Pot Foe Dwight Leans Right but he's Not Right

Our medical expert, Dr. Phil Leveque, says Dwight Holton's position on marijuana is a disservice to PTSD Veterans.

I use the word trend because Mr. Holton has stated that he supports the program, but I think that might be a wee stretch of the truth from Dwight. Read between the lines and you will see his real position is at best, one of distrust. He sees bad guys in the shadows and it is all very needless.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) is restrictive in nature when compared to California's legal provision for medical pot, and by all accounts has been an extremely successful program.

This is the point our esteemed writer, Dr. Phillip Leveque, who helped Oregon establish its progressive medical cannabis legislation, has stood by for years.

Those who analyze the way police and a handful of politicians (who are becoming very close to the same thing) attack this law, see a pattern of intense money-based interest.

Those who appreciate seeing prisons overflowing with non-violent medical marijuana patients averaging 45 in age, probably support Holton, but his version of legal justice and the average Oregon residents' are indeed miles apart. He seems more like a relic of the Bush era.

Dr. Leveque can tell you incredible stories about the patients he signed medical marijuana permits for. One was a Marine helicopter pilot shot down multiple times during the Vietnam War. He suffered terrible physical injuries and was addicted to several 'legal' prescription drugs when he finally arrived at Dr. Leveque's office for the first time. Doc says he was a mess and hated his addictions

In a fairly short period of time, that retired military officer, who had never considered the positive side of cannabis, was able to either terminate or greatly reduce the use of every hard drug he was on, as he increasingly found ways to use marijuana for relief. This by the way, is a matter of much contrast. Prescription drugs kill people every day in shocking numbers and marijuana is not fatal.

The people like Holton are, in the bigger picture, the reason most citizens know so little about medical marijuana.

They say things about it that simply aren't true, and "they" retaliate like mad against anyone having success with the legalization of marijuana. Dr. Leveque is a Professor of Pharmacology and a Forensic Toxicologist with an extremely distinguished career.

Before that he was in General Patton's Army fighting the Nazi's in WWII. After training doctors all over the world and working as a medical examiner, he went back to college and became an Osteopathic Physician. This is when he began increasingly treating Combat Veterans with PTSD; (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) something he has lived with personally, since fighting in WWII, more than 66 years ago.

Oregon's medical board took his license to practice away because of a simple, tiny error that in no way substantiated the radical, career-ending action. This is the retaliation I often refer to from the anti-marijuana crowd. They're dishonest and they play dirty.

Concluding that point, it seems clear that Dwight Holton and other prosecutors like Josh Marquis on the north coast, dismiss proven medical science documenting marijuana's medicinal value, and I think Dr. Leveque knows vastly more about it and he does not personally use marijuana, he never has to any extent, beyond a little experimenting years ago.

This included a bottle of cannabis cough syrup on a back shelf at the Oregon Medical School back in the 50's. The product was made back when marijuana was an extremely common ingredient in medicine, before the Tax Act of 1937 suddenly criminalized the herb. This is because Dow and DuPont, two companies with the moral fiber of Purdue Pharma, wanted to market synthetic rope. They had to do away with the natural rope product, again cannabis, or hemp in this application; one of the strongest natural fibers known to man. The criminalization of pot made room for heavy polluting factories to replace the natural product. Those were Dwight Holton's ideological ancestors pulling a number on the citizens also. Speaking of Holton's ancestors, I found this part of his history in Simon Owen's article interesting:

“

Holton, 46, is the son of Kinwood Holton, a former Republican governor in Virginia, and the brother-in-law of Tim Kaine, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and former Virginia governor. He moved to Oregon in 2002 from New York, where he had served as a federal prosecutor.

”

So there you have it Oregon; he is a federal product from the state that is a full on fed fest. His background of east coast politics naturally conflicts with the peaceful, easy going nature of Oregon which is very strong in spirit, in spite of the layers of corruption that invade our courts, jails and prisons.

I commend his work as a prosecutor and I know they all climb the ladder, that is how it works; but Oregon is a very corrupt state politically and Ellen Rosenblum seems like a great match for Oregon's needs.

In fact the whole race between Rosenblum and Holton now seems to almost center around the marijuana issue, and if that is true then I don't think she will have trouble being elected. People are tired of the harsh politics, by all accounts the want to have an honest government, where elected officials represent the will of the voters.

There is a whole other side to this argument that the majority of people gloss over. This plant has a huge number of uses; food fuel, clothing; all manner of products. There are also other components that have a positive impact on health in addition to THC they include CBC (Cannabichromene) and CBD (Cannabidiol), for example. It is also noteworthy that some of these are found in the male planet which has low levels of THC and consequently, little intoxication effect.

It can be eaten in a number of ways or made into tea; used in a vaporizer which is considered the safest approach for a person's lungs; or of course smoked which is the historic way. Marijuana can be made into hash, which is widely used in Europe and Asia, and also in the U.S.

It allows people freedom; with marijuana they can escape drugs, and therein lies the lunacy of Dwight Holton's irrational, even demented thinking. Marijuana has never killed anyone, why does this not count for more?

Pot's Not the Problem, Legal Drugs Are

And this is where our Investigative Reporter Marianne Skolek enters the picture. While Salem-News.com has treated medical marijuana in a serious way from the start, we also are the home of one of the nation's most powerful advocates against the scourge of big pharma, Purdue Pharma... and the deadly drug frequently prescribed by doctors, OxyContin.

Marianne's article have shaken Purdue time and time again, and that's good because she can never take from this company, what it took from her. Marianne's daughter Jill died just over ten years ago. She was not a drug addict, but she was sick; prescribed OxyContin, and died of an Oxycontin-related respiratory failure.

Marianne helped convict the top Purdue officials later in federal court, for having marketed OxyContin as 'non-lethal' and 'non-addictive'.

The attorney who prevented those top officials from going to prison, was Eric Holder. He wasn't able to prevent Purdue's designation as a 'criminally convicted company' though.

Purdue, one of the chief beneficiaries of Dwight Holton's politics, does not want marijuana to be legal. Natural medicine after all, greatly impacts the bottom line of these drug dealers. People who heal themselves with medical marijuana stop needing all of those addictive drugs and marijuana is not physically addictive.

I will say that people become mentally addicted to the herb because it is in so many cases, such a powerfully successful remedy, mentally as well as physically.

Why Doesn't Holton Consider Veterans?

One of the groups Holton's positions deals the hardest blow to, is the military veteran living in Oregon. A large number of PTSD-afflicted vets use marijuana every single day.

Oregon's rigid medical marijuana law doesn't allow PTSD users a permit, however many have physical issues that go with the package and the often get permits. Those who haven't been in a combat zone may not understand, but it is a traumatic experience and those willing to put their life on the line for their nation will suffer under Holton's program.

Of course people have always smoked pot, they always will, the law has only sent people to prison, it hasn't curbed use in any way. We live in an age when nearly every Oregon family has a member that uses pot. They belong at your next reunion, not in prison.

I have to say that I do admire Holton's claim about battling illegal Internet porn and human trafficking so gallantly as he ads claim. However I find great discomfort with his claim that he will enforce federal law in Oregon; that seems so contrary to what matters in this age of Oregon state law only being recognized by the feds when it matches the needs of the big money, corporate right-wing agenda; which medical marijuana and assisted suicide, both fail to do.

I appreciate Simon Owens with US News & World Report for sending Dr. Leveque a heads up about his new article, the link is below and I strongly recommend reading it.

Tim King in 2008, covering the Iraq War

Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer

Tim King has more than twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. Tim is Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. His background includes covering the war in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and reporting from the Iraq war in 2008. Tim is a former U.S. Marine.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing from The Associated Press the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs, Electronic Media Association and The Red Cross In a personal capacity, Tim has written 2,026 articles as of March 2012 for Salem-News.com since the new format designed by Matt Lintz was launched in December, 2005.

Serving readers with news from all over the globe, Tim's life is literally encircled by the endless news flow published by Salem-News.com, where more than 100 writers contribute stories from 20+ countries and regions.

Tim specializes in writing about political and military developments worldwide with an emphasis on Palestine and Sri Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the U.S. Marines. You can write to Tim at this address: tim@salem-news.com. Visit Tim's Facebook page (facebook.com/TimKing.Reporter)

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

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The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

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Anonymous May 17, 2012 6:25 pm (Pacific time)

Malcolm this new attorney general will do nothing about legalizing marijuana. After she is sworn in she will be seeking federal dollars, and they will be setting her future agenda, no matter who wins in November. I would also suggest you not threaten people who are members of law enforcement or the legal community.

Malcolm Kyle May 16, 2012 2:56 am (Pacific time)

Let this be a wake-up call to Holton and all those other vile prohibitionists who wish to continue with a policy that has proven itself to be a poison in the veins of our once so proud and free nation Prohibition has finally run its course; our prisons are full, our economy is in ruins, the lives and livelihoods of tens of millions of Americans have been destroyed or severely disrupted, and what was once a shining beacon of liberty and prosperity has become a toxic, repressive, smoldering heap of hypocrisy and a gross affront to fundamental human decency. Accordingly, it is now the duty of every last one of us to insure that the people who are responsible for this shameful situation are not simply left in peace to enjoy the wealth and status that their despicable actions have, until now, afforded them. Former and present Prohibitionists must not be allowed to remain untainted and untouched from the unconscionable acts that they have viciously committed on their fellow citizens. - They have provided us with neither safe communities nor safe streets; we will provide them with neither a safe haven to enjoy their ill-gotten gains nor the liberty to repeat such a similar atrocity! If you're a bottom-dwelling, scum-sucking, prohibitionist parasite who's career has entailed subjecting the rest of us to off-the-scale corruption and lawlessness, then maybe you should consider moving to somewhere that won't extradite you to a future national or international drug-war tribunal for your crimes against humanity. Prohibition has evolved local gangs into transnational enterprises with intricate power structures that reach into every corner of society, helping them control vast swaths of territory while gifting them with significant social and military resources. Those responsible for the shameful policy of prohibition shall not go unpunished!

Johnny Green May 15, 2012 10:59 pm (Pacific time)

Take that marijuana opponents! http://www.theweedblog.com/anti-marijuana-candidate-dwight-holton-loses-election-to-ellen-rosenblum/

joell May 15, 2012 2:45 pm (Pacific time)

This is a very big issue for all of american voters as well. Far too many parasitic activities have been put on the backs of the voter as a result of the crime of the century (breaking the rules to declare marijuana as a narcotic). From predatory law enforcement all the way through to drug testing and forced "rehab" plea bargaining, career politicians who prey on us with the tough on crime stance. None of which add to the gross domestic product GDP of this country. We can no longer afford to carry these parasites. They have bankrupt our country with their predatory ways under the guise of morality. Tough on crime seems to equate to weak on corruption. Who's the predator and who's the prey here?

You're Nuts, May 13, 2012 10:39 pm (Pacific time)

This is babble! Were you high when you wrote this?? Holton worked for Bill Clinton for two years!

Tim King: Not babble at all. But thanks for confirming the first test; if an outward insult against the writer is used in the first paragraph, then that means you are completely helpless and not a leg to stand on. Clinton, that guy that handed the fate of poor people off to the likes of Newt Gingrich?

Anonymous May 13, 2012 7:47 am (Pacific time)

Are there any actual studies published in medical journals, or any other professional scientific journals showing that marijuana was successful in treating PTSD? I have done a literature review and have found none, so there are no double-blind or any other replicable studies that have been done. Sunsequently do not expect congress to legalize this drug anytime in the near or distant future. It would still have to pass FDA muster, and informed people know how long that takes. That's a key term: Informed People.

Tim King: Well I know or am in contact with a couple hundred Veterans who use it for PTSD and they clearly benefit from it. Emails that have been sent to me explain how this brings relief to PTSD sufferers and it is the police and the law and the archaic thinking that heightens their suffering. But moreover, we have Dr. Leveque's background of having signed permits for over a thousand who served this nation. If you are part of the stigma, then you deny yourself the chance to understand. It is as simple as that.

Anonymous May 12, 2012 8:08 pm (Pacific time)

Hey anon at 6:01...how about this: major insurance companies say marijuana users are safer drivers, after a 20 year study. I already knew this, but it was nice to see it in mainstream and from accredited auto insurance companies. And as far as congress/senate is concerned, 95% of them are bought and paid for by the pharma industry. Screw them...Seriously, screw those bastards. Support Ron Paul. Here is the insurance link: http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/04/auto_insurance_site_says_marijuana_users_are_safer.php

Anonymous May 12, 2012 6:01 pm (Pacific time)

SOURCES? " For the record, there are many credible, recent studies that prove marijuana is an effective health treatment." THERE ARE NONE, JUST CLAIMS WITH NO SCIENCE. THE ONLY WAY YOU CHANGE THE CONGRESS IN THIS MATTER IS TO SHOW ACTUAL BENEFIT, NOT JUST TO APPEASE STONERS, FOR THAT WILL NEVER FLY.

Tim King: I love the way you guys YELL and insult people when you run out of ammo. Let's begin with the Shafer Commission in 1975.

The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse was created by Public Law 91-513 to study marijuana abuse in the United States. While the Controlled Substances Act was being drafted in a House committee in 1970, Assistant Secretary of Health Roger O. Egeberg had recommended that marijuana temporarily be placed in Schedule I, the most restrictive category of drugs, pending the Commission's report. On March 22, 1972, the Commission's chairman, Raymond P. Shafer, presented a report to Congress and the public entitled "Marijuana, A Signal of Misunderstanding," which favored ending marijuana prohibition and adopting other methods to discourage use. Wikipedia

That is a really good point to work from. The crackup is that Eli Lilli was one of the biggest manufacturers of marijuana-based medicines sold in the US and Europe right to the point that it was made illegal. There is a lot more to this; Pancho Villa and the Black jazz musicians were some of the earliest known users. This racist ass country was able to run that one for quite a few yards. Of course the nameless character in this comment is probably about like Anslinger and the others who brought this anti-American mess upon us. I have an answer for those who don't like it, get the hell out of this country... move to the freaking Ukraine or whatever, except they really never did make pot illegal, so I don't know what fascist land might work best, good luck finding it.

Anonymous May 12, 2012 4:25 pm (Pacific time)

I agree with editor.. .

Anonymous May 12, 2012 9:58 am (Pacific time)

We need an attorney general that is more than a "one-trick poney" ike Rosenblum, who supports the ongoing outlaw state of Israel. They say anything to get elected, but as we all know, it is congress who will be the ultimate decider on the MJ issue. This is nothing more than a distraction on her part. As for PTSD and marijuana treatment, just look at actual results, not claimed results. Look at the real evidence, the science of replication, including other countries that have logged in some evidence for it's (MJ) actual efficacy. People an attorney general has many responsibilities, not just bending towards special interests, they must be independent in their thinking in all legal matters under their control, Rosenblum is not a good fit for this job. She was a remarkably inadequate judge and private attorney.

Editor: What Ms. Rosenblum thinks about Israel has little to zero impact here, however this subject' whether or not to allow sick people to get better, has everything to do with Oregon, has everything to do with it. Holton is like a walking dinosaur and a punitive prosecutor walking around looking for people to convict, screw that. Blue blood, silver spoon, all of it. End monarchy For the record, there are many credible, recent studies that prove marijuana is an effective health treatment. The government has fought tooth and nail to prevent it from being released.

Douglas Benson May 12, 2012 6:44 am (Pacific time)

As an independent I found much to my suprise that I donteven get to vote on this race. Is this guy just another fake Dem thrown into the race ?

Richard L. Matteoli May 12, 2012 6:13 am (Pacific time)

KUDOS to Salem-News and the REAL Dr. Phil. Dragons, dragons everywhere. If the dragons do not exist then some people will conjure them to rise for the pit of their fear and use them for personal gain.

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Pot Foe Dwight Leans Right but he's Not Right

Political Attorney Versus Medical Expert

Pot's Not the Problem, Legal Drugs Are

Why Doesn't Holton Consider Veterans?

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