Thursday, February 23, 2006
PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF THE DRUG COMPANIES AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA
PUBLISHED IN "THE CALIFORNIAN" 23 FEBRUARY 2006 - COMMUNITY FORUM
JEFF STONE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, NOT THE DRUG COMPANIES & MEDICAL MARIJUANA. AS MY BEST FRIEND SAID, JEFF STONE IS NOT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY!
Much better choices than marijuana for medical uses
By: JEFF STONE - Proposition 215, "The Compassionate Use of Marijuana Initiative," has placed local government in a legal and ethical quandary.
The ethical quandary that I have as a pharmacist is allowing lay people to open dispensaries for profit and supply marijuana to people without any quality control over what's dispensed or accountability to those being dispensed this potent drug. Can we ensure that marijuana is pure and unadulterated?
THE REST OF THE ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND AT THE INCLUDED LINK. OR, PUT THIS URL IN YOUR BROWSER: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/23/opinion/commentary/18_29_082_22_06.txt
I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS "COMMUNITY FORUM" LETTER BY JEFF STONE.
Comments On This Story
Patrick wrote on February 23, 2006 12:32 PM:"Well said Jim!! Jeff Stone is a purveyor of dangerous drugs that kill more people than all "illegal" drugs combined. His conflict of interest is far too apparent. "Puzzeled", trust me, when you are dying, smoke is the last thing on your mind. Get a grip. You inhale far more toxic waste sitting in your car waiting in traffic on the 5! The facts are plain and simple, Jeff has a vested interest in the pharmaceutical business, why would he want to endanger that??"
Paul wrote on February 23, 2006 11:18 AM:"Stone was elected County Supervisor -- he was not voted into office to be the County Pharmacist. Most drug studies rely on patient feedback as well as scientific data, but Stone would pick and choose only the information that supports his argument -- and protects his source of income. Stone has many masters, from his pharmaceutical oath of practice to his oath of office to represent the will of his constituents. From the volume of feedback, a majority of his constituents supported the compassionate use of a natural drug for medicinal purposes when they approved Proposition 215 and still support its controlled use for that purpose today. In this case, Stone appears to be representing his own private pharmacy practice. What about that ethical quandary? Also, numerous stories show drug use decreasing among teens since prop 215 won voter approval. Another Stone postulation goes up in smoke."
Puzzled wrote on February 23, 2006 10:19 AM:"Let me get this straight in my own mind... Your already sick? And you want to ingest smoke? And that will make you feel better? You have no idea how much of THC you actually ingesting? But, you don't care about that? All you know is, it makes you feel better. But smoking make you feel better? Have you tried smoking other things? Have they made you feel better? If not, why not? Have you even tried any of the drugs Mr. Stone has suggested? Have they helped? Just one more thing.... Smoking makes you feel better? Ingesting smoke makes you feel better? Oh, one more thing... Why do you want to involve some one else? You already know where to get it, right?"
Jim wrote on February 23, 2006 10:01 AM:"Jeff - If you are so concerned about people getting quality medical cannabis then you should work to get cannabis reclassified as a schedule II drug under the 'Controlled Substances Act'. Then it could be distributed through regular pharmacies. You won't because cannabis (as a unpatentable natural herb) is a threat to pharmaceutical industry profits. Besides you aren't a doctor and have no business interjecting yourself between the doctor/patient relationship. You also don't make a very good constitutional scholar or you'd know that the 'supremacy clause' doesn't give the federal government the right to run roughshod over states rights, read the 10th Amendment. You should find another profession because you don't make a very good county supervisor either. Get a life and leave sick and dying Californians alone!"
rsteeb wrote on February 23, 2006 9:08 AM:"Whether Mr. Stone's pharmacy offers alternatives to cannabis is irrelevant. There is no moral authority to discourage ANY responsible adult use of cannabis in a nation with thriving tobacco and alcohol industries. Yes, Federal law is in conflict with California law, and a growing number of other enlightened states. Cannabis should be removed from the 1970 Controlled Substances Act entirely."
Gimmeabreak wrote on February 23, 2006 8:56 AM:"This guy is ridiculous. If he knew anything about medication, he would know why Marinol is absolutlely not enough. It is a poor substitute for marjuana, which has 60 active cannabinoids. Moreover, try getting someone on chemo to swallow the marinol pill. Even if its not the best option, why imprison people who use marijuana. People like Jeff Stone really anger me. "
Jeff wrote on February 23, 2006 8:29 AM:"Jeff Stone is a Riverside County Supervisor. He's following the pattern of grandstanding set by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Jeff has plenty of real issues to address that are critically important to Riverside County. Apparently he has nothing of importance to say about them."
Vryht wrote on February 23, 2006 1:44 AM:"There is a reason Jeff Stone is no longer a doctor....he is really bad at it. An informed doctor KNOWS there are no antinausea medications that have mild side effects. THAT is why he trailed off on the topic instead of listing them. COMPAZINE is related to the drug THORIZINE. It makes a person groggy, confused, and they usually sleep for hours. A real doctor would have known that. Then he mentions megestrol side effects from megestrol are increased appetite and weight gain swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs increased sugar level in the blood headache breast tenderness impotence decreased sexual desire increase in blood pressure nausea or vomiting dizziness weakness leg pain breathing discomfort unusual bleeding or bruising rapid heartbeat chest pain cough sore throat weakness or numbness of an arm or leg sharp, crushing chest pain or heaviness in chest sudden shortness of breath severe mental depression unusual bruising or bleeding Again a real doctor would have known that. Then he posts a spasticity "claim", I say "claim" because I can easilly Google that he ignores ALL current data. Sativex, a WHOLE PLANT EXTRACT of Marijuana has not only THC but very beneficial cannabinoids that have been found ESSENTIAL for relief. Marinol only contains just THC. And being a pill is hard to do when vomiting. Plus the pill is a fixed dosage. You take it a zoom, baked and useless for hours. With self medicated inhaled medicine people can take just enough to relieve nausea or whatever symptom and stop. Basically the article sounded like the writing of a politician that is sucking up to law enforcement and Republicans. Not one based on any science or even enough compassion for patients to do detailed research. Something a REAL doctor would do. "
Eric Widener wrote on February 23, 2006 1:06 AM:"As a cannabis activist, and a medical marijuana patient, after reading this I am simply speechless. Scare-tactics and plain lies."
wow wrote on February 23, 2006 12:54 AM:"If I chose to medicate myself with a cheaper and safer alternative to pharmacueticals, that's my business and nobody elses! Especially not the person/greedy pharmacy owner who stands to lose the most money by my [and a LOT of people like me] decision. An elected oficial who is a pharmacist is not going to represent a partisan approach to politics. It's time to say we've had enough of these attacks from greedy old school and narrow minded politicians. Who in the world do they think they are representing? "
Just for Laffs wrote on February 22, 2006 10:05 PM:"Stone talks of two quandries he faces in this issue, ethical and legal. He may be speaking from both sides of his face.He tells us, "The legal quandary that I face as a public official ---- sworn to uphold the laws of local, state, and federal government ---- is that state and federal law conflict," and then adds, "Under California law, pharmacists must observe the stricter of state or federal law." Noting that Jeff was a pharmacist before being a politician, and that his professional career pays far better than the two small stakes political gigs he has toyed with thus far, it becomes apparent that his bigger concern is not the following the law, but following the money. In his own words, "State law allows medical marijuana to be cultivated, dispensed, and used for medicinal purposes...". Cultivation of marijuana eliminates the pharmasist from the money chain, leaving Jeff a thrid quandry... a personal financial quandry. "
CONFLICT OF INTEREST wrote on February 22, 2006 8:11 PM:"Could anybody have more of a conflict of interest on the Board than this guy? You aren't VOTING are you? Your bias speaks clearly. You are supposed to be representing the voters that placed you in office, NOT your own wallet! You are brainwashed by your pharmaceutical pals. If you were really concerned about ETHICS, you wouldn't be trying to stop dying people from getting help. YOUR DRUGS are KILLING PEOPLE. What have you done to stop that?"
John wrote on February 22, 2006 7:46 PM:"Damn the marijuana laws. Pharmacists like this have tunnel vision. They can't think outside of the regulatory quagmire of modern medicine and the ethical conflicts of interest that make pharmaceuticals a huge business. Profits, prejudice and political expediency with a dab of puritanical ideology - the perfect prescription for tyranny. So I ask Dr. Stone... is imprisoning the sick and dying to force them not to use medical marijuana effective health policy? I think the good doc has lost his soul and doesn't even know it slipped away."
JEFF STONE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, NOT THE DRUG COMPANIES & MEDICAL MARIJUANA. AS MY BEST FRIEND SAID, JEFF STONE IS NOT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY!
Much better choices than marijuana for medical uses
By: JEFF STONE - Proposition 215, "The Compassionate Use of Marijuana Initiative," has placed local government in a legal and ethical quandary.
The ethical quandary that I have as a pharmacist is allowing lay people to open dispensaries for profit and supply marijuana to people without any quality control over what's dispensed or accountability to those being dispensed this potent drug. Can we ensure that marijuana is pure and unadulterated?
THE REST OF THE ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND AT THE INCLUDED LINK. OR, PUT THIS URL IN YOUR BROWSER: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/23/opinion/commentary/18_29_082_22_06.txt
I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS "COMMUNITY FORUM" LETTER BY JEFF STONE.
Comments On This Story
Patrick wrote on February 23, 2006 12:32 PM:"Well said Jim!! Jeff Stone is a purveyor of dangerous drugs that kill more people than all "illegal" drugs combined. His conflict of interest is far too apparent. "Puzzeled", trust me, when you are dying, smoke is the last thing on your mind. Get a grip. You inhale far more toxic waste sitting in your car waiting in traffic on the 5! The facts are plain and simple, Jeff has a vested interest in the pharmaceutical business, why would he want to endanger that??"
Paul wrote on February 23, 2006 11:18 AM:"Stone was elected County Supervisor -- he was not voted into office to be the County Pharmacist. Most drug studies rely on patient feedback as well as scientific data, but Stone would pick and choose only the information that supports his argument -- and protects his source of income. Stone has many masters, from his pharmaceutical oath of practice to his oath of office to represent the will of his constituents. From the volume of feedback, a majority of his constituents supported the compassionate use of a natural drug for medicinal purposes when they approved Proposition 215 and still support its controlled use for that purpose today. In this case, Stone appears to be representing his own private pharmacy practice. What about that ethical quandary? Also, numerous stories show drug use decreasing among teens since prop 215 won voter approval. Another Stone postulation goes up in smoke."
Puzzled wrote on February 23, 2006 10:19 AM:"Let me get this straight in my own mind... Your already sick? And you want to ingest smoke? And that will make you feel better? You have no idea how much of THC you actually ingesting? But, you don't care about that? All you know is, it makes you feel better. But smoking make you feel better? Have you tried smoking other things? Have they made you feel better? If not, why not? Have you even tried any of the drugs Mr. Stone has suggested? Have they helped? Just one more thing.... Smoking makes you feel better? Ingesting smoke makes you feel better? Oh, one more thing... Why do you want to involve some one else? You already know where to get it, right?"
Jim wrote on February 23, 2006 10:01 AM:"Jeff - If you are so concerned about people getting quality medical cannabis then you should work to get cannabis reclassified as a schedule II drug under the 'Controlled Substances Act'. Then it could be distributed through regular pharmacies. You won't because cannabis (as a unpatentable natural herb) is a threat to pharmaceutical industry profits. Besides you aren't a doctor and have no business interjecting yourself between the doctor/patient relationship. You also don't make a very good constitutional scholar or you'd know that the 'supremacy clause' doesn't give the federal government the right to run roughshod over states rights, read the 10th Amendment. You should find another profession because you don't make a very good county supervisor either. Get a life and leave sick and dying Californians alone!"
rsteeb wrote on February 23, 2006 9:08 AM:"Whether Mr. Stone's pharmacy offers alternatives to cannabis is irrelevant. There is no moral authority to discourage ANY responsible adult use of cannabis in a nation with thriving tobacco and alcohol industries. Yes, Federal law is in conflict with California law, and a growing number of other enlightened states. Cannabis should be removed from the 1970 Controlled Substances Act entirely."
Gimmeabreak wrote on February 23, 2006 8:56 AM:"This guy is ridiculous. If he knew anything about medication, he would know why Marinol is absolutlely not enough. It is a poor substitute for marjuana, which has 60 active cannabinoids. Moreover, try getting someone on chemo to swallow the marinol pill. Even if its not the best option, why imprison people who use marijuana. People like Jeff Stone really anger me. "
Jeff wrote on February 23, 2006 8:29 AM:"Jeff Stone is a Riverside County Supervisor. He's following the pattern of grandstanding set by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Jeff has plenty of real issues to address that are critically important to Riverside County. Apparently he has nothing of importance to say about them."
Vryht wrote on February 23, 2006 1:44 AM:"There is a reason Jeff Stone is no longer a doctor....he is really bad at it. An informed doctor KNOWS there are no antinausea medications that have mild side effects. THAT is why he trailed off on the topic instead of listing them. COMPAZINE is related to the drug THORIZINE. It makes a person groggy, confused, and they usually sleep for hours. A real doctor would have known that. Then he mentions megestrol side effects from megestrol are increased appetite and weight gain swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs increased sugar level in the blood headache breast tenderness impotence decreased sexual desire increase in blood pressure nausea or vomiting dizziness weakness leg pain breathing discomfort unusual bleeding or bruising rapid heartbeat chest pain cough sore throat weakness or numbness of an arm or leg sharp, crushing chest pain or heaviness in chest sudden shortness of breath severe mental depression unusual bruising or bleeding Again a real doctor would have known that. Then he posts a spasticity "claim", I say "claim" because I can easilly Google that he ignores ALL current data. Sativex, a WHOLE PLANT EXTRACT of Marijuana has not only THC but very beneficial cannabinoids that have been found ESSENTIAL for relief. Marinol only contains just THC. And being a pill is hard to do when vomiting. Plus the pill is a fixed dosage. You take it a zoom, baked and useless for hours. With self medicated inhaled medicine people can take just enough to relieve nausea or whatever symptom and stop. Basically the article sounded like the writing of a politician that is sucking up to law enforcement and Republicans. Not one based on any science or even enough compassion for patients to do detailed research. Something a REAL doctor would do. "
Eric Widener wrote on February 23, 2006 1:06 AM:"As a cannabis activist, and a medical marijuana patient, after reading this I am simply speechless. Scare-tactics and plain lies."
wow wrote on February 23, 2006 12:54 AM:"If I chose to medicate myself with a cheaper and safer alternative to pharmacueticals, that's my business and nobody elses! Especially not the person/greedy pharmacy owner who stands to lose the most money by my [and a LOT of people like me] decision. An elected oficial who is a pharmacist is not going to represent a partisan approach to politics. It's time to say we've had enough of these attacks from greedy old school and narrow minded politicians. Who in the world do they think they are representing? "
Just for Laffs wrote on February 22, 2006 10:05 PM:"Stone talks of two quandries he faces in this issue, ethical and legal. He may be speaking from both sides of his face.He tells us, "The legal quandary that I face as a public official ---- sworn to uphold the laws of local, state, and federal government ---- is that state and federal law conflict," and then adds, "Under California law, pharmacists must observe the stricter of state or federal law." Noting that Jeff was a pharmacist before being a politician, and that his professional career pays far better than the two small stakes political gigs he has toyed with thus far, it becomes apparent that his bigger concern is not the following the law, but following the money. In his own words, "State law allows medical marijuana to be cultivated, dispensed, and used for medicinal purposes...". Cultivation of marijuana eliminates the pharmasist from the money chain, leaving Jeff a thrid quandry... a personal financial quandry. "
CONFLICT OF INTEREST wrote on February 22, 2006 8:11 PM:"Could anybody have more of a conflict of interest on the Board than this guy? You aren't VOTING are you? Your bias speaks clearly. You are supposed to be representing the voters that placed you in office, NOT your own wallet! You are brainwashed by your pharmaceutical pals. If you were really concerned about ETHICS, you wouldn't be trying to stop dying people from getting help. YOUR DRUGS are KILLING PEOPLE. What have you done to stop that?"
John wrote on February 22, 2006 7:46 PM:"Damn the marijuana laws. Pharmacists like this have tunnel vision. They can't think outside of the regulatory quagmire of modern medicine and the ethical conflicts of interest that make pharmaceuticals a huge business. Profits, prejudice and political expediency with a dab of puritanical ideology - the perfect prescription for tyranny. So I ask Dr. Stone... is imprisoning the sick and dying to force them not to use medical marijuana effective health policy? I think the good doc has lost his soul and doesn't even know it slipped away."
// posted by Watchdog @ 2:23 PM 
