Asa Hutchinson Disagrees With Portrayal in Salem-News Political Perspective Article

There appears to be a huge difference between the federal interpretation of truth, and the reality of what is taking place.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Former Homeland Security Undersecretary, DEA Administrator and Congressman, Asa Hutchinson, contacted Salem-News.com Tuesday with a complaint over a political perspective report that I wrote March 23rd 2009.

The problem is that we aren't supposed to compare apples and oranges. Meth is a deadly, addictive chemical that contains ingredients almost too nasty to write about. The brain chemistry of meth addicts who use the drug over and over again actually changes, because this particular substance destroys the wiring in the brain's pleasure centers and making it increasingly impossible to experience any pleasure at all when the user is out.

Dopamine levels in the brain are raised by the use of drugs, as it is by pleasurable activity like a wonderful dinner, a walk on the beach or great sex. Former Salem, Oregon Police Chief Walt Myers showed me a chart a few years ago, that showed how activities and substances affected dopamine levels.

Alcohol and marijuana both elevate dopamine levels, but not drastically. If I recall correctly, they can raise the levels to over 200. Cocaine raises dopamine levels to around 350. Crystal meth raises them to 1050 and literally burns out the receptors in the brain's pleasure center, as referenced above.

It is important to remember that the medical use of marijuana is anything but a small subject. Hutchinson claims in the video that smoking it causes cancer, and in reality there is no proof of that. One of our most visited articles month after month from January 11th 2008, describes the progress doctors in Germany are having using an extract from this plant for actually treating cancer cells. (see: Breakthrough Discovered in Medical Marijuana Cancer Treatment - Tim King Salem-News.com)

I wrote in the March 23rd article that Hutchinson's wording sounded like he was describing methamphetamine on a level with marijuana, as a "dangerous drug".

Hutchinson wrote in the Tuesday email, "I wanted to assure you that I fully understand the dangers of meth and I agree that meth is a much more dangerous drug than marijuana."

That is good, Hutchinson demonstrates that in spite of his wording during the interview, he does realize that pot and meth are extremely different in terms of any threat they pose to our population.

This is the specific quote from Hutchinson that sparked my somewhat angry article, "The question is whether it (marijuana) should be expanded or legalized, absolutely not. If you look at harmful drugs, whether it is tobacco or other hard drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, the objective of society is to reduce the use of harmful drugs."

My brain sees and hears "other hard drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine" and that is why all of this started.

I just think that with respect to the massive amount of mind-numbing ignorance generated by half or more of the nation's anti-drug campaigns up until now, it is time to stop all of the nonsense.

His statement "hard drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine", I truly believe, would cause a parent who has never experimented with drugs to fail to understand the vast and even deadly difference that exists between meth and pot.

Hutchinson continued in his email response to the article, "While the statement might not be the most artful, it is clear I am not equating the level of danger from harmful drugs. Medical science supports the harmful effects of tobacco. Medical science supports the harmful of effects of marijuana. And the same is true for the other drugs that are mentioned. It does not claim that the harmful effects are equal."

Again in response, it was not clear during the MSNBC program but perhaps it is now. But the part about how "Medical science supports the harmful of effects of marijuana" is another fabrication, sorry if that can't be worded more kindly.

Going back as far as the 1972 with Nixon's Shaffer Commission, which favored ending marijuana prohibition and adopting other methods to discourage use, large numbers of doctors have agreed that marijuana is not especially harmful for people.

But the doctors in more recent years have faced sanctions and much worse for advocating that marijuana is useful and should be legalized.

In addition to being a WWII combat veteran, Dr Phil
Leveque's a Physician,Toxicologist & Pharmacologist

Another problem, as our medical writer Dr. Phillip Leveque points out, is that all too often, the minds of aspiring doctors are poisoned during medical school as they are provided information that is strictly anti-marijuana in nature. Leveque cites the strong ties that exist between these institutions and the out-of-control pharmaceutical industry, with their endless cash that supports their endless stream of commercials on TV that cause patients to seek out and self prescribe drugs; all FDA approved even if the stuff kills you.

In spite of that, since well before that commission report, medical marijuana has been getting a basic green light from a large part of the medical community. No person has ever died from using marijuana.

The aspect of the medical community that disagrees with the scientific and medical evidence and fights the legalization is the part connected again, to the pharmaceutical industry. They are a powerful lobby if there ever was one.

As Dr. Leveque has demonstrated in dozens of articles and video segments on Salem-News.com, marijuana's usefulness is extremely wide-ranging and the figures cited against marijuana by groups like NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) are almost entirely fiction, if you believe doctors and scientists, rather than an agency that has been under the watchful command of a Presidential administration that was very friendly and helpful for the big pharmaceutical industry. It really isn't hard to put together.

What I do want to do is extend to Mr. Hutchinson that if nothing else, I'm sure he is sincere in his efforts. But he is wrong and it is time to change and accept that marijuana has not been regarded fairly in his statements, or throughout the last several decades of U.S. history for that matter.

Ever heard of the former federal prosecutor and Congressman Bob Barr? He sounded an awful lot like Hutchinson back in his Republican heyday. Barr was regarded as one of the most conservative members of Congress. He was described in 2002 as "the idol of the gun-toting, abortion-fighting, IRS-hating hard right wing of American politics".

Barr's strong stance against medical marijuana in Congress put him at odds with marijuana policy reformers such as the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Despite this historic antagonism, in March 2007, Barr reversed his stance on medical marijuana and began lobbying on behalf of MPP. This new partnership saw Barr working to repeal his very own "Barr Amendment" — the amendment that overturned a voter-approved medical marijuana initiative in Washington, D.C., mentioned below, and also prohibits consideration of similar initiatives.

In spite of Hutchinson's logical agreement that a plant millions use regularly isn't nearly as dangerous as meth, he hails from a government that decided long ago that marijuana should be placed in a Schedule I category.

According to Americans for Safe Access: Under federal law, "marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, which means that the federal government views marijuana as highly addictive and having no medical value."

It is important to note that the entire federal government position that they do not legally recognize marijuana's medicinal value is not true. There are several patients who were part of a federal medical marijuana program started and then disbanded several years ago. To this day they receive marijuana from Uncle Sam that is grown at the University of Mississippi.

The feds say the ongoing legally authorized federal marijuana program doesn't count because they changed the rules, and these existing federal marijuana patients were just grandfathered in, so to speak.

But those very people going on as part of the program, say there is a huge difference between the federal interpretation of truth, and the reality of what is taking place.

Asa, can I offer you a bit of irony? Do you know what your name means in Japanese? It means hemp sir, and that is the truth. It is something our nation's forefathers farmed and that is also the truth. Hemp generally refers to the cannabis/marijuana plant that yields a strong industrial product and it used to be Kentucky's number one state crop. Today the non-industrial version of this plant is the nation's number one crop. But until more changes take place, our money-strapped country won't receive its fair share of taxation from it, and it really could help so much in so many ways, not to mention that this is as "green" of a product as a person could ever find.

Beyond that, medical marijuana is only an aspect of the "movement" if it must be called that, and it is the most legitimate one. It has opened the door for everything that is marijuana related but that is just how it goes and believe me, it is not going to change any time soon.

In his letter, the former Undersecretary of Homeland Security and DEA Administrator wrote, "I am grateful for your service to our country and certainly respect your views and your right to advocate for your views. I would ask for the same respect in return."

Well I respect you too sir for serving your country. In my reply I sent you a link to a recent video with Dr. Leveque who I mentioned above. In addition to being a medical marijuana doctor who specialized in treating combat veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he is a WWII combat veteran who fought the Nazi's in Europe, landing in France in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge. One day he and one other soldier captured 26 Nazi officers after finding them in a house, having a meeting. His words are worthy of everyone's respect and attention. (see: Medical Marijuana Q&A: The Doctor is In - Dr. Phillip Leveque & Bonnie King Salem-News.com)

In the end I believe that the medicinal value of cannabis is largely unknown and the advance has been slow because of the restrictive and archaic laws, and that if it finally can move forward in terms of research it will be a real favor for humanity.

Asa Hutchinson certainly is impressive in his ability and choice to address a criticism head-on and I commend him for that. Answering up shows that a politician is awake, paying attention, and perhaps looking for answers they haven't found yet or been willing to accept.

He concluded his letter to me by saying, "We disagree on the legalization issue and that is okay. The public ultimately decides through the ballot box and thus far the voters have wisely rejected efforts to legalize marijuana and other harmful drugs."

I think that would strongly depend on which voters you are talking about, or maybe by once again referencing "marijuana" with "other harmful drugs", Asa eliminates his ability to say something closer to the truth.

Something that might begin with, "Other than the 13 states that have already voted to legalize the use of medical marijuana..."

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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor.
Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 in Afghanistan with Oregon troops. Tim recently returned from Iraq where he covered the war there while embedded with an Oregon Guard aviation unit. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website, affiliated with Google News and several other major search engines and news aggregators.
You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

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Combat Veteran/CIB March 25, 2009 2:16 pm (Pacific time)

Force Recon Marines are the kind of marines that have some grit, superior of course to 'elite' Airborne in the Army. Of course you have to remember that the Army is willing to accpet out and out criminals these days, and have always had some borderline retards,, but they will get my respect. Tim King's background as a former Marine and combat correspondent have had my serious respect for years. I admit I don't have the courage or spirit that it must take to do what he does.

Editor: CB, the Army deserves plenty of credit, thanks for your compliments. Marines may be the best, but that becomes a very level thing in war and while they may be different orgzniations, they are on the same team. I have met some extremely brave and impressive soldiers, and never any that were retarded. I think being a little more diplomatic would help you.

Henry Ruark March 25, 2009 12:54 pm (Pacific time)

Stephen: From your record here, if I were Tim, would much prefer you simply stay the helloutofit... After all, this is same Marine whom you attacked as having broken his oath. SO why shoould he now suddenly trust you behind him ?? How does he possibly know where your allegiance may go next ?? !! OR WHY ?? Credibility at any level demands some stability of both thought and allegiance, and is always made impossible by such irresposible actions as your attack on education without understanding the system, then claiming you depended on other also unfounded opinions here.

stephen March 25, 2009 12:29 pm (Pacific time)

Go get'em Tim.. I got your back. :-)

mack March 25, 2009 10:02 am (Pacific time)

http://www.youtube.com/chrychek it works support this.

Greg March 25, 2009 9:52 am (Pacific time)

Has Prohibition EVER worked?

Subvet416 March 25, 2009 8:33 am (Pacific time)

According to Americans for Safe Access: Under federal law, "marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, which means that the federal government views marijuana as highly addictive and having no medical value." Yet the active compound in the plant, THC, is now a schedule III drug, available from your APA approved psychiatrist or AMA approved medical doctor for only $10 a pill. Have insurance? Most companies will pay for it. Get it for free at the VA if you're a veteran and enjoy, just sign this disclaimer about guns and let them turn in your name to the NCIS which will put the Kaibosh on your pistol permit when you try to renew it or want to buy a new rifle or shotgun. Or, since any substance for which the body and brain have receptors is naturally produced by the body given the proper precursors, just get healthy with an orthomolecular program and a good diet, and dig the natural highs nature meant us to enjoy.

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