Here I am at the MSNBC Digital Cafe just before a taping of The Dr. Oz Show
3/28/2011 - On March 29, The Dr. Oz Show airs the new program “Medical Marijuana: Is it Time to Make it Legal?” and I had the chance to participate. But being on the set of a major network television show at 30 Rockefeller Center is a lot different than watching it at home. The audience you see clapping and cheering or booing and hissing has been carefully selected. This was no puff-piece either because in the studio with us were some of the oldest and meanest anti-marijuana prohibitionists left in the country.
The production staff used different channels to reach out to New Jersey’s medical cannabis groups; that’s when I got the call. Many of us were rather excited at the prospect of telling our stories about the struggle that patients and advocates face here in the Garden State. A few of us were even promised we would have direct interaction with Dr. Oz.
The associate producer asked us to start a chain of calls and emails to help her find the perfect audience filled with people who are pro-medical marijuana. She also mentioned that she wanted to feature a patient that fit this description:
“We are looking for a woman in the age range of 35-50 (or around those ages) who currently uses medical marijuana. She should have one of the conditions that it is known to help and will speak openly about the cause, how frustrating it is to not have it available and how important it is to her condition to have this.”
They decided to go with Sandy Faiola, a Multiple Sclerosis patient and medical marijuana advocate from Asbury Park, NJ. Sandy has shown up to press conferences, protests and to testify before the Legislature in Trenton demanding her right to have the medicine works best for her illness.
When we arrived they took us up to MSNBC .com Digital Café to register with the audience coordinator. As we lined up to take our seats we could see that the entrances were strategically coordinated; we were waiting only with audience members who held the same opinion. Peeking into the studio decorated with fake green houseplants and monitors reading “Medical Marijuana” we were all becoming quite enthusiastic for this novel experience. It probably helped that the stage manager was loudly blasting party hits from the 80’s and 90’s to drum up the enthusiasm.
I was seated next to my good friend and fellow activist Charles Kwiatkowski; we both volunteer with The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey. Carina Cialini, a friend and a colleague with the NORML Women’s Alliance, was seated in the row behind us. By the time the cameras were ready to roll people in the audience were singing along loudly and some were even dancing in the aisles.
A comedian named “Steve” came out and started to tell jokes, hyping up the audience and going over the rules of the show. He encouraged us to boo anything we didn’t like then cheer for what we loved and do it loudly too. But we were told not interrupt the host if we could help it, especially during the guest interview process.
Diane with Cheryl and Jim Miller in 2001
Steve counted down, the audience revved up the applause on cue and Dr. Oz made his big entrance. He introduced the topic and a video montage was displayed. I was quite pleased to see that Cheryl Miller, our medical marijuana hero here in New Jersey was shown in her reclined wheelchair. It was quite difficult for me not to weep seeing her image, I very much wish she were alive so she could see how far we have come for patients.
After the introductory segment, I noticed that a much bigger portion of the audience was on the opposing side than we originally expected. However, we were very quickly distracted because after Dr. Oz sat down once the surprise guest came out on stage. It was none other than Montel Williams! Immediately patients, advocates, and general admission audience members got excited.
Montel is a former talk show host and, like our friend Sandy, he is battling Multiple Sclerosis. He was recently arrested for possession of a pipe at the General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. He has also been very active within the medical marijuana community, testifying and holding media events in states trying to pass laws for patient access.
Dr. Oz and Montel Williams image from oprah.com
Montel shared his very emotional story, and at times had to pause to collect himself. He stressed the importance of patients being allowed to choose to use what works best. However, at his most candid moments Montel was rudely interrupted by prohibitionist David Evans of Flemington, NJ and two of his cohorts. They were placed in the audience just to heckle the pro-medical marijuana guests. Dr. Oz himself was cut off several times along with anyone in favor of medical marijuana.
I was angered and appalled at the lack of manners by these prohibitionists. Those of us who came to advocate and educate waited our turns to speak and were very respectful. But being polite and logical was a disadvantage for getting time on the air during this show.
Dr. Oz and guests like Dr. Donald Abrams went on to discuss the difference between the medical marijuana laws in the west specifically California and Colorado versus the east and especially in my home state of New Jersey. Allen St. Pierre, the Executive Director of NORML elaborated on how the laws aren’t perfect in California but before he could continue Allen was interrupted by rude outbursts coming from incredibly arrogant individuals on the prohibitionist side.
Overall, there seemed to be a negative approach toward the California medical marijuana industry. Dr. Oz showed a video clip of a show correspondent in a warehouse grow facility somewhere in CA, when the camera panned back Oz reflected that he was “repulsed” by it.
Also featured as an “expert” on the show was Dr. Andrea Barthwell, who worked in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George W. Bush. Unsurprisingly she keep in line with her former employers, parroting the mantra that medical marijuana “sends the wrong message to our young people” and “there are plenty of other ways to help those who suffer from these (ailments) than using marijuana.”
Carina Cialini of the NORML Women’s Alliance had this to say about her experience as a member of the audience and the overall feelings about the medical marijuana show:
“I would like to thank Dr. Oz for doing the show. The program will spark an increased mainstream discussion about medical marijuana…this is always a good thing. At the same time I have to admit some disappointment with the taping. I found that the opposition was completely out of line not to mention some of the rudest people I have ever encountered in my life. Their behavior wasn’t even close to abiding by audience guidelines that the studio manager provided us. All of it made me question if the producers really cared about the sick and terminal medical marijuana patients given that David Evans and his crew were never asked to stop their outbursts.”
Carina added, “It is critical now more than ever that our nation is educated properly and correctly regarding the use of medical cannabis.”
A NJ medical marijuana patient demonstrates in Trenton - photo by Libertae Photography/Diane Fornbacher
Watch video of the show online http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/medical-marijuana-hot-debate-pt-1
[Editor's Note - We got an email over the weekend informing us that Sandy Faiola's feature was cut from the final program .]
Diane Fornbacher has been a cannabis law reform activist for 15 years. She has worked with some of the top reform organizations (NORML, Drug Policy Alliance, ASA, The November Coalition). Fornbacher is the current Vice Chair of the NORML Women’s Alliance and serves on the board of The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ). When she isn’t working to change the cannabis laws, she enjoys photography and writing/performing poetry. Contact grassroots {at} freedomisgreen.com
Dr. Oz is just one step up from the great daytime dramatist, Jerry Springer! It’s great to have Montel to speak, mano-o-mano on these daytime talks! Guess I’ll have to tune in today!
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Would love to do a video interview with you sometime about this experience!
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Dr.Oz was disgusted by it , a natural herb that helps , he ‘s not a real Doctor
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Hemp laws are treason against the Republic? Making Free Enterprise illegal Competition illegal The corner stone of control of the economy. Taking the economy out of the hands of farmers to vested interasts.
I hear on the news economy millions of jobs green fuel environment violence health care freedom and answer it with Hemp.
Withholding a cure for cancer? Wouldn’t that be genocide?
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I have noticed in the past Dr. Oz making statements that go against my training as a medical laboratory scientist that have me questioning his true medical knowledge. He seemed just like the women physician, meaning that he was not willing to speak the true facts because of politics and money.
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I just finished watching it,they should have done something about that crackpot yelling out nonsense.I wanted to slap that guy ,I didn’t like how they just applied it to certain conditions,I’m bi polar and herb helps me sleep at night ,instead of going 4 days without sleep,it helps my depression,any one who knows someone with bi polar knows depression is a bad combination mixed with a manic state,hmm guess I could take xanax
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As in all great social movements, there are going to be very vocal sides to any issue. I say ‘kudos’ to you and the pro-marijuana part of the audience for having manners and going by the agreements the studio set up. That isn’t lost on the viewing public. However, it’s not lost on me that pro-marijuana groups are not going by the agreements of all local police departments and the federal government but why quibble?
You need to toughen up if all the worst the opposition does is, heaven forbid, interrupt. Try being faced with fire hoses, snarly dogs, goon squads, and fighter jets. You are on the right-side of history and it is going your way, even if it is a snail’s pace.
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I would like to know any of the people on the show that was against medical marijuana, have they known anyone or have had a loved one going through cancer or any illiness that benefited from using medical marijuana. I believe if they would have had that experence they would know how medical marijuana does help. My father died of cancer he was given 6 months to live he lasted over a year. He smoked marijuana everday. It was the only thing helping him with his pain. Please Dr. OZ it really helps people. The ones that really need it.
Thank You
Tabitha
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I have seen well over 150 people cured of terminal cancers of all types using the essential oils I made from marijuana! It is very simple and anyone can do it! You eat hash oil (marijuana essential Oil) which can be acquired from any taxi driver in jamaica. You eat it 3 times a day and you eat as much as you can handle, or you eat a small amount every hour and a larger drop before bed so you can sleep well, in two weeks you will be feeling like a whole new person and in 3 months you can go get a doctor to look and tell you the cancer is gone, and he will wonder where it went! But you will know it went and devoured itself, that is what THC does to cancer cells, it makes them self digest (autophagy) and I have made this oil for hundreds of people! Not just cancer patients either, I have a Parkinsons patient who eats a quarter gram a day and can ride his Harley, but before the oil he could barely walk. I have glaucoma patients who are driving their cars again. I have epileptics who are seizure free for more than a year. If you want to talk to me about it email me@marijuanaman.com
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Federal law states that cannabis and cannabinoids are classified in Schedule I with drugs that have “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.”
Why will no one mention the National Cancer Institute’s admission of cannabis’ medical uses, or the Department of Health and Human Services US Patent No. 6,630,507? (assigned in 2003!)
How is it lawful to suppress such exculpatory evidence at trial when in fact the suppression of exculpatory evidence at trial is a felony?
Did Barthwell mention her work for GW Pharmaceuticals which makes raw cannabis extracts?
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I was repulsed by Dr. Oz. He’s a pseudo-doctor anyway. Turn your tv’s off, people, it’s all fake.
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Look who Dr Oz’s advertiser are. but at least he did start a conversation , tho I am disappointed in his lack of knowledge of cannabinoids.
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I also didn’t agree with everything Dr Oz said. Having said that I am so happy he devoted a whole show on the subject. I couldn’t get over Dr. Andrea Barthwell answer when Dr. Oz asked her “Why are cigarettes legal when they are more addicting and cause harm.” Her reply was “It is because it is” What the hell kind of answer is that ???!!!
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MY WIFE STRUGGLES WITH NEUROPATHY AND HERS IS VERY PAINFUL AND NUMBNESS IN HER LEGS. IF WE CAN TRY MARIJUANA. I SUFFER WITH RLS AND GETTING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT IS A REAL CHORE. IF YOU CAN HELP US I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. WE BOTH ARE A YOUNG 85 AND I WALK EVERY DAY AND WORK OUT WITH WEIGHTS.
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Fantastic account of backstage/cutting room floor antics. Having been there with you that day and trying desperately to answer Dr Ozs question without any direct attacks from the other side (not that that happened) I find myself extremely disturbed by the editing. Many things really, but my biggest disbelief and curiosity lies in thier decision to cut this sentence out of my reply..which you must remember because it got huge kudos from the audience… “since the first recorded use of marijuana in 2525 BC not one person has died or OD’d from it” wouldn’t you think that is important on a how safe is it segment? I really do not understand…yet they kept the other sides “it causes psychosis” in there. They have a whole nother show on the cutting room floor. So frustrating. Again it was so nice to meet you!! And why did they cut Sandy? so disheartening..
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who the hell do people think they are to tell anyone else what they can or cannot do…enforce laws stating so…You pigs, i hope you need help someday and cant get it..You are not God to determine what anyone else should do.even.If people want to abuse marijuana it is their god given right..Who the hell do you think you are???
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why not outlaw alchohol,,many people have and do die from the that..Never hear a word about outlawing it..Liars and know it alls just want power over others..Ugly should be outlawed too…
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Agree!! i never watch anyway,, just turned on today so my little cocktiel can hear some noise…no one has the right to have power over another individuals life..love the way Dr. Oz is saying it should and should not be used..bull…unconstitutional and ungodly…I dont mean to sound like I am against law and order,,but it’s wrong to infringe on the rights of others and that is what laws should be concerned with..Not a bunch of power hungry smart ass know it alls..
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I have 3 special needs children i take care of every day. I have major health problems myself. At the age of 15 my Dr. told me I had Fybromialgia. A few years after that I go for a Cat Scan & an MRI because I was having problems physicaly. Come to find out now I have to go in for the first of three sugerys I had for spinalcord decompression in my neck on C-2 through C-4. A couple of years goes by & I am having sever lower back pain. My husband winds up having to take me to the E.R. I can’t walk hardley and I can’t stand up. Find out this time my lower two dics had blown out. It took two surgerys to fix it but they are so bad its just a matter of time untill it happens again. My Doc said next time he would have to do the fusion surgery with the rods and steel plates. I also have had belly problems for a few years now. It was so bad at one point I lost 125lbs. in less then a year. I wasn’t trying, no working out I still ate what I wanted. The whole point to my little message is I wake up every day in pain somewhere in my body plus I have to take care of my 3 special needs boys. If I did not smoke at all I would be in a wheelchair. For me that is not an option. I smok to ease the severe pain in my lower back and to ease the extremely tense and tight mussles in the back and sids of my neck. I also suffer from migrains. Being able to smoke helps me be able to get through my responsabalitys of being a mom, and a wife. I have Percociet perscribed to me from my Dr. but I HATE how the pain pills make me feel. They don’t work as well either and it takes a little while to kick in. Like I said I smoke it I think they should legalize it. There are alot of people out there that could really benifet from it. I’m only talking about the ones like me that have health problems. On a scale of 1-10 my pain on a pretty regular bassis every day that I wake up and live is anywhere from a 6-8 or 9. I have a really high pain tolerence level but I defently perfer and will SMOKE before I take my pain pill. If I could afford to pick up my family and move somewhere where it IS legal I would do it in a heart beat!!! Thanks For Taking The Time To Read My Opnion Amber
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