In Today’s email I got a broadcast via the Americans for Safe Access (ASA) mailing list which stated that;

“President Obama has made it clear that, when creating policy, his administration will hold science over political ideology and value the input of people like you.“

The President of the United States, Barack Obama made a public Request for Comments on 2009.03.09 and is seeking public input to inform the drafting of recommendations.

ASA provided links to specific posts on the OSTP.gov blog website where I could easily make my comments available to be heard. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ScientificIntegrity

The comment period ends 2009.05.12.  I now ask that you to please take the time to read the Principle postings with my comments, then register an account on Blog.OSTP.gov, it’s very easy because Blog.OSTP.gov runs on WordPress, and VOTE UP the comments I made by clicking the Green + symbol icon next to my name, on both “Scientific Integrity: Principle” postings C & D.  Once you have registered and authorized the account via email, you are Free to Vote or reply to comments posted or make your own  comments for the Principle postings.

Scientific Integrity: Principle (c)

Scientific Integrity: Principle (d)

Here are permanent links to my posted comments on the two Principles.

http://blog.ostp.gov/2009/04/22/scientific-integrity-principle-c/#comment-221
Rob Friedman said on  April 30, 2009 at 11:25 pm:

http://blog.ostp.gov/2009/04/22/scientific-integrity-principle-d/#comment-222
Rob Friedman said on April 30, 2009 at 11:26 pm:

Attached Full Text copy of my comments.

The following is the full text copy of my comments posted.

There are many problems with the healthcare industry in this country and a large number of them have nothing to do with our actual skill or ability to provide the care, treatment or knowledge to patients.

Often it is ideology and politics, as well as how and when the expenses are to be paid for that prevent quality healthcare from being received by those in need. This atmosphere creates unnecessary barriers to those which require the care, treatment, or knowledge from highly educated, trained and skilled individuals to feel better, and live well.

Under California Worker’s Compensation Law “Medical Treatment” is defined as “Treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve from the effects of a work-related injury or illness.” URL http://www.dir.ca.gov/glossary.asp?letter=M

Furthermore, California Law, under Labor Code section 4600, guarantees benefits that all reasonable and necessary medical care to cure or relieve the effects of the injury or illness are paid for by the Claims Administrator. Not just doctor bills, but also medicines, hospital costs. fees for lab tests, x-rays, crutches-even travel expenses for required medical treatment.

In this 2006 ruling, it was found that, indigent medical marijuana patients in California who receive public assistance benefits through the Department of Health Services may qualify for reimbursement of the cost of their medicine. http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/CADHSCourtDecision0906.pdf

I am a Pro Per Disabled Injured Worker, who was severly injured on the job in 2001, while living in California. California is a state where the use of Medical Cannabis has been legal for over 10 years. Authorized uses include relief from nausea, insomina or other sleep disorders, back injuries and Chronic pain, all of which I suffer.

As a Pro Per IW, representing myself before the Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board and possibly in the Appellate and Superior Courts, with the help of my father, I alone am presently fighting for my due rights and benefits on all levels.

The treatments I seek and which are most beneficial to me are being outrightly denied by the State Compensation Insurance Fund. They are California’s state funded quasi governmental, for profit, insurer of last resort.

At the end of 2008 after going before the WCAB Judge multiple times, I refused SCIF’s “incredible”(SCIF Lawyer’s word) $$ offer to confidentially settle the request for reimbursement of authorized medical cannabis. Both the SCIF lawyer and WCAB Judge stated that my case is very unique. To which I asked if that it would set a legal precendent.

The judge said the burden to prove its necessity was on me. To move my cases along, in January 2009, I went to be evaluated by a renowned Independent Medical Examiner whom the Judge had chosen and the SCIF attorney agreed to allow this examination and subsequent findings.

In March, received the IME report, which states that he approved medical cannabis for treatment in my cases. The WCAB judge had previously stated that he would rule based on the recommendations and findings within the IME report.

Now I again await my day in court.