Hello everybodee! I'm a new survivor here. Just attended my 1st rfl walk in Auburn. I want to become more involved. I made a donation website. I was wondering if the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life had any kind of official stance on the use of medical marijuana? I thought this might be a good platform to promote my RFL participation on. What do you think? Americans for Safe Access and NORML have great brochures, flyers and info that would be useful in promoting at the RFL booths.
I'm going to try to answer this question as best I can. This is a subject that many people feel passionate about, on both sides of the issue, so I will ask that everyone be understanding if my response is not perfect:
In our efforts to ensure that cancer patients have access to the appropriate pain medication and services available, the Society is carefully monitoring all research that may benefit cancer patients. A 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggested that there may be a benefit to cancer patients from the chemicals, or cannabinoids, contained within marijuana.
These studies appear to show that cannabinoids will help alleviate the nausea, vomiting, wasting, and muscle spasms caused by chemotherapy in some patients. We are supportive of more research into the benefits of cannabinoids...as with any research that can hopefully lead to better and more effective treatments to overcome the side effects of cancer & its treatment.
While we do support more research on the benefits of cannabinoids, the American Cancer Society cannot and does not advocate the use of inhaled marijuana or the legalization of marijuana.
August 22, 2007 - 4:35pm login or register to post comments
myrrhmaid
Posts: 7
Joined: 2007-08-20
Hi Jeff!!
Thanks for the response. So does that mean I cannot have a booth at a RFL w/flyers from NORML or Americans for Safe Access? Because that might mean they (ACS) are advocating inhaling/legalization?
I don't mean to be a stick about this I just want to know. This issue is way bigger than me & I just want to be familiar with the boundaries.
As a survivor if I can have some sort of impact & change I'd like it to be around the issue of MMJ. It's the compassionate thing to do.
THX!
I'll go see if I can wrestle up some more recent research. 1999 was EONS ago! :p
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Dx'd stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma 4/5, underwent 16 ABVD chemotherapy treatments. I now have clear scans!
Joined: 2007-08-20