U. S. Government Actually Holds Patent On Medical Marijuana

[Bunty]

I've run across further reason why medical marijuana should be made legal in Oklahoma. Because it has been patented by the U. S. government based on research conducted at the National Institute of Health. No longer should our federal and state tax dollars be spent in vain denying sick Oklahomans who can benefit for marijuana used as medical purposes. Article at: Patented Cannabis - Fed Government owns Marijuana Patent

[mugofbeer]

Bunty, are you really so hard up for a joint that you have to post about MM everywhere and start new threads every couple of months? (kidding!)

It doesn't change the fact that the model NORML legeslation used by states that have approved MM is badly flawed and has caused far more problems than it has solved. If I had any confidence the government of this state could write legeslation that would make it possible for those who truly are in chronic pain to obtain MM, take it home and smoke it at their own houses, I'd have no problem with it. I don't think this state's government is able or willing to do it and I haven't seen it done anywhere else yet.

[Bunty]

Well, what problems are sales of medical marijuana causing that were already evident before it was legalized in other states?. You, no doubt, need to grasp the fact that allowing legal sales of marijuana to go on under the watchful eye of the public and the police makes things safer.

I don't see any reason why if medical marijuana is legalized in Oklahoma why the state legislature or other governing bodies could not take steps, if viewed as needed, to fine tune or make additional regulations for it.

[Jethrol]

I think there are far more problems with putting people in jail for various marijuana crimes than would be cause by MM. It's listed as a class 1 narcotic (or something like that) which means it has no medical use....something which is ridiculous - there's loads of evidence of it's benefits as medicine.

It's high time to end the ridiculousness surrounding MM.

[mugofbeer]

Well, what problems are sales of medical marijuana causing that were already evident before it was legalized in other states?. You, no doubt, need to grasp the fact that allowing legal sales of marijuana to go on under the watchful eye of the public and the police makes things safer.

I don't see any reason why if medical marijuana is legalized in Oklahoma why the state legislature or other governing bodies could not take steps, if viewed as needed, to fine tune or make additional regulations for it.

Talk to the people of Colorado and see if they think anything is any safer. Talk to the people who live near a concentration of these facilities and see if they think their lives or their property values have improved any. I just haven't seen action out of our legislature that 1) would give me any reason whatsoever to think they would seriously consider passing it or 2) that they would write a responsible law.

Just yesterday a man who owns several homes around the Denver metro area was arrested by federal agents at one of his houses in a nice suburban area, surrounded by families and children where he was growing thousands of pot plants. They're going to search the rest of his houses now. This is the type of "responsible" and "safe" people who are going to support a "responsible" MM industry?

There are 2-3 armed robberies of MM dispensaries a month in the area and they have seen that robbers of banks showing up as robbers of MM dispensaries.

[Bunty]

What is going on in Colorado is the result of changing their medical marijuana law so that it has allowed care givers an unlimited number of patients they can sell medical marijuana to. There is talk of redoing their law.

The proposed bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Oklahoma only allows a care giver to supply ONE medical marijuana patient.

So you still can't talk me of my support for legal medical marijuana in Oklahoma.

[mugofbeer]

What is going on in Colorado is the result of changing their medical marijuana law so that it would allow care givers an unlimited number of patients they could sell medical marijuana to. There is talk of redoing their law.

The proposed bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Oklahoma only allows a care giver to supply ONE medical marijuana patient.

So you still can't talk me of my support for legal medical marijuana in Oklahoma.

Colorado voted for the pre-written NORML law. The "care giver" issue has become such a joke that anyone can walk in and get a license in 20 minutes - some actually advertise an hour but the TV testers did it in 20. You can get it for turf toe, for menstrual cramps, for "chronic" back pain....etc.

I wouldn't be against it if there was a sign anyone in this state could write a responsible law. NORML's bill did exactly what NORML wanted it to do which was to essentially legalize pot to everyone and its become a pain in their ARSE. Its not just CO, but California as well.

Second, do you honestly think that in this state where you can't even get beer and wine sales in grocery stores sent to a vote of the people, that anyone would actually bring this for serious consideration? Its not realistically going to happen.

Finally, its not whether I am for or against it. There are valid reasons to provide it in some cases and its no skin off my nose. Its just turned into far more of a pain in the butt for everyone where its passed.

[Bunty]

Second, do you honestly think that in this state where you can't even get beer and wine sales in grocery stores sent to a vote of the people, that anyone would actually bring this for serious consideration? Its not realistically going to happen.

You never know until you do something to try. Of lot of people must have been surprised that casinos and lotteries were finally allowed in Oklahoma. It will help if a surprising number of doctors, preferably not mostly retired, turn out in support of legalizing medical marijuana for Oklahoma. Policemen, too. I know of an Oklahoma doctor that supports medical marijuana, but he's retired. Nationally, lots of medical organizations and individual experts endorse marijuana for medical purposes.

So you seem to strongly feel that the world will ever be so much safer for it, if people will just keep on with confining of the sales of marijuana in the chaotic and dangerous world of the underground?

[DaveSkater]

Dude..... You are hereby and forever dubbed, "The OKC Doobie brother"

LOL, seriously. Just go buy a bag and smoke it and shuttap about it alread! Good lord.

[mugofbeer]

You never know until you do something to try. Of lot of people must have been surprised that casinos and lotteries were finally allowed in Oklahoma. It will help if a surprising number of doctors, preferably not mostly retired, turn out in support of legalizing medical marijuana for Oklahoma. Policemen, too. I know of an Oklahoma doctor that supports medical marijuana, but he's retired. Nationally, lots of medical organizations and individual experts endorse marijuana for medical purposes.

So you seem to strongly feel that the world will ever be so much safer for it, if people will just keep on with confining of the sales of marijuana in the chaotic and dangerous world of the underground?

If I remember right, the gambling question got to a vote of the people. It would shock me if the people here voted for it.

Its not the MM that I object to. I think MM has legitimate uses. What I object to is the unrealistic idea that the systems that have been set up so far around the country are anything more than an excuse for every 20 year old who wants to get high to be able to get a joint. Thats not what people voted for. Either get it out in the open or fuhgeddabowdit!

[Bunty]

Dude..... You are hereby and forever dubbed, "The OKC Doobie brother"

LOL, seriously. Just go buy a bag and smoke it and shuttap about it alread! Good lord.

What foolish advice to give, but then if you don't like me, why not give it? Because in Oklahoma, if the police catches someone with two joints, he can be told that he can be charged with intent to distribute and be sentenced for up to life in prison. Or make that just one joint if the police observe you sharing it with a buddy. Yet, we think nothing of allowing drugs to be advertised on TV that come with such possible side effects as thoughts of suicide and sudden death by cardiac arrest.

[Hammondjam]

If Monsanto can get permission to genetically modify and then patent marijuana, I think there will be a sudden change of heart about the idea of medical marijuana. This is my second post on this matter but I think it is worth repeating. Marijuana is a dangerous substance because certain industries and "social engineers" want it to be. Ipso-facto, the government follows suit and enforces the trumped up laws against it. A lot of the fearmongering is centered around the unauthorized use by the stereotypical "stoner". Most know for a fact, by now, that the unprescribed use of powerful and addicting pain meds has far surpassed the use of marijuana but we aren't taking them off the market because Big Pharma is a friend of the government. Drugs that supposedly prevent bone loss can cause you to develop osteoporosis in your jaw but the DEA isn't making Sally Field stop telling folks to run to their doctors and demand it.

If we take everything away from people that could possibly be misused or abused, I'm guessing that EVERYONE would have to live in a padded cell and eat with their hands. WAIT...food can be abused and so can hands! Help me, Mr. Wizard!

[Bunty]

However, the stigma attached to marijuana makes getting it just legalized for medical purposes also represent a big block. For instance, Oklahoma State Sen. Hallagan, to form a position on the issue, went to a doctor for advice and the response was the medical community didn't need medical marijuana. So Sen. Hallagan decided to oppose medical marijuana. But going to most doctors for help on such an issue isn't exactly an appropriate place to go, because most practicing doctors don't want to be associated in a positve way with marijuana for medical purposes. So little wonder the only Oklahoma doctor I know of to endorse the use of medical marijuana is retired.

Below is an interesting video of a California doctor who explains it quite well when it comes to marijuana and being a doctor. It would be nice if this video could be made required viewing for Sen. Hallgan:

YouTube - Dr. Phillip A. Denney, M.D. Part 1 of 3

[mugofbeer]

He appears to have lit up a few fatties in his life. (smile)

[Hammondjam]

I have a friend who was blown up in Desert Storm. They managed to get MOST of his guts back in and he lived. Along with this, he was exposed to something that causes chronic skin ulcerations. Between these two conditions, he still lives in pain, is subject to depression and has a loss of appetite a lot of the time. If he takes prescription pain meds, he sleeps a lot and is groggy. If he uses marijuana, he can still function well, eats good and is generally happier. It's a pity that the substance that helps him, without the laundry list of side effects we see on drug commercials, can also get him incarcerated like a common thief.

[mugofbeer]

I have a friend who was blown up in Desert Storm. They managed to get MOST of his guts back in and he lived. Along with this, he was exposed to something that causes chronic skin ulcerations. Between these two conditions, he still lives in pain, is subject to depression and has a loss of appetite a lot of the time. If he takes prescription pain meds, he sleeps a lot and is groggy. If he uses marijuana, he can still function well, eats good and is generally happier. It's a pity that the substance that helps him, without the laundry list of side effects we see on drug commercials, can also get him incarcerated like a common thief.

Read the other thread for an answer. If it were highly regulated and those who would inevitably try to abuse the were totally shunned from the system, then I could be in favor of it. The states where they have taken the NORML written law and adopted it have had nothing but trouble with the system.

[Hammondjam]

Read the other thread for an answer. If it were highly regulated and those who would inevitably try to abuse the were totally shunned from the system, then I could be in favor of it. The states where they have taken the NORML written law and adopted it have had nothing but trouble with the system.

I see your point about regulation being a joke in Denver when it comes to MM. I think a large part of why so many " terminal finger pain" patients are getting prescriptions is the same reason why a patient with low level pain gets a script for 60 oxycontins. The state needs to have regulation power but the doctors that write scripts willy nilly need to be accountable for their actions. There's a doctor in Norman that used to have much of the hospital staff on Prozac for being depressed. Working in a hospital can do that to you with no measurable lack of serotonin present.

Of course, we most likely disagree here but I think a total legalization for people over 21 would take the problem of state regulated pot away except for cases of driving under the influence or underage use. If I could grow my own, for MY OWN use or buy it in a "liquor store" type shop, I guarantee that no kid will ever get any of mine. I don't NEED it but it would be nice if I had the choice whether to use it or not.

[mugofbeer]

Of course, we most likely disagree here but I think a total legalization for people over 21 would take the problem of state regulated pot away except for cases of driving under the influence or underage use. If I could grow my own, for MY OWN use or buy it in a "liquor store" type shop, I guarantee that no kid will ever get any of mine. I don't NEED it but it would be nice if I had the choice whether to use it or not.

See, the way I look at it is that we have cigarettes and we have liquor. Both are extremely harmful to people - cigarettes harmful to anyone who uses them or anyone who has to be around a smoker much, and liquor - harmful if used in excess or by someone with a dependency problem. In reality, neither of these should be legal but they are both so ingrained in society that they are and that is that. My view is we simply don't need another legalized drug that, if legalized, will be smoked anytime and anywhere cigarettes are smoked.

If people smoked weed on weekends or after work only, I might not have such a problem with it. When someone is drunk there are generally signs they are - they smell of it, they slur, their eyes are glassy, etc. If someone comes to work drunk or drinks at lunch you can pretty easily tell.

If someone decides to go out on their cig break or to lunch and light up a fatty, you may not be able to tell so easily. If they have an office job where their mind needs to be sharp, if they drive heavy machinery, if they fly an airplane or if they are managing my money, I don't want a stoned head case around me.

There was a Quiznos across the street from where I used to work and for a couple of weeks there was a guy making sandwiches who was pretty obviously stoned every lunch time I was there. We all got a kick out of him because he was pretty funny acting but he only lasted a couple of weeks. My wife manages over 100 people and she has talked about a couple of her employees who get stoned at lunch and how their performance changes. They will be instituting drug testing shortly so there will be some folks with some big suprises coming. Pot isn't too harmful but it does reduce a person's performance and it just simply isn't needed in society.

[Bunty]

Pot isn't too harmful but it does reduce a person's performance and it just simply isn't needed in society.

So don't smoke pot, if it's wrong and stupid to you to do so, if and when it should become legal. Meanwhile, people are going to smoke pot whether it's legal or not. It's not a matter whether it's a need or not. Marijuana is already long here to stay and make no doubt about it, we're only being fools keeping our heads in the sand by not legalizing it and so letting it remain severely out of control.

[mugofbeer]

So don't smoke pot, if it's wrong and stupid to you to do so, if and when it should become legal. Meanwhile, people are going to smoke pot whether it's legal or not. It's not a matter whether it's a need or not. Marijuana is already long here to stay and make no doubt about it, we're only being fools keeping our heads in the sand by not legalizing it and so letting it remain severely out of control.

Legalize it and it will remain severely out of control. You apparently don't observe what goes on in public much. Without a doubt, if you were someone who employed others, the last thing you want is a stoned out work force. Yeah, that'd help us stay competative........

[Bunty]

No, don't be so foolishly wrong. It will without a doubt be under a lot better control, especially with underaged kids because at last thru legalization they will be asked to show an ID before buying pot. The fact that legalized pot would be sold in the open, rather than secretively will also help out a lot because that way the police and the public will be able to monitor a large part of what's going on.

And, no, just because pot is becomes legal is no sign most people will suddenly start using it. After all, a number of studies reveal legalization of pot does not necessarily lead to increased usage.

All an employer has to do is discourage drug use among employees is require periodical drug tests. It's done more often than it was 20 years ago. So, please, Mugofbeer, wake up to the real world out there. I don't think you were born yesterday.

[mugofbeer]

No, don't be so foolishly wrong. It will without a doubt be under a lot better control, especially with underaged kids because at last thru legalization they will be asked to show an ID before buying pot. The fact that legalized pot would be sold in the open, rather than secretively will also help out a lot because that way the police and the public will be able to monitor a large part of what's going on.

Bunty, they can't monitor it now where it IS legal. The city and state governments are falling all over themselves trying to plug the holes in the dam. You have licensed pot dispensaries opening in direct sight of schools. Does that show "better control?" It will be no harder for a high school kid to get someone to buy him a bag from the pot store than it is for a high school kid to get cigarettes.

And, no, just because pot is becomes legal is no sign most people will suddenly start using it. After all, a number of studies reveal legalization of pot does not necessarily lead to increased usage.

Bunty, that is head-in-the-sand thinking. If you really believe this you are simply in denial because you want your pot so badly.

All an employer has to do is discourage drug use among employees is require periodical drug tests. It's done more often than it was 20 years ago. So, please, Mugofbeer, wake up to the real world out there. I don't think you were born yesterday.

This is on it's way up the chain to the Supreme Court because employers HAVE fired employees for being under the influence of medical pot. There is a case from Colorado and another from somewhere else that escapes me because an employer fired an employee for using pot when he had a medical pot license. The ability of the employer could very easily be limited. If they found in favor of the employee, then you would be left with a lot of employees holding sham medical pot licenses who would be free to work under the influence all they want.

No, I was born far from yesterday but Bunty, you are arguing an illogical arguement. Make pot legal and it will be in every 20- and 30-something's purse or pocket. You keep forgetting I've seen what just cracking the door for medical pot has done. Swing it open and there will be 2 generations on chronic highs and it won't be from caffeine.

[Bunty]

I had in mind for legal pot, whether or not for medical purposes, to be sold in Oklahoma liquor stores only. I supposed that idea wouldn't fly, if somone wanted to make it a court case over only allowing liquor store owners to sell marijuana.

Once again, I am not so incredibly naive to be wrong and foolish enough to believe that most people will take up smoking pot should it become legal. They haven't done it in Amsterdam where it's more or less legal and where a lower percentage of teens smoke pot than in the United States.

Once again, I for one have no use for pot. I have no use for the senselessly wrong laws against pot, either.

And please, mugofbeer, don't accuse me of making an illogical argument after you're doing so yourself.

Some people can perform OK under pot. Because everyone responds to drugs differently, an employee on medical pot should be subject to a test for the ability to perform the job. That shouldn't be too much to ask. People come to work sleepy from being on antihistamines and other drugs all the time. I've done it before and didn't get in trouble for it, thanks to another drug--caffeine. I was, of course, happy when my doctor switched me to a corticosteroid nasal spray that work much better without side effects. At the same time, it gives me some compassion for what people are going thru being denied an alternative-medical marijuana-to deal with serious medical conditions in which conventional medicines aren't doing them much good, especially with the unpleasant side effects.

[mugofbeer]

I had in mind for legal pot, whether or not for medical purposes, to be sold in Oklahoma liquor stores only. I supposed that idea wouldn't fly, if somone wanted to make it a court case over only allowing liquor store owners to sell marijuana.

So how do the patients get the license? In CO, the doctors currently can be affiliated with the pot shop so, in the example I used earlier, you have 4 doctors who write roughly 80% of the pot licenses in the Denver metro. That is one of the big things they are trying to change - that the doctor can have no ties or affiliations. I would prefer the state dispense the pot itself so there is no doubt.

Once again, I am not so incredibly naive to be wrong and foolish enough to believe that most people will take up smoking pot should it become legal. They haven't done it in Amsterdam where it's more or less legal and where a lower percentage of teens smoke pot than in the United States.

Again, that isn't the US. Europe is a different environment than the US.

And please, mugofbeer, don't accuse me of making an illogical argument after you're doing so yourself.

How and where? I'm using personal 1st person observations from what has gone totally haywire in CO while there.

Some people can perform OK under pot. Because everyone responds to drugs differently, an employee on medical pot should be subject to a test for the ability to perform the job.

No doubt. I guaranty you some can drive cars better when drunk than can others.

At the same time, it gives me some compassion for what people are going thru being denied an alternative-medical marijuana-to deal with serious medical conditions in which conventional medicines aren't doing them much good, especially with the unpleasant side effects.

I am not against MM as long as there are strict controls on its distribution and not turned into a sham law as it is in several states.

[Bunty]

So how do the patients get the license? In CO, the doctors currently can be affiliated with the pot shop so, in the example I used earlier, you have 4 doctors who write roughly 80% of the pot licenses in the Denver metro. That is one of the big things they are trying to change - that the doctor can have no ties or affiliations. I would prefer the state dispense the pot itself so there is no doubt.

In Rhode Island the state government recently started offering licensing for non profit medical marijuana stores, or compassion centers. They will be permitted to grow medical marijuana. It was in response to a medical marijuana patient getting beat up by a drug pusher. Medical marijuana patients must register with a $75 fee with the Rhode Island Dept. of Health.