Medical Marijuana Misinformation: Required Reprise

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.

Dr. Phillip Leveque

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I must belatedly congratulate previous witch-hunter Harry Anslinger and the Hearst Newspapers for thoroughly demonizing cannabis/marijuana which has been used safely as medicine for at least 5,000 years.

They coined the term "Reefer Madness" and apparently the side effects of an overdose of this medicine has stuck in the brains of many people including DEA brainwashed robots and many physicians (marijuana is bad because patients can grow their own but we doctors would prefer they visit our office and use really dangerous drugs like Oxycontin, a real "killer")

Any drug/medicine can be dangerous. Oxycontin has killed thousands and even VIOXX, an aspirin type drug, has killed thousands and now Merck Pharmaceuticals is about to pay out $5 billion to several thousands of victims and their survivors.

The worst adverse side effect of medical cannabis is a temporary "high" or euphoria, the "munchies" or long sleeping bouts. No deaths have ever been reported. Even aspirin causes thousands of deaths by medical use. Medical cannabis is about as addicting as a Starbucks latte or maybe chocolate.

For disbelievers, find me ONE reference of a death from cannabis.

One disbelieving responder has accused me of "handing out medical marijuana cards willy nilly since the program began." I must declare that in Oregon, 2,700 doctors have "handed out" cards to about 17 thousand medical patients. Those 2,700 doctors would be mortified at this accusation.

Story continues below

I was not encouraging (patients) to use cannabis. About 95 percent have been using cannabis as medicine for up to sixty years. They just wanted to do it legally.

Other doctors have found that cannabis is effective for psychiatric disorders, especially war veterans with PTSD. This person also up braided me for signing for patients with histories of drug addiction. (they were using it as medicine.) She quoted Kathleen Haley, the Executive Director of the Medical Board, saying that I, "recommended cannabis for conditions that could not benefit from the drug." If the patient said it works, it must work. Miss Haley is not a medical doctor, but a doctor of jurisprudence, a lawyer, she should not be practicing medicine.

All of my patients had previous diagnosis of an acceptable medical condition, I did not make the required diagnosis. Most diagnoses required highly trained specialists.

I am a general practice doctor but I am a toxicologist with fifty years of experience, cannabis is NOT a poison.
*******************************************************
You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com

If you are a World War Two history fan, you don't want to miss it.

• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 6 (VIDEO)
• Medical Marijuana: Treatment for Marijuana Dependence
• Medical Marijuana Medical Conditions
• Medical Marijuana Medical ConditionsConnecticut Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Bill
• Medical Marijuana: PTSD Medical Malpractice
• Marine Combat Vet Discusses Iraq, PTSD and Medical Marijuana
• The Most Dangerous Man in Oregon
• Medical Marijuana: What it's About
• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Discusses PTSD Treatment (VIDEO)
• PTSD: Life-Long Challenge For Growing Number of Veterans
• Medical Marijuana: A California Success Story
• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3 (VIDEO)
• Medical Marijuana: The Replacement for Very Dangerous Drugs
• Oregon Toxicologist Says Treatment for PTSD Should Include Cannabis
• Medical Marijuana Doctor Responds to Written Comments (VIDEO) (Originally titled Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3)
• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Answers All (VIDEO)

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

---

55pickup November 12, 2007 10:39 am (Pacific time)

Thank you for your articles, your service to our country and your service to the people you help as a doctor. Your last sentence in this article says it all.

[Return to Top]

---

©2025 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.