Fwd: ephedra ban

[Guest guest]

to reiterate, I think we should lobby for professional exemptions from

public bans. If we lobby for unrestricted public access, I predict we

will lose access altogether. so be careful what you write to your

congressperson. I must be getting old, but I couldn't care less if some

derelict teenager, obsessed bodybuilder or anorexic 20 something can't get

their ma huang fix anymore. boo-hoo. I hate that it has come to this

choice, but clearly there is a greater good. it is much more important

that we maintain access to ma huang than it is to maintain the libertarian

ideal of free access to all substances. I guess my pragmatism is showing

again.

 

 

 

> Marnae Ergil <marnae

> Thu Mar 06, 2003 06:01:04 PM US/Pacific

> <kve

> Subject:

>

> Dear Friends & Colleagues:

>

> Once again, Ephedra (Ma Huang) is under attack and this time on a

> national level. As many of you know Senator Charles E. Schumer of New

> York has said that he would " support legislation to ban the dietary

> supplement ephedra, which has been linked to at least 100 deaths,

> including that of the Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler " . Mr.

> Schumer,said the Food and Drug Administration's move Friday to put

> warning labels on ephedra and consider restricting or banning its sale at

> a later time did not go far enough. He said he would co-sponsor

> legislation to be introduced this week by Senator Richard Durbin,

> Democrat of Illinois, to ban ephedra outright. (AP)

>

> It is extremely important that we all get involved in the effort to

> educate Senator Schumer and his colleagues regarding the traditional

> Chinese medicine use of ma huang. We were recently able to create

> legislation in Suffolk County that exempted us from a similar ban. At

> the very least we need to try to accomplish this on a federal level.

>

> What can you do:

>

> 1. Write to Senator Schumer (address below). Explain your training and

> how you use ma huang. Urge him to have discussions with individuals in

> the Oriental medicine field and to learn more about Oriental medicine.

> We are happy to help with letters, but our experience shows that

> individual letters are much more effective than form letters. Please

> take 5 minutes, right now, write the letter and put it in the mail,

> e-mail it, fax it or all three.

>

> 2. Have family, friends, patients, students etc. do the same.

>

> 3. If you teach in an OM program, please urge your students to write

> letters and get involved. Getting patients involved is also important -

> have them write letters explaining where they are treated and that they

> would like to see us retain our ability to use this substance.

>

> 4. If you have any political or press contacts, now is the time to start

> to use them. We are happy to give interviews, write articles etc.

>

> Please let us know if you are interested in getting more deeply involved

> in this process or if we can help you with press contacts.

>

> This is a very important issue. While we are now looking only at Ma

> Huang this is just the beginning and other substances will likely come

> under similar attack. It is important that we work to protect our

> ability to continue to use substances within our materia medica and to

> use our professional credentials (NCCAOM) to further our cause. Whether

> or not you are an NCCAOM diplomate, you are a voter and your opinion

> counts. Please write!

> >

> > Please forward this letter on to anyone and everyone. If you have any

> questions please contact us.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Marnae & Kevin Ergil

> marnae

>

> Charles Schumer (D-NY)

> 313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

> 212-486-4430

> Web Form: schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

> >

> >

>

>

> Marnae C. Ergil, M.A, M.S., L.Ac.

> Huntington Herbs & Acupuncture

> (631) 549-6755

>

>

>

>

 

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