Mirken, Bruce 1/1/1997 - 31/12/2024
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61 US TN: Edu: PUB LTE: Policy Project Director Points OutMon, 14 Mar 2005
Source:Daily Beacon, The (TN Edu) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Tennessee Lines:42 Added:03/14/2005

Dear Editor:

Regarding the medical marijuana bill recently proposed in Tennessee discussed in "Marijuana legislation proposed" in Wednesday's Beacon, it was not the FDA that put marijuana into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, labeling it as unsuitable for medical use. That was done by Congress, not by any medical or scientific body. The power to change this classification lies with either Congress or the Drug Enforcement Administration -- once again, not scientists or doctors.

As for claims that there is no evidence of marijuana's medical value, a great many medical and public health organizations have reviewed the evidence and come to the opposite conclusion. Organizations supporting legal access to marijuana for medical use include the American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, American Academy of HIV Medicine and the state medical societies of New York, California and Rhode Island, among many others.

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62 US: Web: Psychosis, Hype and BaloneyThu, 10 Mar 2005
Source:AlterNet (US Web) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:United States Lines:105 Added:03/10/2005

As the month began, the worldwide press jumped all over a study in the March issue of the journal Addiction purporting to show a causal link between marijuana use and psychosis. "Drug Doubles Mental Health Risk," the BBC reported. "Marijuana Increases Risk of Psychosis," the Washington Times chimed in.

Such purported links have lately become the darling of prohibitionists, but a close look at the new study reveals gaping holes unmentioned in those definitive-sounding headlines.

Before we look at the study itself, let's consider some basics: If X causes Y, it's reasonable to expect a huge increase in X to cause at least a modest increase in Y, but this has not been the case with marijuana and psychosis. Private and government surveys have documented a massive increase in marijuana use, particularly by young people, during the 1960s and '70s, but no corresponding increase in psychosis was ever reported. This strongly suggests that if marijuana use plays any role in triggering psychosis, that effect is weak, rare, or both.

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63 US IL: PUB LTE: Medical Marijuana UseThu, 17 Feb 2005
Source:Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Illinois Lines:49 Added:02/17/2005

To the Editor:

Andrea Barthwell is not telling the truth when she calls medical marijuana "snake oil" and claims that permitting medical use by seriously ill patients would subvert the FDA's drug-approval process. ("Expert rails against medical marijuana," Feb. 10).

The Illinois Nurses Association's official policy, available at http://www.illinoisnurses.org, states: "There is almost a half-century of research that supports the safety and efficacy of cannabis (marijuana) for conditions such as reducing nausea and vomiting, stimulating appetite, controlling spasticity, decreasing the suffering from the experience of chronic pain and controlling seizures."

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64 US DC: PUB LTE: Soft on Drug Use and PossessionSun, 30 Jan 2005
Source:Washington Times (DC) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:District of Columbia Lines:39 Added:01/30/2005

Your story ("Metro must accept pro-marijuana ads," Metropolitan, Friday) about the Justice Department declining to appeal a court decision overturning a congressional amendment, which barred public transit systems from accepting paid ads supporting reform of laws regarding marijuana and other drugs -- misstated one key point: The ads that reform groups such as ours have attempted to place are not "pro-marijuana." They do not advocate use of marijuana or any other drug. They simply advocate reconsideration of marijuana laws that manifestly cause far more suffering and injury than marijuana itself.

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65 US CA: PUB LTE: Drug WarThu, 13 Jan 2005
Source:Los Angeles City Beat (CA) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:California Lines:50 Added:01/18/2005

Space does not allow me to refute all the distortions, misstatements and flat-out lies spouted by Stuart Hoffman in his January 6 interview [Re: 3rd Degree], so I will confine myself to one: Regarding Marinol, the prescription THC pill, Hoffman says, "Your body can't tell the difference if you take it in that form or whether you smoke a joint."

That is simply false. Marinol must be taken orally, and the medical journal The Lancet Neurology has noted, "Oral administration is probably the least satisfactory route for cannabis," due to slow and uneven absorption and the inability of patients to control dosing. The 1999 White House-commissioned Institute of Medicine report on medical marijuana made the same point.

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66 US DC: PUB LTE: Setting the Story Straight on MarijuanaTue, 11 Jan 2005
Source:Washington Post (DC) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:District of Columbia Lines:42 Added:01/14/2005

A couple of clarifications regarding Peter Carlson's excellent profile of Keith Stroup:

First, no state ballot initiative to legalize medical use of marijuana has ever been defeated at the polls. All have passed overwhelmingly - the most recent being in November in Montana, where medical marijuana received 62 percent support, outpolling George W. Bush by three percentage points in this quintessential "red state."

Second, while the Marijuana Policy Project does receive considerable support from Peter Lewis, our more than 18,000 members are the foundation of our organization. The financial support and volunteer efforts of this army of ordinary Americans have made possible a variety of accomplishments, including passage of medical marijuana laws in Montana and Vermont last year.

Bruce Mirken

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington

[end]

67 US WI: PUB LTE: Medical Marijuana Safe From FedsWed, 01 Dec 2004
Source:Wisconsin State Journal (WI) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Wisconsin Lines:33 Added:12/05/2004

Friday's story on the Supreme Court medical marijuana case, "The fate of medical marijuana," misstated one key point. This case will not decide "whether states have the right to adopt" medical marijuana laws. The federal government has never challenged the right of states to pass such laws, and their validity is not at issue now. The only question before the court is whether these laws also give patients protection from enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

If this sounds like a narrow distinction, remember that the federal government makes only one percent of all marijuana arrests; 99 percent are made by state and local police acting under state law. While 99 percent protection from arrest isn't perfect, it's a huge step forward for seriously ill patients. There is no danger of state medical marijuana laws being overturned, and states considering similar proposals do not need to worry that the federal government can somehow invalidate them.

Bruce Mirken, director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project, Washington, D.C.

[end]

68 US CA: PUB LTE: Reading the Smoke Signals on Medical MarijuanaSun, 05 Dec 2004
Source:Los Angeles Times (CA) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:California Lines:33 Added:12/05/2004

The statement of Rep. Mark E. Souder, "If proponents of 'medical' marijuana truly believed that smoking the drug was safe and effective, they would have submitted their data to the FDA," is simply false. For the FDA to approve marijuana as a prescription medicine, the sponsoring company would have to do clinical trials using quality-controlled marijuana obtained from the same source that would provide it for sale should approval be granted. Federal rules make that impossible.

Clinical research on marijuana must be done using marijuana obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a notoriously low-quality crop that is not available for commercial sale.

Bruce Mirken

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, D.C.

[end]

69 US NJ: PUB LTE: No Danger of State Medical Marijuana Laws Being OverturnedThu, 02 Dec 2004
Source:Record, The (Hackensack, NJ) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:New Jersey Lines:49 Added:12/02/2004

Your article on the Supreme Court medical marijuana case, Ashcroft vs. Raich ("Medicinal marijuana case before high court," Page A-7, Nov. 26), misstated one key point: This case will not decide "whether states have the right to adopt" medical marijuana laws.

The federal government has never challenged the right of states to pass such laws, and their validity is not at issue now. The only question before the court is whether these laws also give patients protection from enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

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70 US HI: PUB LTE: Case Doesn't Endanger State Med-Pot LawsTue, 30 Nov 2004
Source:Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Hawaii Lines:39 Added:12/01/2004

Your story on the Supreme Court medical marijuana case, Ashcroft v. Raich ("High Court to decide fate of Hawaii's medical-pot laws," Nov. 26), misstated one key point: This case will not decide "whether states have the right to adopt" medical marijuana laws. The federal government has never challenged the right of states to pass such laws, and their validity is not at issue now. The only question before the court is whether these laws also give patients protection from enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

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71 US NC: PUB LTE: Case Affects Only Federal EnforcementWed, 01 Dec 2004
Source:Charlotte Observer (NC) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:North Carolina Lines:31 Added:12/01/2004

The writer is director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project.

The Supreme Court medical marijuana case will not decide "whether states have the right to adopt" medical marijuana laws. The federal government has never challenged the right of states to pass such laws. The only question before the court is whether these laws also give patients protection from enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

If this sounds like a narrow, technical distinction, remember that the federal government makes only 1 percent of all marijuana arrests; 99 percent are made by state and local police acting under state law. While 99 percent protection from arrest isn't perfect, it's a huge step forward for seriously ill patients.

Bruce Mirken,

Washington, D.C.

[end]

72 US FL: PUB LTE: 'Irrational' PunishmentSun, 28 Nov 2004
Source:Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Florida Lines:42 Added:11/29/2004

Re "Cruel and irrational: A 55-year sentence for selling a few joints' worth?" (editorial, Nov. 19):

"Cruel and irrational" is apt description of the 55-year sentence given to Weldon Angelos for selling two small packets of marijuana to an undercover officer. It is time to rethink the failed policy -- marijuana prohibition -- that produces punishments that make no rational sense.

As director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project, I ask why, exactly, do we jail people who choose to unwind at the end of a day with a joint rather than a martini? Marijuana is well documented to be less addictive and less physically harmful than alcohol. Unlike liquor, marijuana has never been documented to cause a fatal overdose.

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73 US IL: PUB LTE: Seriously Ill Won't Miss John AshcroftWed, 17 Nov 2004
Source:Daily Herald (IL) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Illinois Lines:36 Added:11/17/2004

Seriously ill patients across America are celebrating the resignation of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Under his supervision, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a cruel and pointless war against patients with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other terrible illnesses who found relief from medical marijuana when conventional medicines failed.

It made no difference to Ashcroft that these patients were obeying the laws of their states, or that their use of medical marijuana was with the recommendation and guidance of their physicians.

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74 US DC: PUB LTE: Ashcroft And Medical MarijuanaFri, 12 Nov 2004
Source:Washington Times (DC) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:District of Columbia Lines:42 Added:11/15/2004

Seriously ill patients across America are celebrating the resignation of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft ("Ashcroft, Evans quit Bush Cabinet," Page 1, yesterday). Under his supervision, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a cruel and pointless war against patients with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other terrible illnesses who found relief from medical marijuana when conventional medicines failed.

It made no difference to Mr. Ashcroft that these patients were obeying the laws of their states, or that their use of medical marijuana was with the recommendation and guidance of their physicians. During one particularly gruesome raid in September 2002, five DEA agents pointed automatic rifles at the head of a disabled woman, Suzanne Pfeil, then handcuffed her while they proceeded to ransack the medical-marijuana co-op where she was a patient.

The departure of Mr. Ashcroft gives President Bush an opportunity to reconsider this war on medical-marijuana patients -- a war that has been rejected again and again by voters, most recently in Montana.

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications Marijuana Policy Project

Washington

[end]

75 US MI: PUB LTE: Daily Misstates Court Case ConcerningMon, 08 Nov 2004
Source:Michigan Daily (Ann Arbor, MI Edu) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Michigan Lines:35 Added:11/12/2004

To the Daily:

Your story, A2 Voters Pass Initiative to Legalize Medical Marijuana (11/03/04), misstated the medical marijuana case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, Ashcroft v. Raich. That case cannot overturn Ann Arbor's new medical marijuana law, nor the 10 existing state medical marijuana laws.

The right of states and cities to protect medical patients from arrest under their local laws has not been contested by the federal government and is not an issue in this case. While the court could give the federal government permission to resume enforcing federal marijuana laws against patients, it is important to remember that 99 percent of all marijuana arrests are made by state and local authorities under local laws. Even if the government prevails in Ashcroft v. Raich, overwhelming protection for patients will remain in place.

Bruce Mirken

The letter writer is the Director of Communications for the Marijuana Policy Project.

[end]

76 US AK: PUB LTE: Smoke and BongsThu, 07 Oct 2004
Source:Anchorage Press (AK) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Alaska Lines:37 Added:10/13/2004

Your otherwise excellent story last week about Proposition 2 ("If voters plant it, will it grow?") incorrectly characterized the Marijuana Policy Project as "a national pro-pot group." We are not "pro-pot." We do not recommend or advocate the use of any drug, including marijuana.

Being against marijuana prohibition is not the same thing as being "pro-pot," just like the mothers who organized to repeal prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s were not "pro-booze." They simply recognized that prohibition was a deadly, destructive failure that increased the threat to their kids rather than reducing it. Three quarters of a century later, the same is true of marijuana prohibition.

Bruce Mirken, communications director

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, D.C.

[end]

77 US MI: Edu: PUB LTE: Prof's Statements On Medical MarijuanaMon, 27 Sep 2004
Source:Michigan Daily (Ann Arbor, MI Edu) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Michigan Lines:55 Added:10/01/2004

To the Daily:

Prof. Lloyd Johnston's statements about medical marijuana laws are simply false (Medicinal pot use on A2 ballot, 09/23/04). Johnston asserts, "There has never been a real implementation of laws (to legalize medical marijuana) because the federal law always trumps the state laws, and state laws in turn trump local laws." In fact, not only are nine state medical marijuana laws in force and being implemented every day -- protecting tens and probably hundreds of thousands of patients from arrest by state and local police -- but federal courts have put severe limits on federal government attempts to undermine such laws.

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78 US CA: PUB LTE: Glaring OmissionThu, 23 Sep 2004
Source:Los Angeles City Beat (CA) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:California Lines:59 Added:09/25/2004

Sen. Barbara Boxer's "record of votes and bills supporting just about every progressive cause" has one glaring gap: medical marijuana ["Looking for a Fight," Sept. 16].

In California, medical marijuana is a nonpartisan issue, supported by 74 percent of voters according to a January 2004 Field poll -- as well as every major candidate in last year's gubernatorial recall election, from Tom McClintock on the right to Peter Camejo on the left. But Barbara Boxer has been missing in action.

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79US WI: PUB LTE: MarijuanaSun, 12 Sep 2004
Source:Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:Wisconsin Lines:Excerpt Added:09/13/2004

Nation's Drug Policies Are Misguided, Failing

The Sept. 6 story, "City teens use pot more than U.S. peers" failed to note the proverbial elephant in the living room: If the goal is to discourage teen use of marijuana, our current policies have utterly failed.

The same report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention referenced in the article also includes this alarming statistic: Nationwide, more teens are current smokers of marijuana than of cigarettes.

At first, this seems astonishing: A substance that is completely banned is more widely used than one that is allowed - but regulated - for adults.

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80 US: Web: OPED: Dressing Up FailureFri, 10 Sep 2004
Source:AlterNet (US Web) Author:Mirken, Bruce Area:United States Lines:106 Added:09/11/2004

Despite the Feds' Positive Spin, a National Survey Shows That Drug Use Remains at Near-Record Levels.

In a Sept. 9 press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson cheerfully trumpeted the "encouraging news that more American youths are getting the message that drugs are dangerous, including marijuana."

Headlined "Nation's Youth Turning Away From Marijuana," the statement announced the results of the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Thompson gave credit to President Bush, saying that stepped-up anti-drug efforts are "a cornerstone of his compassionate agenda." White House drug czar John Walters chimed in, declaring, "Young people are getting the message," particularly about marijuana.

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