Marijuana in PA - Legalize to Lessen the Pain? on WVIA - 2/18/10

[Derek Rosenzweig]

Mark Cohen, Brad Walter, and Dr. Denis Petro will be on this show on Thursday the 18th, talking about medical marijuana. Use the links at the bottom to submit questions!

From http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wvia/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1612817/press.releases/.Marijuana.in.PA.-.Legalize.to.Lessen.the.Pain%27.on.the.next.State.of.Pennsylvania.on.WVIA :

Marijuana in PA - Legalize to Lessen the Pain? on the next State of Pennsylvania on WVIA
PITTSTON, PA (wvia) - Should marijuana be available to Pennsylvanians who suffer from cancer, AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses? We will discuss this issue on the next State of Pennsylvania Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. on WVIA-TV.

Recent testimony before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives supports the practice of using marijuana as a safe and effective means to manage the pain of grave disease as well as subsequent treatments. Our lawmakers are considering House Bill 1393, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, but not all in Harrisburg support the promoted therapeutic use of this illegal drug.

Joining Suzanne Kapral-Kelly will be Representative Mark Cohen from Philadelphia who sponsored HB 1393, Dr. Denis Petro from Allentown, a national expert on medical marijuana, and Bradley Walter, a local resident who has AIDS and uses medical marijuana.

Representative Cohen introduced House Bill 1393 on April 30, 2009, which provides for the medical use of marijuana to treat symptoms or pain associated with serious medical conditions. According to a press release issued by Representative Cohen, a survey on his web site determined that 80 percent supported the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Internet polls in Wilkes-Barre for television station WYOU and in Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Metro found 79 percent and 96 percent support, respectively. In a statewide poll on the issue, a sampling in the 2006 Casey-Santorum U.S. Senate race taken by Franklin and Marshall College Center for Politics and Public Affairs found 76 percent of the sample, disproportionately weighted with Republicans, in favor of medical marijuana with 20 percent against.

Dr. Petro is recognized world-wide as the first clinical researcher to conduct a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of THC (a substance derived from marijuana) demonstrating the efficacy of marijuana in treating painful muscle spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis. According to testimony presented by Dr. Petro before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, "Marijuana is recognized by the medical community as safe and effective in the treatment of the pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury, and CNS (Central Nervous System) injury." Dr. Petro does not limit the use of medical marijuana to injuries of the central nervous system. "When compared with potent opioid analgestic agents such as Vicodin, marijuana is a safe and effective therapeutic modality in treatment of patients with severe and disabling chronic pain and in relieving cancer pain." Moreover, "Additional research done by the US National Institutes of Health in Bethesda demonstrated the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of cannabinoids leading to the award of Patient ( #6,630,507) on cannabis as useful in the prevention and treatment of age-related inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and HIV dementia."

Mr. Walter resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania and has been HIV-Positive for five years. He risks arrest each time he purchases marijuana. Still, Walter states that the drugs that help keep him alive have severe side effects. Walter's daily use of marijuana helps manage the side effects as well as his pain.

To be part of WVIA's live studio audience in the region's only High Definition Theater Studio, call (570) 602-1150 or visit www.wvia.org. Viewers may call in questions during the show at 1-800-326-9842 or go to http://wvia.org/live-show-comments to submit questions online.

[carl]

Thanks to Representative Mark Cohen, Dr. Denis Petro, Bradley Walter, Suzanne Kapral-Kelly and WVIA for hosting Marijuana in PA.
I wish it was more of open debate. The opponents of MMJ know they have no proof, facts or logic to oppose MMJ so they stayed home instead of looking foolish. I was shocked that the State did not sent any one to defend the current system. The ELKS didn't even show up. There was only 4 of us in the audience, not much of a show of force. There should have been a crowd.
If there is so little resistance to MMJ how much could there be to True and Full Legalization?
Peace 

[Cannasuticals]

Hey Carl,

(There was only 4 of us in the audience, not much of a show of force. There should have been a crowd.)

This is exactly why, this plant is still wallowing around in the dark ages, I'm not doing enough, I should be supporting this fight more. I should have supported this meeting.
I think many of us that have been on this trail for some of us, me, myself about 38 years of use now....we feel safe in our chisled out wee areas, taking care of our personal needs. We fear the prosecution, the spot light, letting all know, that we break the law.
We forget the need to band together to stay strong, or maybe finding strength, to stand up and be counted.

I did see a very inspirational film this weekend, and for me, it made me mad at myself, for not doing more for legalization and or government changes.
The Singing Revolution. More of a documentary, about people standing up to totaltarian brutality and how they beat it, with no violence what so ever!!

I always encourage those that were going to march in DC for the first time to watch the old 80's movie Ghandi, allowing the nonviolent inspiration to fill your heart with to stay nonviolent, should we face violence, trying to accept it. Nonviolence in protesting, is the only way IMHO to change this system at many levels.

[Quietus]

I did see a very inspirational film this weekend, and for me, it made me mad at myself, for not doing more for legalization and or government changes.
The Singing Revolution. More of a documentary, about people standing up to totaltarian brutality and how they beat it, with no violence what so ever!!

The thing I remember most about that were pictures of their version of 'hands across america' on TV.   I'll have to add that to my list as it sounds quite interesting, thanks for the heads up.

As far as 4 people in the audience, well there still is a stigma attached to the plant.  I would hazard to guess that the 4 individuals who were in the audience didn't have to worry so much about losing their job by being shown on TV.

[carl]

     Greetings
     Every one had ask not to be shown and WVIA honored our request. No one ask any questions because of fear. Still 4 people for and no one from the prohibition side. Not a cop, a DA, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher none of the prohibitionist not even DARE showed up. I am starting to believe the only argument the prohibitionist have is: We have the guns, and jails so you are going to do things our way our we will show you both.
     The most negative comment from the audience was: "After waiting 15 years for marijuana reform, I have to get some deadly disease to stay out of jail, how fair is that"   
Peace

[Quietus]

    Greetings
     Every one had ask not to be shown and WVIA honored our request. No one ask any questions because of fear.

So nobody was shown, yet they still were afraid of asking a question.  I think that says it all right there.  If it were held on talk radio instead of TV, the comforting veil of anonymity would have resulted in a much greater participation.  "Hi I'm <notmyname> from <notwhereIlive> and here's what I really think!"

Still 4 people for and no one from the prohibition side. Not a cop, a DA, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher none of the prohibitionist not even DARE showed up. I am starting to believe the only argument the prohibitionist have is: We have the guns, and jails so you are going to do things our way our we will show you both.

I don't however believe that the fact nobody showed up to argue with you before a live audience of 4 people, has anything to say at all about your opponent's argument.  It's not like you suddenly win by default.

[carl]

Greetings
      You are correct.

It's not like you suddenly win by default.

There is no winning any debate when no one will debate. I would like some one in the government to prove  that marijuana prohibition is a good idea. I do not think that I am being unreasonable.
Peace