Medical Marijuana: Friend or Foe Gross Betrayal & Gross Ignorance Concerning MMJ Patients

Who would you believe... One of the nation's most educated doctors? Or a mainstream reporter with an obvious agenda?

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I discovered by computer the original article by the same title in the Gresham, Oregon newspaper, The Outlook, by accident. I had been interviewed for it by Taryn Luna and was assured that it would be a well balanced story giving both sides of the medical marijuana story. How sharper than a serpents tooth can be a reporters pen. I was more misquoted and disquoted than I could have imagined.

Any medical marijuana patient can look up this story by typing up this articles title which I recommend. Because I was the marijuana doctor being misquoted I feel I must respond. I’m going to start at the top: First of all she mentions the ills of smoking marijuana or adding it to their brownies. This is how they make and use beneficial medicine (We recommend vaporizers, not smoking).

Secondly, the police, Deputy Adam Swail, makes many false allegations. He says it’s being abused. These are the mostly NON MEDICAL users. He says it lacks sufficient regulations. This is MEDICINE and should be treated as such. He says medical marijuana cards (permits) are used as a front for illegal operations.

I believe the illegalities are about one percent. There are about 30 thousand licensed patients and caregiver/growers. Illegal activity is very small.

The statement that one plant could produce 4 pounds of dried marijuana is a caretakers dream at best, anything over 2 pounds is pure luck and good growing.

Very few medical users have real difficulty getting “medicine”, everybody shares. They don’t have to steal.

Attorney Paula Barran talks about workplace accidents with MMJ. It’s false and pathetic.

Deputy Swail says marijuana is the ONLY drug where one can self medicate. EVERY PATIENT SELF MEDICATES whatever drug he/she is taking. There is NO dosage. Every patient is unique and the MJ is of very variable strength. The plan is to use enough for the problem. There is no evidence MJ users cause more accidents.

Pain IS the most common need for MMJ. Patients usually have been given massive amounts of Oxycontin, Morphine, Vicodin, et cetera and many were addicted. Marijuana has very little addiction but it is an excellent pain killer.

Deputy Swail says we should tighten the laws. We are supposed to be talking about medical marijuana here. These MJ laws are being obeyed at least 99% of the time.

The second part of the story is about me. I did sign up to 50% of the permits per year based upon previous doctors chart notes and the drug history. I had many Veterans because VA doctors were forbidden to sign.

My discipline by the Oregon Medical Board was a cruel farce to my 4000 plus patients. At the time I was the only doctor who would help them. Now almost 3000 doctors are taking care of the 25 thousand patients.

For my readers, if you really want some fun, look up part three of this story. It has 32 comments, over 13 pages, really condemning Taryn Luna and the editors of Gresham Outlook for publishing such an atrocious article.

Dr. Phillip Leveque has degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and minors in physiology and biochemistry. He was a Professor of Pharmacology, employed by the University of London for 20 years, during which time he trained the first doctors in Tanzania. After training doctors, he became an Osteopathic Physician, as well as a Forensic Toxicologist.

Before any of that, Phil Leveque was a Combat Infantryman in the U.S. Army in WWII. He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder more than 60 years after the war, and specialized in treating Veterans with PTSD during his years as a doctor in Molalla, Oregon.

Do you have a a question, comment, or story to share with Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Ask Dr. Leveque

More information on the history of Dr. Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of WWII about his own experiences "from a foxhole".
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier

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Osotan; November 6, 2009 8:10 am (Pacific time)

Winder; ditto!, Thank You Dr. Leveque and don't let the bastards grind you down! The treatment's success is more important than their "opinions". They all ought to vaporize a little and chill out. The world is in trouble.,ganga is not part of the problem. I made up some butter and mixed it in a homemade ice cream recepie, literally chilled me out but still functioned with a great sense of humor., taking care of buisness that day, as a useful member of society !!

Swooper (repost) November 2, 2009 9:57 am (Pacific time)

First of all, the DEA claims of 4 pounds per plant are absolutely ridiculous. A good yield is 6 oz per plant (indoors) and 1.5 pounds per plant outside. Results will vary, and these figures are at the high end of the scale. How do I know this? Because I have grown both ways, and been involved with friends who have grown one way or the other.

Secondly, there is no way to determine per capita usage in California because there is no uniform registry - it is up to each county to issue a medical cannabis card. So to state as if it is a fact that Oregon's per capita rate is 13 times that of California is to make an absolutely unprovable statement.

Thirdly, while Law Enforcement and Prohibitionists cry about terrible abuse of the program, they are unable to show demonstrable proof of rampant abuse. As with any program, there is going to be a small amount of abuse. For there to be a 1% rate of abuse in the program per year, there would have to be over 300 arrests of OMMP participants per year, and there aren't. Any program with only a 1 % non-compliance rate is an absolute success. As examples, Foodstamps and OHP cannot compare. I would say that cries of alarm about the terrible abuse are unfounded and irresponsible.

Fourth, several studies by prominent universities have determined that a driver intoxicated on cannabis is far less likely to cause any kind of an accident than a person intoxicated by alcohol and is less impaired than a driver using a cell phone. So the image of mass slaughter on the streets because of medical cannabis is erroneous. The program - Oregon Medical Marijuana Program - has been active since the people voted the initiative into law 10 years ago. Where is the mass slaughter? Can't show it 'cause it doesn't exist. Another false trail laid down by prohibitionists and law enforcement.
While I could go on and on about the numerous errors and misconceptions put forth in the article, I will allow you to determine the facts for yourself. Try being open minded and think about this..."The Government is Lying." The lies started in the 1930's and haven't stopped yet.

I am willing to bet that at none of these meetings has a person representing patients been present. Kind of a one-sided approach to a multi-faceted subject. I also note that the reporter authoring this article didn't perform due diligence and talk to the director of Voter Power, or Oregon Green Free, or Oregon NORML, or MAMA, or any of the other perhaps 2 dozen groups representing patients who use cannabis as a medicine.

Winder November 2, 2009 6:27 am (Pacific time)

Hear here! The "Real Dr. Phil" tells it like it is. A more compassionate, brave and outspoken advocate for those many thousands who benefit from this wonderful natural medicine, we could not ask for. Thank you, sir, for your service to your country, in WWII and to this day. We sure need more physicians like you!

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