House passes historic health bill - Politico

I fell asleep listening to the final vote. I fell asleep with a quiet feeling of elation in my soul...they listened...amazing!

U.S. to end war on medical marijuana in legal states

 

By James Vicini and Dan Whitcomb

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a sharp policy shift, the Obama administration told federal attorneys not to prosecute patients who use marijuana for medical reasons or dispensaries in states where it has been legalized.

A Justice Department official said the formal guidelines were issued Monday to reflect President Barack Obama's views. The Bush administration had said it could enforce the federal law against marijuana and that it trumped state laws.

The decision was praised by activists in California, the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. But concern remains among some medical and law enforcement authorities about hundreds of clinics said to be selling pot under the protection of state law and without regard to health.

A spokesman for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a brief statement in which Schwarzenegger appeared to support the policy change:

"The governor believes it is appropriate for the federal government to focus their resources on criminal activity and securing the border," the statement said.

As a candidate during his presidential bid last year, Obama said he intended to halt raids of medical marijuana facilities operating legally under state laws.

After he took office in January, a Drug Enforcement Administration raid on a dispensary in Lake Tahoe, California, raised questions about whether he would follow that pledge.

A White House spokesman repeated Obama's view that "federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws."

Stephen Gutwillig, California head of the Drug Policy Alliance, called the move a good first step.

"There is a fundamental need of patients to access marijuana as medicine right now," he said. "While it's great to see the Obama administration radically de-escalate the Bush and Clinton administrations' war on medical marijuana patients, more needs to be done to protect sick people and their caregivers."

(continued…)

U.S. to end war on medical marijuana in legal states | U.S. | Reuters

Sign the Petition to Pass Healthcare Reform That Gives Americans a Choice

 

Now is the season for action. The majority of Americans want health insurance reform with the choice of a public option that keeps insurance companies honest, lowers costs, and increases service.
The choice of a public option provides every American a non-profit health insurance alternative that can't be canceled if you lose a job or move and its inclusion in any bill passed this year is non-negotiable.
Majority votes in Congress can pass a public option.

Click the link below to sign the petition!

AmericaCantWait.com

Sign the Petition: Healthcare not Warfare

As PDA board member Norman Solomon pointed out, “nearly one in six Americans has no health insurance, and tens of millions of others are woefully under-insured--while the war in Iraq continues to further skew the U.S. government's budget priorities.” We say “Healthcare NOT Warfare” and ask you to join our campaign.



read more digg story

Different Types of Marijuana For Depression

Learn about different types of cannabis that are good for helping people with depression. Read about different cannabis types.

A change in the seasons often gives some people a little feeling of depression. Growing marijuana indoors is excellent for those who suffer from SAD as high pressure sodium or other hydroponic lightening will alleviate some SAD symptoms. I'm talking from personal marijuana growing experience.

Different types of marijuana give us a different kinds of marijuana high, which in turn can be good for fibromyalgia treatment, MS or HIV/AIDS. Pure sativa marijuana strains such as Skunk, Haze or Skunk #1 is better at relieving depression than brand name SSRI. This marijuana high is akin to drinking multiple Starbucks. Giving you plenty of energy.

read more | digg story

ei: Gaza's main hospital struggling to cope

GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - Gaza's main hospital, al-Shifa, is struggling to cope with the influx of people injured in the Israeli air strikes which started on 27 December, according to medical sources.

Staff and patients are also fearful Israel might target it, as the leaders of Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the enclave, have held press conferences there.

The hospital has already moved some medical facilities below ground.

The head of the international cooperation department of Gaza's health ministry, Medhat Abbas, told IRIN: "Al-Shifa has never received hundreds of patients all at once. Hospital staff are using sheets to staunch bleeding, and many patients have died because of the lack of supplies and equipment."

A statement issued by the Israeli branch of Physicians For Human Rights, a non-governmental organization, on 30 December said: "The Israeli attack finds the current health system in the Gaza Strip in a state of total collapse due to the harsh siege imposed on the Gaza Strip for a year and a half, and the closure preceding it."

read more digg story

10 Excellent Reasons for National Health Care

Part one of a series providing basic information regarding how the health care system works, basic health care economics, and other general background to health care reform, with a single payer focus. The goal is provide a broad background that is NOT driven by specific events, news, or headlines.

DrSteveB's diary :: ::
Those 10 Excellent reasons are:
1. It's good for our health.
2. It costs less and saves money.
3. It will assure high quality health care for all Americans, rich or poor.
4. It's the best choice - morally and economically.
5. It may be a matter of life or death.
6. It will let will let doctors and nurses focus on patients, not paperwork.
7. It will reduce health care disparities.
8. It will eliminate medical debet.
9. It will be good for labor and business.
10. It's what most Americans want - and we can make it happen.
I should mention that although I am friends with some of the chapter contributers, I am not an author and have no financial stake in any of the books mentioned here.

read more digg story

Planned Parenthood: Give Your Loved One the Gift of Health Care

Planned Parenthood of Indiana are offering gift certificates just in time for the holiday season to help uninsured and low income people receive health care.

Just in time for the holiday season, Planned Parenthood of Indiana has decided to offer gift certificates so people could give their loved ones the gift of health care. They came to this decision due to the economic downturn, saying:

“People are making really tough decisions about putting gas in their car and food on their table, so we know that many women especially put healthcare at their bottom of their list to do.”

read more digg story