Will South Carolina Leave The Stone Age And Allow Medical Marijuana?

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze

October 3, 2018

As the rest of the country moves forward without it, some residents of South Carolina are starting to believe that marijuana may be legalized in the state by 2019. Medical marijuana that is.

For many who live in South Carolina, the idea that legalized marijuana in any form would ever exist in the state was a pipe dream that people would be quick to scoff at. However, that was before the Compassionate Care Act, a medical cannabis bill, made it all the way to the floor of the State House and Senate in 2018.

As is typical, the legislative session ended before it could be voted on, but some advocates believe they may have the votes from politicians they need to pass it in 2019.

“People understand that it is inhumane to withhold from people medicine that can really help them,” state senator, and founder of the Compassionate Care Act, Tom Davis said.

Even the former Executive Director of the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association has changed his tune regarding the benefits of medical marijuana.

What is not surprising, however, is that a Winthrop poll reported that 78% of people in South Carolina believe medical marijuana should be legal.

South Carolina has a history of holding out on rights despite the people of the state openly desiring them. The very fact that CBD is legal in South Carolina is amazing in and of itself.

Still, South Carolinians are hopeful that the state ends its grossly unproductive police state war against a harmless plant and focuses on other issues such as violent crime, crumbling infrastructure, the worst education system in the country, or ridiculously low wages.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta Schools Jeff Sessions On Medical Marijuana And Opioids

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze

April 25, 2018

In the latest demonstration that free access to marijuana in a supposedly free society is an idea whose time has come, none other than CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, the notoriously biased news organization’s Chief Medical Correspondent, has written an op-ed in the form of an open letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking that Sessions to open his mind to the fact that marijuana is a powerful medicine and possible tool for easing the opioid epidemic.

Gupta acknowledged his own ignorance related to medical marijuana only a few short years ago and wrote of how he came to change his mind. Gupta wrote of the number of stories and cases he personally witnessed where marijuana provided relief to a number of health problems as well as growing evidence that marijuana could be one more solution to the opioid crisis.

In his article, “Dr. Sanjay Gupta To Jeff Sessions: Medical Marijuana Could Save Many Addicted To Opioids,” Gupta writes,

Not only can cannabis work for a variety of conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and pain, sometimes, it is the only thing that works. I changed my mind, and I am certain you can, as well. It is time for safe and regulated medical marijuana to be made available nationally. I realize this is an unconventional way to reach you, but your office declined numerous requests for an interview, and as a journalist, a doctor and a citizen, I felt it imperative to make sure you had access to our findings. 

Mr. Sessions, there is an added urgency, as we are in the middle of a deadly opioid epidemic that has been described as the worst self-inflicted epidemic in the history of our country. 

Patrick Stewart Stands Up For Boy Refused Cannabis For 30 Seizures A Day

Brandon Turbeville
Natural Blaze
March 27, 2018

Patrick Stewart Relies on Medical Cannabis Himself – the Star Trek Actor Stands With Alfie Dingley

Great Britain is proving just how great it is, and it is using a six-year-old-boy to do it. Proving that the Western world is a symbol of oppression, not freedom, the UK Home Office has rejected a plea from Alfie Dingley’s family and even MPs to allow Alfie access to cannabis to treat a rare form of childhood epilepsy that can cause up to 30 seizures a day and numerous hospital visits.

Of course, one could ask the obvious question: Why does anyone have to plea to use a plant in a country that never shuts up about how free it is?

For the Dingleys, there simply isn’t 200 years worth of waiting while the dying British Empire is dragged, kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, or any century for that matter. That is why the Dingleys did the only thing they could do for their child – leave the UK and travel to the Netherlands where they could access medical cannabis.

The results aren’t that surprising – Alfie’s seizures were dramatically reduced even at times going more than three weeks without having a seizure.

Unfortunately for them, without medical insurance, the treatments were too expensive so they were forced to return to the UK where harmless plants result in jail.

Still, the Home Office is denying the family access to marijuana because “rules is rules” and “only government and the medical industry can make decisions on health.”

But since marijuana is overwhelmingly harmless, non-addictive, beneficial and most reasonable people understand it to be just another plant, the Home Office had to come up with an excuse to cover up the connections between the drug war, pharmaceutical industry and police state.

Ohio Gov. Candidate Dennis Kucinich Goes All In For Marijuana In Ohio

Brandon Turbeville
Natural Blaze
March 8, 2018

Ohio candidate for Governor, former Congressman Dennis Kucinich, stopped by the Cleveland School of Cannabis today to announce his marijuana policy should he become the Governor of Ohio in 2018. As one might suspect from Kucinich’s history and by the location he chose to make his announcement, Kucinich’s marijuana platform is probably the most impressive ever put forward by a serious contender for the office.

In his short statement, Kucinich announced that he and his running mate, Tara L. Samples, would expand Ohio’s medical marijuana law while at the same time decriminalizing the possession and use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. Kucinich stated that he would like to see marijuana regulated in a similar way to that which alcohol and alcohol sales are overseen in the state.

Linking marijuana policy to the opioid epidemic as a proven remedy (not an accessory), Kucinich also wants to see tax revenue from weed to be funneled back into communities, particularly those that have been so heavily devastated by the disastrous drug war. Kucinich also wants Ohio to begin growing industrial hemp as well as allowing medical marijuana patients to grow marijuana at home.

Kucinich pointed out that any regulation of marijuana should be focused on the health and safety of the patients, consumers, and citizens and not special interests, most likely hinting at the fact that Corporate America is already attempting to not only cash in on the growing marijuana market but also to monopolize it nationwide.

Kucinich spoke after a number of individuals who told their stories of how medical marijuana had improved their lives and the lives of those close to them.

Ohio Gov. Candidate Dennis Kucinich Announces Plan To Legalize Medical, Recreational Marijuana

Brandon Turbeville
Natural Blaze
February 21, 2018

Former Mayor, U.S. Congressman, and famous peace advocate Dennis Kucinich formally announced his run for Governor of the state of Ohio on January 17, 2018. Soon after his announcement, Kucinich followed by hinting at his opposition to the drug war, causing many in Ohio and across the rest of the country to become excited at the possibility of a Governor not waging a war on citizens over plants and personal decisions.

Indeed, Kucinich is decidedly pro medical marijuana and opposed to the disastrous drug war. “Ohio will protect its constitutional right to dispense medical marijuana. We will broaden the conversation towards decriminalization, legalization and licensing to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in increased revenues to the state, to help pay for our expanded health programs. With the help of our congressional delegation we will make necessary changes in federal policy,” Kucinich said.

On February 15, a little over a month after he announced his candidacy, Kucinich announced a more detailed version of his marijuana policy as well as his policy aimed at breaking the prison industrial complex.

Kucinich stated:

We must break the prison-industrial complex. 

We must stop the waste – and the inhumanity -- of spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars to warehouse low-level, non-violent offenders in public prisons and private for-profit prisons. We should be filling up our schools and employment centers, not our jails. 

Rules Is Rules – UK Govt Forces 6-Year-Old To Suffer 30 Seizures A Day, No Weed For You

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze 

February 20, 2018

Great Britain is proving just how great it is, and it is using a six-year-old-boy to do it. Proving that the Western world is a symbol of oppression, not freedom, the UK Home Office has rejected a plea from Alfie Dingley’s family and even MPs to allow Alfie access to cannabis to treat a rare form of childhood epilepsy that can cause up to 30 seizures a day and numerous hospital visits.

Of course, one could ask the obvious question: Why does anyone have to plea to use a plant in a country that never shuts up about how free it is?

SEE: UK About to Legalize Cannabis? Parliament Decides This Week

For the Dingleys, there simply isn’t 200 years worth of waiting while the dying British Empire is dragged, kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, or any century for that matter. That is why the Dingleys did the only thing they could do for their child – leave the UK and travel to the Netherlands where they could access medical cannabis.

The results aren’t that surprising – Alfie’s seizures were dramatically reduced even at times going more than three weeks without having a seizure.

Unfortunately for them, without medical insurance, the treatments were too expensive so they were forced to return to the UK where harmless plants result in jail.

SC Senator Calls Out Law Enforcement, Slams Politicization Of Police

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze

September 4, 2017

When the South Carolina State Legislature was working on a bill to address the opioid crisis, the Senate unanimously voted to attach an amendment to the bill that would allow the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to work with doctors in the VA to greater understand whether or not the possibility of using medical marijuana for treatment would be useful in the state.

If one could even call this a step in the right direction, it was of the smallest of baby steps.

However, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Lobby immediately sprang to action, packing the hearing rooms and spreading disinformation about the bill. The goal was simple: to prevent even the discussion of the possibility that medical marijuana may be beneficial in certain instances.

Even the thought of discussing whether or not to discuss the possible benefits of medical marijuana brought out the dinosaurs and the “just doing my job”-bers to continue their campaigns of lies, deceit and authoritarianism on the general public South Carolina.

Of course, this being South Carolina, there is always a nice dose of puritanical stubbornness thrown into the mix as well. But what is interesting, is that the famous tagline of law enforcement, “don’t blame me, I’m just doing my job” only applies to vicious beatings, exorbitant and irritating traffic tickets, caging of peaceful people, and kicking in the doors of families in the dead of night.

When there is a discussion of the possibility of possibly lightening up by one one-thousandth of a percent on the state’s Soviet-style drug laws, suddenly the just-doing-my-job-bers start trying to do the job of politicians, doctors and constituents. Funny how that works.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: It's Time To Legalize Medical Marijuana In South Carolina

Brandon Turbeville

Florence Morning News

January 29, 2017

As 2017 rolls around, the South Carolina legislature will soon be considering a proposal to legalize medical marijuana in a very controlled and limited fashion.

The new bill, being labeled the Compassionate Care Act by supporters, would provide access to medical marijuana for patients suffering from specific diseases listed in the bill. The legislation would also provide for the creation of a review board and strict guidelines for access, such as a limit to no more than two ounces every two weeks.

We should all express our respect and gratitude for the individuals who wrote and submitted this bill in order to provide support and relief to so many people in South Carolina suffering from incredibly painful and life-restricting diseases. We should also do whatever is in our power to ensure that this bill passes by calling our representatives and expressing support.

It is time for South Carolina to move into the 21st century in regard to its drug policy, even if it has to tip-toe in order to get there. It is absolutely shameful that, in a country that prides itself on freedom, Americans are hunted down and locked into a cage simply because they are in possession of a plant.

I should add that this plant, for which so many people have been imprisoned, has never caused a single death, is not addictive and has been repeatedly demonstrated to have extraordinary amounts of benefit to health. It’s time to finally bring an end to the war on drugs.

BRANDON TURBEVILLE

Florence

South Carolina Considers Legalizing Medical Marijuana

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze

January 12, 2017

As 2017 begins, South Carolina is doing its best to tiptoe in the 21st century. Making headlines all across the state, a new bill that many people are calling the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act is making its way through the South Carolina House.

The topic has been debated before but has failed to pass largely because of the state’s authoritarian law enforcement lobby and fearful and hysterical anti-drug groups. The bill, however, is by no means an end to America’s failed drug war in South Carolina. It will fully regulate and control both production and patient access to medical marijuana. It also has specific guidelines and conditions that must be present in order for patients to qualify for access.

Among these are HIV AIDS, hepatitis C, glaucoma, cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s, autism, Crohn’s and PTSD. There would be a review board established and purchases would be limited to no more than two ounces every two weeks.

While we recognize that the hysteria and full-on police state over a harmless plant, corporate money interests and the person issues of many opponents is a massive stain on the legacy of humanity and the state of South Carolina, we can recognize this new bill as a small step in the right direction.

Is Pennsylvania Set To Be The Next State To Legalize Medical Marijuana?

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze

March 20, 2016

If all goes well Pennsylvania may become the next state to pass a medical marijuana program allowing for restricted use and access to marijuana for medical purposes. This is because a bill has passed the Pennsylvania House by a vote of 149 to 43 that would establish standards for doctors, growers and dispensaries as well as allow patients to consume marijuana in pill, liquid or oil forms.

The law would have strict standards on who and for what reason the marijuana could be procured. Medical marijuana patient would need to have a serious condition such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, or chronic/intractable pain. Under the bill, the state would license as many as 50 dispensaries and up to 25 processors and growers. Patients would not be able to obtain marijuana they are able to smoke.

Representative Jim Cox stated,

Today we have the opportunity of offering hope to the parents of these children, to the patients, offering the hope of letting them, along with their doctors, decide how to best treat the conditions they’re dealing with on a daily basis.

But despite the fact that the bill was passed by an overwhelming majority, not all members of the Pennsylvania House supported the bill.

If anyone was wondering about the argument coming from one of the 43 House members who maintained that a harmless and beneficial plant present in nature should continue to be considered illegal and that not even the sickest Pennsylvania citizens should have access to it – enter: Majority Whip Bryan Cutler. Cutler said,

South Carolina Bill To Legalize Marijuana Faces Uphill Battle

Brandon Turbeville

Natural Blaze

February 25, 2016

In a sign that the tide is beginning to turn in terms of public opinion of marijuana, there is now a new push to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina.

Never known for its reasonable drug laws even the Palmetto state is being forced to admit that not only does marijuana not cause ax-murders and terrorism, but that it has a substantial amount of benefits.

The bill, H4037, is being examined this congressional session and will focus specifically on THC.

There are three state representatives sponsoring the legislation: Peter McCoy, John King and Jenny Horne.

There are some medical uses for marijuana that would be beneficial not only for kids with epilepsy, but for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, terminal cancer,” said Representative Horne. “Other states have done this quite successfully and we’ve looked at some of the other states who have done it well and kind of modeled the legislation off those other states.”

Horne pointed out that the passage of a bill that legalized the use of CBD oil in 2014, has allowed the Medical University of South Carolina to conduct clinical trials using CBC oil. Likewise, she says that H4037 would bring similar opportunities to the state.