In The Land Of Unintended Consequences

by: Thomas Tony Vance

The recently implemented regulations arising from the new prescription drug bill are being misinterpreted. Doctors all across the Commonwealth are doing required urine testing, and the results, in many cases, are being used to justify the withholding of medications from patients. The Doctors claim that if they don’t withhold these medications based solely on the urine test, they will lose their jobs or licenses. The regulation they say that requires them to do this is 201 KAR 9:260 Professional Standards for Prescribing and Dispensing Controlled Substances, Page 12, line 19, through Page 13 line 4.

The regulation reads:
(4) The Physician shall obtain and document a baseline urine drug screen to
determine whether the medications that are being prescribed are in the patient’s
system and to determine whether any un-prescribed or illegal controlled
substances are in the patient’s system.
(5) If, after screening, the physician determines that the controlled
substances prescribed to the patient will be used, or are likely be used other
than medicinally or other than for an accepted therapeutic purpose, the Physician
Shall not prescribe controlled substances to that patient.

As anyone can see the regulation only requires the withholding of medications if the physician determines that the medication will not be used properly. It does not require the withholding of medications if illegal drugs are present, only if the Doctor thinks the medicine they are prescribing will be misused.
Based on this misinterpretation Doctors are withholding medications because of the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Many of these patients use marijuana in combination with their prescribed drugs and have been using this combination for decades. In many cases, with the approval of their Doctors. Now they are being told to chose between two drugs when the effectiveness lies in the two drugs working together. For example, marijuana works very well in controlling neuropathic pain, but it works best in combination with a small amount of pain meds usually in the evening before bed. Now these patients will have to give up either their medical marijuana or their pain medications. Many patients when faced with this choice have said that the marijuana works too well to give up and if they lose their pain meds they will get them on the black market. The fear of addiction from using pain medications alone is a major factor in their decision. Patients are being told the Doctor will help them experiment to find a pharmaceutical to replace the withheld pain medications but that requires them to become guinea pigs to the Pharmaceutical industry all over again.
No one doubts the need to get a handle on our prescription drug problem but what the patients are hearing and what the regulation says are two different things. In this interpretation of the regulations we are creating more problems than we are solving.
I wonder if the Doctors are making these decisions about their patients or the bureaucrats are? I suspect since some Doctors cited losing their jobs, it’s the bureaucrats, the absolute last people who should be making medical decisions. Unintended consequences, when not addressed can neutralize any good that might have been accomplished.

Time To Reclaim A Kentucky Industry

State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer is trying to get industrial hemp, (cannabis), legalized as an alternative crop for our farmers. State Senator Perry Clark wants to get marijuana, (cannabis), legalized for medical uses. Many of our citizens would like to see cannabis legalized for recreational uses. Maybe it’s time for our legislators to take back the cannabis industry.

At one time Kentucky had a lucrative cannabis market providing hemp fiber and medicines for retail sale. Kentuckians were fooled into voting this industry out of existence by a newspaper propaganda campaign that made cannabis out to be something different and foreign by calling it by it’s Mexican name, marijuana. The reason cannabis and the cannabis industry was suddenly vilified and driven out of the market place and into the black market had more to do with business interests eliminating the competition, than the idea of protecting Americans from what has turned out to be a relatively harmless and mostly beneficial plant. Even the American Medical Association spoke against making cannabis illegal but the fix was in and we have had 75 years of the failed policy of prohibition.

President Nixon who, against the recommendation of his own commission on drugs, used it to prove he was tough on crime by declaring the War On Drugs, and to harass war protesters. President Reagan said it was the number one enemy of America. H. W. Bush, Clinton, Carter and now Obama have all allowed this waste of 51 billion a year accomplishing nothing and inflicting misery and fear on the citizens to continue. Admittedly Carter said the law should be reformed and Obama has recently said it’s a debate worth having but nothing has been done at the Federal level, leaving it up to Congress and the State legislatures to change policy. Ironically our last 3 Presidents have used cannabis at one time or another.

Kentucky Legislators have a unique opportunity to reestablish the cannabis industry in Kentucky and position Kentucky to claim a huge portion of what is estimated to be a multibillion dollar industry. Our legislators should join forces and go for outright legalization across the board. The billions in economic activity to be realized from this action would lift the lives and improve the conditions of all our citizens. For our legislators to allow the failed policy of cannabis prohibition to continue and cause Kentucky’s businesses and farmers to miss out on this opportunity is unthinkable!

Now is the time for us to join the ranks of Colorado and Washington State. Now is the time to stand up to the Federal Authorities and do what’s best for Kentucky. Now is the time to bring the cannabis industry back to life in Kentucky!

by: Thomas Tony Vance

Can We Talk?

This is an open letter to the WAVE 3 commentator that did the piece on Industrial Hemp, you will find a link at the bottom.

Dear Sir

 I'm a 64 year old retired salesman and I'm also a four year Air Force veteran with 18 months duty "in theater" during the Vietnam war.

It was during that war, while stationed in Thailand, that I tried cannabis for the first time. That was 1970 and I have smoked recreationally off and on ever since.

It wasn't until I met Gatewood Galbraith in 1990 that I and others realized there was more to smoking "marijuana" than just getting high. Sure we had heard about making rope but most where just jokes about smoking rope no one took them seriously. After meeting with Gatewood, Willie Nelson, Jack Herer and other cannabis activists I agreed to run Gatewood's primary campaign for him here in Louisville; in which by the way we got 13% of the vote for him.

I read Jack Herer's book "The Emperor Wears No Cloths" http://www.jackherer.com/thebook/  and have been an advocate ever since. In the '91 campaign we took that book along with other literature and we worked tirelessly spreading the word and educating people through out the commonwealth. We are the reason that people are even talking about Industrial Hemp today and now we have wealthy industrialist that wish to ignore our fight, our hard work for their own profit motive. I resent that.

Gatewood's name was never brought up in your documentary nor the work of thousands of volunteers but the most egregious part of your documentary was your emphasis on "mind altering drug". I take offense to that, that was uncalled for. There were a lot of good facts in there but I felt that tone of prejudice against medicinal and I suspect recreational use as well. I wish we could have a candid discussion about all the uses of Cannabis Sativa/Indica and maybe dispel some of the rumors and fears once and for all.

I started a grassroots group www.kentuckyveteransformedicalmarijuana.net and I have been working with Sen. Perry Clark on his legislation to legalize medical marijuana. I started this group because a decision was made by the Veterans Administration to allow patients, in states where it is legal, to have THC in their blood tests but in states where it isn't legal you could be taken off your medication. That's not right but then there is so much hypocrisy in this prohibition it's hard to put it all together.

I would welcome a dialog and I can bring in some experts. I have contacts with LEAP(Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) MPP (Marijuana Policy Project) and others. Can we talk candidly? I'm retired so I don't have to pass anyone's drug test to survive  so I'm speaking out and not just for myself but my grandchildren as well. They deserve better.

Thank You

Kentucky Veterans for Medical Marijuana

attachment enclosed:

http://www.wave3.com/story/20143133/growing-controversy-the-push-to-legalize-hemp-in-ky?=#WNPoll124811

Veterans To Consider Medical Marijuana Resolution

Veteran members of the Veterans Of Foreign Wars in the Ninth District of Kentucky will vote in January on a resolution supporting Veteran access to medical marijuana thru the auspices of the Veterans Administration.  The resolution recommends that the Federal Government provide, thru the Veterans Administration Health System, medical marijuana to Veterans with qualifying conditions such as chronic pain, Post Traumatic Stress and a number of other conditions for which medical marijuana is effective.

The Government can accomplish this, the resolution states, “ by providing vouchers to Veterans who live in medical marijuana States and by directly providing the marijuana from the Government’s marijuana farm in Mississippi to Veterans who do not live in medical marijuana States as is currently done for the survivors of the old Compassionate Care Program.  The resolution also states that the Government should act post haste to provide this safe and effective medicine for the care of our Veterans.

Justification supporting the resolution sited the following points:

Thousands of our Comrade Veterans use this medicine everyday and they report that it works wonders in treating Post Traumatic Stress, chronic pain, phantom pain from loss of a limb and a number of related conditions.

The Doctors treating these Veterans agree that marijuana is effective in treating these conditions and that it should be made available to these Veterans..  The American Medical Association, The American College of Physicians, The American Nurses Association, The American Academy of Family Physicians and The Federation of American Scientists all recognize medical marijuana as legitimate medicine.  Even the Veterans Administration now recognizes Veteran use of medical marijuana.

The need for action on this issue is tantamount as for some of our Veterans access to this medicine can be a life or death issue.  It has been noted that states with medical marijuana laws in place are starting to experience lower rates of suicide which has been attributed to the availability of medical marijuana.

Since the proposal of this resolution one more state has passed legislation authorizing the use of medical marijuana and two states have legalized it’s use for recreational purposes.  Civilians can now use it for recreation but Veterans cannot access it for medical needs.  Something not right about that we think.

Lastly, we as Veterans are the leaders in our communities and in our nation as well.  As leaders we are the ones who can effect needed policy change and as Americans and especially as Veterans we have a duty to do so, in service to our country and in service to our wounded and disabled Veterans.

The resolution will be voted on at the Ninth District of Kentucky meeting  January 20, 2013.

 Msgt Tony Vance

R.I.P. Cash Hyde

I never met young Cash (Cashy) Hyde and now that he has passed on I wont get that chance at least not in this existence. Just four years old Cash was taken from us having fought cancer for most of his young life he finally fell victim to his disease.

He touched a lot of us in the cannabis community because his story was a story of hope for the future. His father tried, after doctors had given up hope of saving Cash's life, to save him. He would give Cash hemp oil in his feeding tube and for a while Cash's life was hopeful. However, as these diseases are want to do, it was false hope.

Until the day we rethink our prohibition on cannabis and restore it to it's rightful place, can we ever be certain  that hemp didn't help Cashy, even if it made the few years he had on this earth more enjoyable, isn't it worth the try? When you look into this young mans eyes tell me his life wasn't worth the risk.

Great strides are being made in cancer research all over the world. Everywhere, it would seem, except here. Spain, Portugal, Israel all have aggressive cannabis research projects studying cannabis's effect on cancer cells and other ailments but here in the US we still regard it as addictive and with no medicinal value. We know better now!

We'll probably never know if Cashy could have been saved by the hemp oil but we do know that the quality of his life was made better and the few short years that he had with us were more enjoyable because of it. Rest In Peace little soldier you've done your part.

MedicalMarijuanaRadio.com

Showing some love to the Cannabis Warriors working the front lines in this War On Cannabis. One day we will have justice!
Click the link below...
MedicalMarijuanaRadio.com

Lets walk this back!

In the 1930's things were a bit different than today. Public education has improved markedly and we now can get news in an instant where they would sometimes have to wait days for news to travel. This would allow for all sorts of manipulation of the facts and back then people were lucky to ever get the facts. People would get their news from what they saw on the Newsreels at the local theater and facts were for the most part embellished or even fabricated to fit the mood they wanted the country in. So it's no wonder a movie such as "Reefer Madness" would scare people half to death. The cinema coupled with the Hearts "yellow journalism" campaign against marijuana was enough to brain wash a generation and we have over 70 years of prohibition propaganda to straighten out the lies.

It's frustrating to know what something does and be unable to refute it I remember all the negative propaganda of the early 60's when cannabis was first becoming popular I first smoked cannabis while in Thailand with some friends of mine I wasn't prepared for the effects and needless to say I was taken back by what I experienced. It was some very good quality herb and I wasn't for sure just what to expect from it so my first time was not all that pleasurable. After that however, I learned to enjoy the experience. It amazes me now at how many people could be brain washed  into believe all the lies.

What bothers me most are how organizations such as the Kentucky State Police and the Family Foundation along with other anti-cannabis organizations can still get by with using out dated erroneous information to defend their positions and they are never questioned The media just allows them to question what legalization would do to the children without ever considering what the current prohibition is doing to them now They fear having to answer those uncomfortable questions about something they have ignored for so long "Daddy how come you always told me that pot was bad but now they say it cures cancer?" "Daddy who's lying?". They use "the children" like terrorist use women and children as human shields. Let me say this the figures haven't changed since Nixon threw the Shaffer report in the trash and started the war on cannabis. The only change is now we have synthetic cannabis that municipalities are scrambling to make illegal and when they do there will be something else. Of course with cannabis illegal there is money to be made by our "Prison Industrial Complex" and those folks who make money off counselling people.

I have honestly heard the "Gateway Theory" mentioned recently. That was debunked 20 years ago and they still bring it up and no one calls them on it. A "Gateway Theory" is a convenient store offering   any size carbonated beverage for 99 cents. It's easy for people who have never been there, never gone out into the night and purchased a "bag of weed" to imagine anything goes on in such a transaction but that is just showing their ignorance. The first law on the street is your money talks your age, sex, religion nothing else matters and the street isn't like 7/11 you may go searching for one thing and all you find is something entirely different because everyone is out of weed So you've got money and you buy what is available. Cannabis is the Gateway only because that's what you went to get in the first place. But we let them get by with it. We let them call it a gateway drug only because we can't jump up and say your wrong without branding ourselves as pot smokers and as susceptible to ridicule.. We need to stand up to these lies.

The most offensive defense of prohibition comes from the Kentucky State police who insist that if cannabis were made legal, speaking of Industrial hemp, they wouldn't be able to tell whether someone is growing medicinal cannabis in the field illegally. I cannot believe that our State Police are that misinformed about cannabis. Cannabis is a plant that has two sexes. It's existence depends on the male pollinating the female at the right time in order to produce the seeds. The male produces the pollen and the female produces THC ( a sticky substance on the buds) to attract the pollen and produce seeds. Industrial hemp fields will contain both male and female plants and they will grow much taller and woody than a plants grown for medicinal purposes... Here's the key to this equation; to get the best medicinal cannabis buds the plants must be female and they must be unpolluted. If the buds get pollinated even the slightest bit they will go to seed and your smoking material wont have the same effect as if the plant were isolated and allowed to produce as much THC as possible In short only a fool would plant anything in a field of Hemp But they say these things and get by with it...

I guess I'm just tired of being 63, 64 next month and know what I know and still have to find someone who knows someone, who has a buddy, whose cousin scored a quarter pound last week and he'll sell you a bag as big as your pinky for a 100 bucks. It's insanity. There is no logical reason that I shouldn't be able to walk any father than I would have to to get a pack of cigarettes or six pack of beer and pick up something for the evening to smoke on, come back and watch the game, invite over some friends, work in your shop,  do whatever you want to do but do it the way you want to. They shouldn't be allowed to lie like they have been and not be called on it. We need to start standing up and let them know we know they are lying.