March 11, 2008

How do we combat a lie? How do we combat a lie by the people in charge? How do we combat a lie by the federal government?

The federal government maintains its stance that marijuana has no medical value. It is classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. 

Even though the plant has been known for its medical utility for over 4,000 years, our federal government has decided to say “no it doesn’t.” This decision neither reflects the results of scientific research (including last month’s call by the American College of Physicians, a 120,000-member group that is the nation’s largest for doctors of internal medicine, to lift the federal ban on medical use and research of marijuana), past legislative action, nor the medical marijuana laws in at least 13 other states.

In its mission statement, the FDA declared that its goal is “to speed along innovations that make foods and medicines more affordable.”

However, the FDA does not offer much information on the use of medical marijuana to improve our health.  As a result, Hawai‘i joined a group of states to support the proposition that certain diseases and conditions may respond favorably to medically-controlled use of marijuana.

As of 2000, the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes allow patients whose doctor recommends the use of marijuana as medicine to register with the Department of Public Safety and acquire, cultivate and use medical marijuana free of criminal persecution and contrary to Federal Statutes.

Today, thousands of your most vulnerable friends and neighbors are licensed by the State of Hawai‘i to use a medicine that is recommended by their doctors but is unavailable to the majority of patients.

Hawai‘i’s sick and elderly are being forced to confront Black Market dangers to acquire their needed medicine, while police harassment, theft and violence towards medical marijuana patients have become status quo for Maui County.

But what do we do?
We utilize the democratic process. Here in Maui County, We The People have the opportunity to make change through the initiative process. The Constitution of the United States of America and the State of Hawai‘i’s Constitution begin the same way: “We The People...” It is We The People that control the situation, not the politicians.

It is time to take back the power.

The Maui County Family Farmer Regulation and Revenue Ordinance has now gone to the petition-signature gathering stage, and we need your help.

We need 8,000 signatures of registered voters from Maui County by 4/20/08 to get our initiative on the ballot this November.

We The People have the opportunity here to take control of our lives again from the political entities that just do not want to listen to the truth.

Visit Maui County Citizens For Democracy in Action at 71 Baldwin Avenue Suite C-3 in Pa‘ia, to sign the petition and begin to gather signatures. 

Call 808-579-8320 or visit www.mccfdia.com for more information.

Make a difference. Get involved. We need your help. It is time for change. The only Peaceful Solution is to vote back America.

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Brian Murphy