Oklahoma Rep. Jadine Nollan re: Medical Marijuana

The following is an exchange I'd like to pass on. Please feel free to use my letter as an example of what you would write your representative. .. Now the response from Rep. Nollan isn't the worst I've seen it could be much better so feel free to write her to express your opinion.

Jadine Nollan	Sep 27
to me

Hi ProgressiveOkie,

Thank you for your thoughts regarding this subject. I will keep them under advisement.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jadine Nollan

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 26, 2013, at 3:41 PM,

>
> Sep 26, 2013
>
> Representative Jadine Nollan
> State Capitol Building, Room 329-A
> 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
> Oklahoma City, OK 73105
>
> Dear Representative Nollan,
>
> A recent poll of voters in Oklahoma has shown that a clear majority
> supports a medical marijuana program for seriously ill patients who
> have the approval of a physician. Sen. Constance Johnson has introduced
> legislation that would establish a regulated program much like those of
> 20 other states and the District of Columbia. As your constituent, I am
> asking you to support her efforts on behalf of patients in our state.
>
> Some have argued that Marinol, a pharmaceutical medicine that contains
> only one of several active medicinal ingredients in marijuana, is an
> adequate substitute. Unfortunately though, many patients who benefit
> from medical marijuana would not benefit from Marinol because it lacks
> important active ingredients that have therapeutic effect for pain
> relief, seizure control, and other serious conditions. It is also
> difficult for nauseated patients to keep down and is more dangerous
> than natural marijuana, since it is pure, synthetic THC.
>
> Nearly three-quarters of Oklahomans want a medical marijuana program,
> and I hope you will take a stand to support the will of the voters.
> Patients who seek an alternative to narcotics should not be made into
> criminals for using a safer medication that for many patients is the
> only thing that works.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> ProgressiveOkie
AS

Support Marijuana Law Reform in Tulsa

When:
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 @ 7pm

Where:
Hardesty Regional Library
8316 E. 93rd St.
Tulsa
74133

Description:
We will be working in Tulsa to lessen penalties for responsible adult cannabis consumers and save taxpayers' money by allowing the police to focus on more violent and serious crimes.

End the Prohibition of Marijuana in the United States

or, Create a Petition

Change.org

The responsible use of alcohol was ended by the 18th Amendment on January 29, 1919. This amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933 when the state of Utah ratified it. The reason for the repeal of the 18th Amendment was because the U.S. Government realized that prohibition only created more problems than it solved. Drinking rates grew higher, crime increased. Millions of dollars were made by bootleggers and moonshiners who didn't care if they were following the law or not. The most dangerous part about drinking was the criminal element involved with it's manufacture and/or sale.

Today we have a similar situation. In 1937 the U.S. passed the "Marihuana Tax Act of 1937". 'The Act did not itself criminalize the possession or usage of hemp, marijuana or cannabis, but levied a tax equaling roughly one dollar on anyone who dealt commercially in cannabis, hemp or marijuana. It did, however, include penalty provisions and a complex Regulation 1 codifying the elaborate rules of enforcement marijuana cannabis or hemp handlers were subject to. Violation of these procedures could result in a fine of up to $2000 and five years imprisonment. The net effect was to make it too risky for anyone to deal in the substance until World War II required the United States Department of Agriculture to make its 1942 movie "Hemp for Victory".' - from the Wikipedia Article Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.

This act was later deemed unconstitional by the Supreme Court in 1969 during the case Leary v. United States because it violated the 5th Amendment since a person would have to incriminate him or herself to obtain the tax stamp required by law.

The government then passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970 and placed Marijuana on the List of Schedule I drugs. This means that it meets the following requirements:

(A) The drug or other substance has high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

If this were true then why is Marinol, a synthetic version of THC, the main active ingredient in Marijuana, only on the List of Schedule III drugs? To be on that list it meets these requirements:

(A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

This list also includes drugs like Tylenol 3 and Anabolic Steroids. So why is Marijuana illegal because of THC and Marinol is legal even though it's synthetic THC?

End the Prohibition of Marijuana in the United States.