Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I shouldn't be surprised, but the Oregonian has been printing snide commentary articles since the start or Oregon's remarkably successful Medical Marijuana Program in 1999. They always have negative comments which are usually false and today's article is no exception.
With two full pages of mostly diatribe, it's difficult to correct the falsities and near falsities in a short response.
Their first miststatement minimizes the seriously debilitating conditions. I have seen about 5,000 patients and many are are sicker than I or any other doctor sees in regular practice.
The headline states "A Smokescreen for Criminals".
They state that 40% of growers violate the law. The way the law is worded, most growers and users violate the laws everyday/and or every time they use or come near their plants. even though Multnomah County DA said he couldn't interpret the law.
The police and DA's say the program is out of control. But since day one, their ignorance has been underscored by the fact that most of them have never read the law!
Katie Suver, a prosecutor in Marion County, opines that voters "thought they were helping relieve sick people." Yes, that's right and now 2,699 Oregon doctors have certified and approved the use of medical marijuana for 14,831 patients with 3,125 applications pending. If medical marijuana were truly legal, the Mexican Mafia couldn't and wouldn't be moving it with huge plantations.
Medical marijuana, according to the state of Oregon, IS medicine and should be considered that with no restrictions.
Patients will not overdose or "abuse" (which is the wrong term) medical marijuana.
Southwest Oregon has been growing and been using medical marijuana for at least fifty years, long before it was "illegal." Douglas County cops should find better tasks than hassling medical marijuana patients.
Kevin Mannix, twice beaten in a run for Governor, is sponsoring a bill in which the Oregon Medical Marijuana Law will be repealed but the state will provide for "free" synthetic marijuana pills at $15 each for medical marijuana patients. John Sajo, Director of Voter Power, which got medical marijuana legalized, says Mannix and his initiative are "loony." What has Mannix been toking?
Lee Berger, a leading marijuana attorney, says (dispensaries are) "a slice of the future."
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You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com
More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII. Order the book by mail by following this link: salem-news.com/pages/Dogface_soldier.
If you are a World War Two history fan, you don't want to miss it.
Watch for Dr. Phil Leveque's video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King.
Other articles and video segments about medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 6 (VIDEO)Medical Marijuana: Treatment for Marijuana DependenceMedical Marijuana Medical ConditionsMedical Marijuana Medical ConditionsConnecticut Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana BillMedical Marijuana: PTSD Medical MalpracticeMarine Combat Vet Discusses Iraq, PTSD and Medical MarijuanaThe Most Dangerous Man in OregonMedical Marijuana: What it's AboutOregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Discusses PTSD Treatment (VIDEO)PTSD: Life-Long Challenge For Growing Number of VeteransMedical Marijuana: A California Success StoryOregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3 (VIDEO)Medical Marijuana: The Replacement for Very Dangerous DrugsOregon Toxicologist Says Treatment for PTSD Should Include CannabisMedical 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)
Medical Marijuana Ignorance: Is the Oregonian on the DEA Payroll?Salem-News.com