This, of course, is exactly the position that Placer is in. To admit that they are wrong about the life saving properties of cannabis is impossible. Better to test this theory out and see if it can really save a life.
Steve always liked to give us good news. So, the good news about today is that the Marinol is helping to control the rectal bleeding he was experiencing as well as the blood pressure. Of course Marinol does not contain the catacholimes present in the whole plant, and these have been shown by Dr. Guzman of Spain to have the properties of inhibiting a protein necessary for blood vessel development, which results in the cancer tissue being denied nutrients as well as teaching cancer cells to die.
With Marinol, Steve is only partly protected. Because Marinol uses only the THC active portion of the cannabis plant, his tumors are now free to grow again. This type of tumor is particularly apt to grow into the spinal cord, brain and organs.
Now, the bad news is that Placer has not taken his blood pressure since he arrived yesterday. Steve must be on a constant monitor in order to gauge the severity of his medical condition. At any time, his blood pressure can skyrocket. Being freezing cold stresses the body which releases more chemicals which worsens the danger.
This is a game of chicken and Steve doesn't have much of a chance. He has been stripped of all rights, including his right to the special diet he needs.
In the January 29, 2006 issue of The Libertarian Enterprise, over at ncc-1776.org, Thomas Knapp suggests in a letter to the editor that opponents of the drug war/destruction of Steve Kubby help bring attention to his case by making his story more accessible in the search engines, and offers tips on how to do that.
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posted 01/30/06:
More on how you can help Steve Kubby stay alive
Kubby's wife, Michele, has posted an update about his situation at the kubby.com site:
A contact in Placer [County] has just called to give me an update on Steve. I'm so glad someone heard from him. His main concern at this point is that Placer is not documenting the effects of his disease on his body or taking his illness seriously. His blood pressure is at 166/108. Placer is not testing for blood in his urine, either. Placer has also turned down Steve's request for Tylenol pain killer.
Article comments
1 - Bliffle
I think it's past time to legalize pot.
2 - David M. Brown
For many reasons, I believe all drugs should be legalized. The only actions that should be designated as crimes are actual crimes. You don't defraud, rob or murder somebody by ingesting a substance.
The war on drugs has reached such depths of absurdity that stores are now being compelled to put cough syrup behind the counter, because somebody might extract its ingredients for other than cough-treatment purposes. One might as well put the cutlery behind the counter too, since knives can be used not only for cutting steak but also for stabbing people to death. Large, heavy objects of any kind are also suspect.
3 - RJ Elliott
It is absolutely unbelieveable to me that the governments of both the US and Canada are doing this to a poor, sick man.
God help Steve Kubby, and God help us all...
4 - David M. Brown
"absolutely unbelieveable..."
Yes. But all thoroughly documented. A good starting point is kubby.com
5 - RedTard
Wow, a vast multinational conspiracy of coldblooded killers trying to end the life of a man of zero importance in the world.
6 - David M. Brown
Classy. Do you have anything of substance to say, Retard, or is sarcasm and distortion all that you have on your menu?
Nobody has claimed an "international conspiracy." The Canadians acquiesced in a demand of the law officers in California, despite the protestations of Mrs. Kubby and her explanation of what would probably happen--i.e., exactly what is happening. And it hardly matters whether there's a "conspiracy" or determined intention to cause Kubby to die if that is the result of their malicious and negligent conduct--if that is the result of his keepers' obtusely ignoring, from whatever personal or political motives, the best medical course for this guy by his own understanding and that of his regular doctors.
What do you think is happening in the case, guy? Drop the vicious sarcasm and straw-man confection for two seconds and give us your understanding of what has transpired in this case. Tell us your analysis based on the documents and reporting at kubby.com. What's your own honest understanding of the evidence? Just as points of fact, what is going on here?
A man's life is at stake. You owe him better than this.
7 - RedTard
What has happened in this case:
Druggy in remission from cancer gets busted for marijuana and shrooms (I suppose they're medical too).
Jumps bail to Canada.
Gets caught and treated properly under the law.
Protests and screams about 'rights' to do drugs.
Refuses to take regular medications.
That about sums it up.
8 - David M. Brown
Still waiting for the analysis based on the actual reported and documented facts. Since you decline to take a close look at those facts, or at your own prejudices, it doesn't seem we're likely to get anywhere. I can't respond to specific objections of the reported history of the case if I don't know what those specific objections are.
Let me ask you this, though, for the sake of others who may be viewing this hemi-dialogue: If you could be convinced, based on the facts available and documented, that this man has a better chance of living if he were released and allowed to return to Canada, but would likely die if forced to remain in jail for the 3 months and prevented from pursuing the treatment of his illness that he thinks is best...would you still insist that he should remain incarcerated? I.e., knowing that his death would be the price paid?
I think your answer, if we get one, will be very revealing, one way or the other.
Perhaps you can also explain, while you're at it, what harm this man has caused anybody tantamount to the harm being inflicted on him and his wif
9 - RedTard
If Marijuana is saving his life I certainly hope he should have access to it. Call me a sceptic but I can't just read one side's version of the story and feel I have grasped the whole thing.
I don't think there is any logical reason that marijuana should be illegal. It doesn't appear to be much harm to society.
As for it's medicinal value. There may be a tiny sliver of a minority which may actually get some benefit from marijuana that cannot be simulated by other drugs or extracts. Or perhaps not, science has not proven either way.
A sizable portion of the 'medical marijuana' proponents are simply recreational drug users or libertarians who are hiding their true motives. Mr Kubby was busted with shrooms and marijuana which makes him suspect in my view. (The other individual case linked on the site involved a bust of marijuana and cocaine)
Marijuana should be legalized on it's own merits not on sensationalized propaganda or emotional appeals.
10 - David M. Brown
"Emotional appeals"?
So, whether the guy lives or dies is just an antiseptic datum, in R.'s view? Is the suffering being reported all just fabricated? Is the fact that his keepers initially withheld even an extra blanket from Kubby (later tendered after many calls of inquiry and protest) just a fiction? Is the transcript of the detailed conversation in which Kubby reported his status just a fiction? Is his claim that he was compelled to sign a statement that he didn't agree with just a fiction?
I know that some people use drugs recreationally rather than for medicinal purposes. I don't care. I don't think the law should come down like a hammer on anybody innocent of any actual crime. What's happening in this particular case is vicious in the extreme. A man's life is at stake. Why the actual fate of actual particular individuals, the actual cost extracted by the drug war, should be regarded as irrelevant, I have no idea whatever. Individual human beings are the ones who bear the costs. It's not rocks and petunias. There is no reason to oppose any malfeasances, corruptions and excesses of government laws and government officials except because of the costs that must be borne by actual specific individuals.
Perhaps R. could give Mr. Kubby's wife, Michele, a call and explain how overly emotional she's being about her husband's fate.
We're done here. Somebody else can swim in what Mr. R. is producing.
11 - RedTard
"Is the suffering being reported all just fabricated?"
Who knows. It's an internet blog.
"Is the fact that his keepers initially withheld even an extra blanket from Kubby (later tendered after many calls of inquiry and protest) just a fiction?"
Using a term like 'keepers' and protesting loudly about minor inconveniences in prison as 'cruel and inhumane' lead me to believe that the writer has an anti-government agenda and is willing to stretch the truth to garner support for their position (aka, an emotional appeal). Unlike you, I don't take everything I hear from a protester on the internet at face value.
12 - David M. Brown
My latest LFB Blog entry about the Kubby case is now posted.
13 - David M. Brown
My latest LFB Blog entry has an excerpt from an interview with Joel Miller, author of Bad Trip, about the connection between the war on drugs and funding of terrorist activities. We'll be doing further updates on the fate of Steve Kubby (for the benefit of those who do regard particular individuals as having more than "zero importance in the world"), including what we learn about today's preliminary hearing, in future posts.