Have you heard of our law called Prop 215?
Passed by California voters just saying what we mean
Marijuana eases pain and grief
There’s many a condition for which it brings relief

But the State could not wait to cover up its ears
Long-robed judges said the wording isn’t clear
The cops and D.A.s held a council of war
In secret to dis-implement the new law

[wpspoiler name=”Lyrics” ]Have you heard of our law called Prop 215?
Passed by California voters just saying what we mean
Marijuana eases pain and grief
There’s many a condition for which it brings relief

But the State could not wait to cover up its ears
Long-robed judges said the wording isn’t clear
The cops and D.A.s held a council of war
In secret to dis-implement the new law

Put heat on the doctors that’s the whole strategy
Said attorney general lungren then he flew off to D.C.
To meet with Cardinal Constantine and Rabbi Alan Lesh-
ner Reno and Shalala like a scene out of MacBeth

It was back in December of 1996
General McCaffrey announced the big fix
California doctors, your license is at risk
Big Janet and the neckless nun all tsk-tsk-tsk

What were their names, what were their names
The doctors who believed their patients claims?
What were their names, tell me what were their names
The doctors who stood up for the patients?

From down in Crescent City up to San Diego
Many a physician had to just say no
Unless you got cancer or AIDS better yet
A letter of approval could prove difficult to get

Paxil and Statins they are eager to prescribe
Viagra and estrogen dispensed like a bribe
The detail men offer them jaunts to here and there
And the board never questions their standard of care

But those brave physicians whose plain common sense
Leads to respect for anecdotal evidence
Get called Dr Feelgood like it was a bad thing
And made to feel afraid every time the doorbell rings

I’m thinking tonight of Maid Marion Fry
in the ruins of her beauty and the courage of her guy
And Mike Alcalay with his worn, hollow cheek
veterans of medicine who know whereof they speak

They helped a lot of people in a wide range of pain
The data they’ve collected should not be in vain
Sabotage of research, when’s it gonna stop?
The practice of medicine is not a job for the cops

What were their names, what were their names
The doctors who believed their patients claims?
What were their names, tell me what were their names
The doctors who stood up for the patients?

words and music by Fred Gardner. Lead guitar and production by Camilo Landau

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[wpspoiler name=”Listen” ][jwplayer file=”http://fredgardner.bandcamp.com/track/prop-215-the-doctors-who-believed-their-patients”][/wpspoiler]