bad -- it's against the law. If you want to hit the ball farther than anyone else on the team by taking steroids, tough luck -- it's illegal. [continues 633 words]
As a retired police detective from Bath Township, Michigan (near Lansing), I read with interest your idea to increase tourist dollars by legalizing/regulating and taxing marijuana (a la Amsterdam-type coffeehaus). Thank you for your courage to propose such a sensible step. May I add another, perhaps more important aspect of ending marijuana prohibition? During my 18 years of police service I was dispatched to zero calls generated by the USE of marijuana. Its use is NOT a societal problem. I have always urged my fellow citizens to not use any mind-altering, intoxicating and addictive drug, which includes marijuana. However, having my profession still chasing the Willie Nelsons of Michigan does REDUCE public safety. Offr. Howard J. Wooldridge (ret.) education specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, DC [end]
The Petoskey School Board needs to educate itself on the limitations of student drug testing. The U.S. Supreme Court made a terrible mistake when it created an exemption to the Constitution and ruled in favor of allowing drug tests for students in extracurricular activities. Student involvement in after-school activities like sports has been shown to reduce drug use. They keep kids busy during the hours they are most likely to get into trouble. Forcing students to undergo degrading urine tests as a prerequisite will only discourage participation. [continues 176 words]
Is drug testing the best way to deter substance abuse by our youth? Community forums discussing this issue were triggered recently when a Petoskey school board member suggested drug testing for schools. The reason: to help prevent students from becoming problem drug users. Drug abuse has obviously been difficult to resolve nationwide, let alone in Petoskey. So, it shouldn't be surprising there was no consensus in favor or against testing among those attending the Petoskey meetings. I have always believed emphasis of personal responsibility for one's own actions is the best policy attacking drug abuse. Tough drug laws, TV ad campaigns, and presidential proclamations have all failed to make a dent into the problem. [continues 426 words]
Michigan is now ranked 16th largest grower of cannabis in the U.S., growing 308,475 plants, weighing 136,012 pounds, worth $218,435,000. The total worth of the U.S. crop now exceeds $35 billion, making cannabis the largest cash crop grown in the U.S.! How very sad that the merest mention of this wonderful, God-created plant sends you Michigan Farm Bureau folks and our elected officials cowering and hiding under your desks, while you all jump on the "ethanol" bandwagon which will hurt our great state with more pollution and depletion of our soil's nutrients. [continues 122 words]
Drug testing is similar to what some refer to as the "middle child syndrome." Others call it mediation. Something occurs between two parties and a third is called in to go back and forth between the two. The third party can bear the brunt of the tension, and occasionally has to make like a referee in a boxing match. These people are the epitome of the word `misunderstood', and of the old cliche, "don't shoot the messenger." Dr. Darryl Lesoski, M.D. and his peers are the middle child of the drug testing controversy. As administrators cry out for more drug testing of workers, and those same workers cry out against an invasion of privacy, clinical drug testers go about their business, trying not to get too much of the mess on them. [continues 2575 words]
