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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US: Pro-cannabis organization works to change status of marijuana in Florida Karl Dickey The Examiner Tuesday 20 Nov 2012 One aspect of their strategic email asks supporters to contact incoming members of the Florida legislature with this pre-made letter: Dear Congratulations on your re-election and your new leadership position. We are looking forward to positive changes. As you probably are already aware, Attorney General Pam Bondi recently was petitioned to remove cannabis from Schedule I of Florida's Controlled Substances, which would be a positive step in making cannabis legal for doctors to prescribe. This would avoid the specialty clinics and allow patients to continue with their current doctor(s). This is an issue having serious consequences for public health and the quality of life for many. Many Floridians are afflicted with severely debilitating symptoms that are far better controlled with cannabis than other drugs or substances on the market. The endocannabinoid system homeostatically regulates the other body systems (cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, excretory, immune, nervous, musculoskeletal, reproductive). The University of California School of Medicine, Office of Continuing Medical Education, offers a course titled "Cannabis in Medicine: A Primer for Health Care Professionals." An issue like this can no longer be ignored, especially if it's being taught at accredited medical schools; legal and treated as medicine in 18 states and Washington DC; and legal for recreational use in 2 states. Why is Florida lagging so far behind? Can we please move forward and provide medical use of cannabis in Florida. For the many Floridian patients, please make this your priority. Sincerely, The second aspect of their letter is to send an email to Florida's Surgeon General John H. Armstrong which says the following: Dear Surgeon General Armstrong, I am a Florida resident concerned with the welfare of the many patients in Florida. Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, was recently petitioned to remove cannabis from Schedule 1 of Florida's Controlled Substances Act. I trust she will come to you for information and that you are fully informed on the endocannabinoid system and how it homeostatically regulates the other body systems (cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, excretory, immune, nervous, musculoskeletal, and reproductive). The overwhelming available studies in the National Institute of Health online library should be enough to convince anyone of the importance of returning cannabis to the American Pharmacopeia. Cannabis has been a part of medicine for over 5,000 years. Unfortunately, Congress acted out of misinformed hysteria and enacted laws against the plant in 1937, against the advise of the American Medical Association of the time. Ironically, US Patent 6630507, "Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants," issued October 2003, was assigned to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Cannabis is a safe medicine for so many people, offering relief of symptoms they can not receive from the traditional medicines used today. For many patients across the country it has made a huge impact improving the quality of life over conventional treatments. Cannabis is being found to cure cancer for many with early detection, and has been a support for those when all else has failed. Eighteen states and Washington DC now have medicinal use of cannabis. That fact clearly shows cannabis does not belong listed on Schedule 1 which requires a threshold of not being accepted for medical use in the United States. Changing the Florida Schedule of cannabis would allow patients' current doctors to prescribe or recommend cannabis to those patients it would benefit. This would avoid the "clinic" type of programs that often end up with problems, and have led to what some perceive as chaos in some other states. The need for the medicine is great. I hope you will help guide Florida in setting up a medicinal use of cannabis program that will set a standard for the nation. Sincerely, Cannabis is being used to successfully help in the treatment of AIDS, cancer and other patients with serious illness. For example, Delaware native Cathy Jordan was diagnosed with a fast-acting form of Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) in 1986. She came to Florida in the winter of 1989 to save enough pain medicine to go home and die with her dignity intact. A friend who was a nurse insisted she try cannabis. Cannabis saved her life. ALS is a neuro-muscular disorder; the Federal patent on cannabis as a neuro-protectant shows the Government understands the effects of cannabis on this disorder. Now, as a Florida resident, Cathy serves as president of the Florida Cannabis Action Network dedicating herself to helping other patients. Meanwhile another organization, People United for Medical Marijuana, is actively collecting petition signatures to allow medical marijuana in Florida. They, along with other marijuana legalization activists will converge on Melbourne, Florida this coming weekend to celebrate CANFEST. http://www.examiner.com/article/pro-cannabis-organization-works-to-change-status-of-marijuana-florida
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