Why Condemn Phelps, When We Ought to Condemn the Laws That Brand Him A Criminal
cpu member 3
Add decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to the growing list of
successful Americans who happens to indulge in marijuana during his
down time. The tabloid news story is making international headlines,
though it’s difficult to understand why.
After all, Mr. Phelps is hardly alone in his herbal inclinations.
According to national and federal surveys, nearly one out of two
Americans have tried weed, and among those age 18 to 25 — Phelps is 23
— pot smoking is especially popular.
Contrary to the messages promoted by the federal government, marijuana
consumers include people from all walks of life, ethnic classes, and
socio-economic backgrounds. America’s current President said that he
smoked marijuana regularly as a young man. Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas, former Vice President Al Gore, former Republican
House Speaker Newt Gingrich, California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and legendary astronomer Carl Sagan all have admitted
using marijuana at different times during their lives.
According to the U.S. government, some 70 percent of current marijuana
users are gainfully employed. Statistically, most marijuana users are
successful academically and financially. A National Bureau of Economic
Research study even reported that marijuana use is associated with
earning higher wages. Some former and current users, like Virgin
tycoon Sir Richard Branson, Progressive Auto Insurance founder Peter
Lewis, and New York State Mayor Michael Bloomberg are even multi-
millionaires.
Perhaps the public’s fascination with this story is because Phelps is
recognized as one of the most talented and successful athletes in the
entire world. (He holds the record for the most gold medals won by any
athlete in history.) But Phelps isn’t an anomaly in this regard
either. Many top athletes use cannabis off the field — noting that it
helps them to relax after the excitement of sports competition and
alleviate the pain from nagging injuries. It also won’t leave them
with a hangover or adversely impact their performance the next day.
A 2007 New York Times investigation estimated that up to 70 percent of
pro-basketball players occasionally indulge in the use of pot, and
many high profile football players — most notably Miami Dolphins star
running-back Ricky Williams, former Dallas Cowboys all-star Mark
Stepnoski, and even Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes — have spoken
candidly about their off-field marijuana use. In fact, Phelps isn’t
even the first gold medalist to admit to smoking cannabis. That honor
belongs to Canadian snowboarder and 1998 Winter Olympics gold medal
winner Ross Rebagliati, who tested positive for having used cannabis
in the days prior to his history-making performance.
Sure, there will be some who will say that this latest chapter in
Phelp’s life is deserving of criticism because the 14-time gold
medalist is sending a poor message to young children. And what message
would that be? That you can occasionally smoke marijuana and still be
successful in life. Well sorry if the truth hurts.
Fact is, most Americans who use pot do so for the same reasons — and
in the same manner — as do those who drink alcohol. According to a
recent University of Alberta study, the majority of adults who use
cannabis do so recreationally to “enhance relaxation.” Researchers
concluded: “[M]ost adult marijuana users regulate use to their
recreational time and do not use compulsively. Rather, their use is
purposively intended to enhance their leisure activities and manage
the challenges and demands of living in contemporary modern society.
Generally, participants reported using marijuana because it enhanced
relaxation and concentration, making a broad range of leisure
activities more enjoyable and pleasurable.”
No doubt Michael Phelps indulged in the use of marijuana for these
very same reasons. He ought not to be condemned for it nor branded a
criminal for his actions.
For that matter, neither should anyone else.
Rev. Kevin Loring
I am Rev. Kevin Loring located in Maine. I am trying to locate
compassionate doctors who can write prescriptions or recoomendations for
cannabis/marinol/dronabinol in the Maine state area. I'm unsure whether an
out of state doctor can do this or not, but if so, I'd love to have that
info as well. Any help would be appreciated, as I jhave a growing waiting
list of patients who desperately need help.
Thank you,
Rev. Loring
Maine CPU Chapter
cpu member 3
help
On Feb 5, 11:24 am, "Rev. Kevin Loring"
Rev. Kevin Loring
I am happy to announce that the CPU Store is now open. Shirts and buttons
are now available in a wide variety of styles and colors. Also available are
shirts for dogs, tote bags, messenger bags, hats and more.
Please show your support by purchasing a CPU Shirt. Proceeds generated go
towards a great cause and you can proudly display your support while at the
same time helping us to garnish nationwide support.
Specialty shirts have also been designed for each of the chapters, these
shirts are made from earth friendly Hemp material and feature the chapter
name on the sleeve.
If you have ideas for shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, please send your
artwork to Ma...@cpu420.com. Please use GIF, JPG, or PNG formats at 300 dpi
for best printing.
Rev. Kevin Loring
Maine CPU Chapter
Ambassador for the ASA
High Temple Priest of the Temple of Advanced Enlightenment
207-949-6627
Ma...@cpu420.com
HighTemp...@templegreen.org
www.cpu420.com/chapters/ME/Maine.htm
www.templegreen.org
Rev. Kevin Loring
our idea to open a cannabis dispensary in Bangor, Maine. The idea calls for
a temporary, weekly dispersal for pre-qualified patients. BY temporary, we
mean the site will be setup and torn down each week after a two hour
dispensing of much needed medicine.
Maine has been very slow to implement it now 10-year old medical marijuana
laws. Maine is now becomming the new battlefront in the battle for patients
rights.
The council has agreed to hold a committee hearing on the subject and make a
decision on wether or not to endorse the plan. This is a small vistory for
our Maine citizens.
Below you will find a copy of the speech presented by Rev. Loring.
Good evening and thank you for your time,
It is in the spirit of compassion that we once again appear before the Mayor
and City Council. Today I ask again for your help and try to clarify the
proposal through which we seek to relieve the suffering of the Maine people.
For 10 years Maine has had medicinal cannabis laws. Medicinal cannabis is
perfectly legal under Maine law. In Dec. of last year, our state enjoyed
maybe it's first affirmative defense of medicinal use. Don Christen was
thankfully found not guilty of cultivation and distribution because his
intents were legal under Maine law. Even Kennebec and Somerset County
District Attorney Evert Fowle agrees that more needs to be done to protect
the patients.
Since the last time I approached this council, The Temple has partnered with
many associations across the United States. We are now directly affiliated
with the Cannabis Protection Union, a large and growing nationwide
organization of lawyers, advocates and patients. The Temple is also
partnered with Americans for Safe Access, a coalition of doctors, nurses and
patients. The Temple has partnered with over a dozen Churches nationwide
including Rastafarians, Coptics, Christians, Baptists and others. We have
also asked for the help of the Maine Civil Liberties Union and American
Civil Liberties Union. We even have the support of a small handful of
Maine's state level politicians.
It is estimated that 80 million Americans use cannabis in some form. Doctors
are protected from prosecution for prescribing or recommending cannabis as a
therapy. The Supreme Court recognizes that State marijuana laws are not
superceded by Federal laws. Even the Administrative Law Judge for the DEA
stated that cannabis is one of the safest therapeutic substances known to
man. Our current President has also recently stated that Federal resources
should not be used to circumvent state law.
We are not alone and we are growing steadily. Under current Maine law all
that is needed to become a patient is a simple note from your doctor and you
can grow at home. For those too sick, or do not have the knowledge to safely
produce their own supply, a legal caregiver must be appointed. The Temple
wishes to become that caregiver. This means medicinal recipients would
already be pre-approved by the Temple and receive a set amount each week.
This is not a delivery service. This would be a set dispensary point,
preferably at the Civic Center, Police Station or maybe even City Hall.
Overseen and regulated so that the patients are protected and receive the
compassion they deserve and are legally allowed under State Law.
We do not support having a pot shop or other permanent cannabis dispensary
in Bangor. In California, such dispensaries have lead to a rise in local
traffic, crime and are a nuisance to local residents. For-Profit
Dispensaries seek only to profit from the pain of sick people. A temporary
site, such as we are proposing, is a much safer and a more responsible
alternative. This follows the gold star standard set forth by the Women's
and Men's Alliance for Medicinal Marijuana or WAMM. Volunteers, many of whom
are patients themselves work together to grow and prepare their medicines.
The Temple has several experts in the field of cannabis cultivation and
medicinal preparation. These skills are vital to properly creating safe
medicines. Not all medicinal marijuana is smoked, in fact much of it is made
into teas, tinctures, oils and capsules. Vaporizer technology eliminates
much of the danger associated with smoking cannabis and has shown great
potential in reducing harm to the patient. It is incredibly hard to grow
medicinal cannabis safely. Many fertilizers and even soils can make the
patient more ill. Which is why having experts as caregivers is a great idea.
We wouldn't ask a nurse to know how to grow corn, We wouldn't ask a farmer
to inject medicine. We must use the right people for the job, each with
their own tools and knowledge working together for the benefit of the
patient.
I ask you again for your support. This idea has merit, no matter what group
does it. Let Bangor be a role model in providing this medication responsibly
and safely. Let Bangor lead by example and show true compassion where it is
desperately needed. I would like a letter of support from each of you. You
need not support me or the Temple, just the idea. This idea has real merit.
This idea will help the sick and profit no one. This idea will save lives.
Thank you.