THE ANTIQUE CANNABIS BOOK Chapter 3 - (2nd Edition) CENSORED MEDICAL STUDIES

From Phil Mocek on March 30, 2011:
To whom it may concern:

Pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, I request access to and copies of all records of communications regarding the creation and modification of National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query (PDQ) "Cannabis and Cannabinoids" section, including but not limited to any discussion of any "direct antitumor effect" of cannabis or cannabinoids, along with associated metadata.

I would like to receive the information in electronic format. (Attachments to e-mail if feasible, on CDROM if not.)

Please waive any applicable fees. Release of the information is in the public interest because it will contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations and activities. The requested records will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press. This request is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I agree to pay up to $20 for these records. If fees exceed $20, please inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request.

Please provide expedited processing because delayed disclosure could threaten life by preventing cancer patients from learning about any curative effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on cancer (e.g., the "direct antitumor effect"). I certify that these statements regarding expedited processing are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I request that any deletions be "blacked out" rather than "whited out". I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. I, of course, reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,

Phillip Mocek

1. THE PUBLIC TAKES NOTICE (or the truth must not be said)
   Internal (NCI) emails dealing with the firestorm that broke out after the public first noticed the website. Most read something like; -- “Hi, someone pointed out that the cannabis summary had some positive comments on www.drugwarrant.com. ” Or that some reporter was asking too many questions or that someone was going to be talking about this subject on the Dr. oz show, etc.
   
   
2. THE National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) STEPS IN
   Just days after the firestorm first started NIDA (with a great deal of interest in and who’s stated mission is to continue with our present day anti-Medical Cannabis Laws) steps in. They request major changes in the N.C.I.’s web-site dealing with the subject. They wish something more in keeping with the President OBAMA’s administrative policy.
   
   
3. THE INTERNAL DEBATE – STOMPING OUT THE FIRE STORM
   Dealing with the internal debate within the N.C.I. over the issue and how best to address it. Or actually, how best to censor the website and hope everything goes away. These memo’s read something like, “After reflection, I am disturbed about removing all information about the possible anti-tumor effect of cannabinolds and I feel that full board should have a chance to discuss these NIDA induced alterations!” Or my all time favorite; “Gee, I would rather not. It flies in the face of all that is known. And it seems so far-fetched to have to go to northwestern Africa to find a case control study.”
   
   
4. THE COVER UP TAKES PLACE (or none dare call it censorship)
   Dealing mostly with fixing the exact wording changes. Making sure that no implication of support for Medical cannabis can be interpreted, yet at the same time trying not to sound like a bunch of idiots ignoring all reality.

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