Thank you for contacting me regarding the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It is a privilege to serve as your Representative in Congress. I welcome your thoughts on this important issue.
As you may know, under the Controlled Substances Act (Public Law 91-513), marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug. Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse without a generally accepted medical use. Schedule II drugs, such as morphine, may also have a high potential for abuse but do have generally accepted medical uses. Approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), accompanied by clinical trials, would be required in order to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug. However, for several technical reasons, it is difficult to research accurately the medical effectiveness of natural marijuana.
The FDA alleviated these complications by approving the marketing of a synthetically derived form of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, under the name Marinol. Substantial clinical evidence demonstrated that THC was safe and effective for the treatment of chemotherapy patients who suffer from nausea and vomiting and who do not respond to conventional treatments. Based on this evidence, the FDA classified Marinol as a Schedule II drug. Additional evidence, which suggested the drug’s effectiveness in combating weight loss and malnutrition in AIDS patients, led to another reclassification of Marinol as a Schedule III drug in 1999.
While some claim that natural marijuana is more effective than Marinol, most health experts see smoking as a harmful drug delivery system without substantial benefits. As a physician, I regularly advise my patients of the dangers that accompany smoking. Smoke from marijuana cigarettes contains a variety of toxic chemicals that could be harmful, especially for those in need of strict medical attention. Moreover, as a physician I agree with most health officials who see no medical advantage to natural marijuana over doctor’s prescription for the synthetic version of the drug.
Despite this evidence, there has been an effort to legalize natural marijuana for medicinal use. On June 11, 2009, Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts introduced H.R. 2835 “The States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act.” This bill would change the classification of natural marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug. H.R. 2835 was referred for further consideration to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
While I respect your support for medical marijuana, I am opposed to efforts to legalize drugs such as marijuana. Marijuana impairs judgment and has proven links to fatal accidents and harmful injuries. Marijuana is addictive, adversely affects the immune system, and it leads to the use of other drugs, such as cocaine. Marijuana also causes other side effects such as cancer, respiratory diseases, and mental disorders. Babies born to women who smoke marijuana during pregnancy have an increased incidence of leukemia, low birth weight and other abnormalities. Furthermore, I believe that the legalization of so-called medical marijuana is a back door to the general legalization of this drug.
I look forward to serving you in the 111th Congress and hearing from you again soon. If my staff or I can do anything to assist you, please do not hesitate to contact my office. You can also visit my website at www.fleming.house.gov for further information.
Sincerely,
John Fleming, M.D.
Member of Congress
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It is very sad how our country hides behind this false reality of a free society and claiming to be free on a daily basis, but then turning to their masters to ask them what they can and cannot do. Not even having the least bit of self respect or responsibility to educate themselves on what is right and wrong; instead just turning to their masters to be told what is. I do not remember when I asked these crooked kings to take care of me and my health. Marijuana is not even an issue that government should be talking about, much less having control over. It is a plant (herb), to actually call it a drug is pure ignorance and the last time I checked GOD gave me and everyone else ALL SEED BEARING PLANTS. These facts are some of many that all of us in these forums already know because we are not fools.
The only thing that we can do is live our lives as we were intended to do, FREE AND FOR GOD. No man can ever tell us what we can/cannot do with our own body and I will never ask them to. Morons like Fleming (RP) LA. should be treated no different than any other moron that you ignore because of their obvious ignorance. Asking them to allow us to use marijuana is only giving them the sense that they have power that they do not have. I do not feel the need to ask for these idiots permission to use what GOD gave me, so I will use marijuana when I please because GOD will protect me from losing the life he gave me from the kings of our world. Especially over something that he created !!!
“While I do not agree with a word you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it” – Voltaire.
Ok, yes smoking it is harmful but what about the use of a vaporizer?
Also, if you look at NORML’s website you will see that this organization did studies that prove that marijuana is significantly less harmful than the use of alcohol. Alcohol alters your mind, causes poor judgement, and has a proven link to accidents which result in countless fatalities every year along with liver problems and physical abuse. Alcohol is also addictive. Yet we still sell them why?
Cigarettes is addictive. There is no medical use whatsoever of this harmful product. It causes lung cancer and is harmful even still to those who inhale the second hand smoke. But this product is available at every gas station in the United States.
As a supporter of NORML and as a Citizen of the United States of America, can anyone in the FDA, Senate, House, or even the White House give me a valid explination on why Marijuana, A much less addictive/harmful substance than alcohol or cigarettes, is illegal while alcohol/cigarettes that have DIRECT links to death are legal? Is it simply because everyone there doesn’t wanna put out their cancer stick and their bottle of burbon?
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Classic prohibitionist scum.
may they all be judged in the end…
As Russ has pointed out in the past…
He’s obviously not afraid of 100% THC
(Marinol) and supports it’s legality, so I guess
it’s all those other cannabinoids we need to be afraid of, as they must be the reason “crude” cannabis must be kept illegal.
Logic means nothing to these people, nor do the civil rights of millions of recreational and medicinal users…
I am ready to start voting on ONE ISSUE
for all prospective candidates in all political races where I vote. If they can’t support FULL legalization and regulation of cannabis, they won’t be getting my vote, and they will be hearing why…
Freedom, civil rights, enlightened thinking has never been the forte of the south.
When he makes ignorant statements such as those found in the letters provided here, it gives you, and other like minded citizens of your state, the opportunity to attack him publicly for his ignorance. Clobber him with facts and reason, then suggest to the public that your state should have clear thinking, well reasoned legislators working to protect the freedom and welfare of the people, not ill informed enemies of freedom using 80 year old propaganda lies to justify continued oppression of the people. Confront him with the harmful effects of prohibition. Confront him with the harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco.
I recently received my new copy of “Intoxication,” by Ronald K. Siegel, Ph.D.. In the preface, I found the following quote:
Now, note that he’s talking about cocaine, not cannabis. Probably most of us would agree that cocaine, because of its toxicity, is a much more dangerous drug than cannabis. But, my understanding of this author’s position is that cocaine is less harmful to society than alcohol or tobacco. That is a pretty strong statement.
As much as possible, try to confront him in public arenas, as private letters are more likely to be discarded without much thought or effect. If he chooses to champion stupid policies, make him look stupid every time he shows his face in public. If you beat him down with solid reasoning, he will be forced to refine his arguments. But, I believe we are right. The enemies of freedom can never win with reason.
-ED
But, even if there may be harmful effects from smoking, these may be avoided by vaporizing or eating the cannabis. Therefore, that argument does not justify continued prohibition of cannabis.
Also, the much maligned more potent cannabis than your grandfather used to smoke (if such stuff actually exists) could allow users to smoke less in order to achieve the needed benefit. Maybe the solution to the smoke problem is more potent cannabis.
-ED
I look forward to seeing your backwards, ignorant ass voted out the door.
Louisianans and America deserve better.
Merry Christmas.
You sound frustrated, yes, and rightfully so…your state is as full of bigoted right-wing propaganda-spewing prohibitionists as mine (Texas) if not more so. While Texas has Willie Nelson and Ron Paul to speak out in favor of the good herb, nobody really comes to mind from Louisiana – stashers?
Russ has addressed the accusations that some California physicians recommend medical cannabis in an unscrupulous manner, suggesting that critics without medical credentials have no right to judge.
He does have a point, but Dr. Fleming is living proof that being a licensed physician doesn’t necessarily mean he knows what he’s talking about. His ignorance of the proven medical value of cannabis proves my point.
In Louisiana, medical cannabis is a dead issue. There has been no legislative discussion about medical cannabis in this state since 1992.
Because of this, Louisiana physicians have not educated themselves concerning cannabis. The mere fact that Fleming quotes addiction and gateway theories indicates he subscribes to age-old reefer madness.
As a disabled Louisiana resident, I suffer every day because of this brand of ignorance.
During the last Norml Show Live, Louisiana was mentioned as one of the states Norml appears to have given up on. MPP and ASA share the same view, yet all three organizations are happy to ask me for monetary donations.
Do I sound frustrated?
“While some claim that natural marijuana is more effective than Marinol, most health experts see smoking as a harmful drug delivery system without substantial benefits.”
Obviously someone hasn’t been keeping up with the AMA…
“it leads to the use of other drugs, such as cocaine.” -shut the hell up.
“impairs judgment and has proven links to fatal accidents and harmful injuries”, “also causes other side effects such as cancer, diseases, and mental disorders.” -says the alcoholic.