GA Review[edit]

Article (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch

Reviewer: Khazar2 (talk · contribs) 21:17, 4 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I'll be glad to take this review. I'll do a close readthrough of the article in the next few days, noting any initial issues, and then go to the criteria checklist. Thanks in advance for your work on this one! -- Khazar2 (talk) 21:17, 4 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Initial readthrough

On a first pass, this looks like solid work, only a few issues that need to be addressed:

I can see how you see that, but both points of view are supported by enough sources that mention both Brownie Mary and the government. For example, the old 1992 source discussed above (AIDS Weekly, September 28, 1992) says "What we have in marijuana is a safe, effective treatment for PWAs," said Greg Scott, member of ACT UP/DC. "The government is hypocritically pushing a less desirable prescription drug. Yet another example of AIDS profiteering." Demonstrators passed out a number of studies that have substantiated the medical value of marijuana, as well as the 1988 ruling of Drug Enforcement Agency Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young finding marijuana medically valuable. "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man," said Young. "By any measure of rational analysis, marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care." The current (as of 2012) statement in the article that says "scientific research suggests that cannabis and its cannabinoid derivatives are useful in treating a variety of diseases" appears to be well sourced and directly relevant to the biography. Brownie Mary was targteted because the government maintained that cannabis did not have medicinal value. Through anecdotal evidence alone, Brownie Mary maintained that it did have medicinal value, and her arrests generated interest in the health sciences community who then got a grant to study cannabis and HIV. It's the primary point of the biography and it is supported in the literature. In other words, how can this be synthesis, or rather, what is it synthesizing? Viriditas (talk) 05:33, 5 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Note: there are a lot of sources that discuss this issue in relation to Brownie Mary because it is a key point in her biography. She successfully used the "medical necessity" defense at her trial and established the legitimacy of medical cannabis at both the local and state level. So, while this might not be synthesis, it seems reasonable to request additional sources if this isn't clear to the reviewer or the reader, but it is impossible to separate these two facts from the biographical narrative. That the "U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not currently recognize any medicinal use of cannabis, and it remains classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act as a drug that has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States" is an essential historical fact necessary to explain not just the prosecution of Brownie Mary (how else can you explain her arrests?) but also to highlight the discrepancy between what one part of the government was saying while other parts disagreed (Francis L. Young up above). There are so many sources about Brownie Mary discussing this in the current article and outside of it, I'm not sure where to start. Here are two sources for illustration:

...in Sonoma County...prosecutors hpave filed marijuana possession and transportation charges against Mary Rathbun, 70. Rathbun has been baking pot-packed brownies for AIDS patients for nine years...Defense lawyer Tony Serra says that at Rathbun's preliminary hearing in Santa Rosa today, he'll argue that marijuana is uniquely beneficial to AIDS patients because it's the only drug that stimulates their appetites while also inducing sleep and relieving nausea and depression. California's official attitude toward recreational marijuana is harsh. Under state law, marijuana cultivation, possession for sale and transportation are serious crimes, and the state has been cooperating with federal and local law enforcement since 1983 to eradicate every plant it can find. But medicinal pot may be another matter. California is one of 35 states with statutes encouraging research in that field research blocked by the federal government's control over legal supplies, said Kevin Zeese, counsel to the Washington, D.C.-based Drug Policy Foundation. Zeese's group is working through the federal courts to overturn a federal ban on use of marijuana for AIDS, cancer and other diseases. (Cooper, Claire, November 13, 1992, "Ban on Medicinal Pot Under Fire", Sacramento Bee, p. A1)

Here's another, more general article:

Cannabis derivatives were used by some doctors in the 19th century as painkillers, but by the time Congress adopted the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana was purely a recreational drug. It was placed on Schedule I, the most tightly-controlled category, reserved for drugs said to have a high potential for abuse and no medical value...There is, however, at least anecdotal evidence that marijuana relieves some side effects of chemotherapy as well as certain symptoms of AIDS, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. Similar claims have been made about migraines, paralysis and various other ailments...Among the leading advocates are Harvard University psychiatrist Lester Grinspoon and attorney James B. Bakalar, who have written extensively about patients who use marijuana for pain relief and to restore appetites spoiled by AIDS or chemotherapy. "It is time for physicians to acknowledge more openly that the present classification is scientifically, legally and morally wrong," they wrote in a commentary for the Journal of the American Medical Association, citing their own survey findings that 44 percent of oncologists plus many other doctors routinely suggest marijuana to their patients...Elsewhere, marijuana users have tried with mixed results to mount a legal defense of medical necessity, arguing in criminal court that they can't be convicted of marijuana possession because they use it as medicine. Trippet tried to use that defense in Sonoma County before pleading guilty and serving an eight-month jail sentence in 1992. And in a widely publicized case that same year, prosecutors dismissed charges against "Brownie Mary" Rathbun after a judge said she could use a medical-necessity defense after she was arrested in Cazadero while baking a batch marijuana brownies for distribution to AIDS patients. (Sweeney, James W., July 7, 1996, "The Politics of Pot", The Press Democrat, p. A1)

Further the historical fact that "scientific research suggests that cannabis and its cannabinoid derivatives are useful in treating a variety of diseases" is, as of 2012, is hardly controversial in medicine and is already sourced and connected to Brownie Mary as I explained above. Her initial anecdotal observations and subsequent arrests led to increased interest and research, so the connection is important. I'm not seeing any synthesis here. Viriditas (talk) 09:33, 5 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
What appears to me synthesis is connecting Brownie Mary and a 2010 report that doesn't appear to mention her; connecting these two in posthumous support of Brownie Mary's position seems to me a clear example of SYNTH. My suggestion would be to stick with sources that discuss Brownie Mary and not go further afield into the medical marijuana debate than those sources do. -- Khazar2 (talk) 12:11, 5 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I think we are speaking past each other. I just explained that this isn't synthesis (it doesn't reach a conclusion not found in the sources nor is it original research. This is common knowledge.). It does support Brownie Mary's position, but as I just demonstrated, her position has been supported in this way in the sources from the beginning. The only difference here is that the source is updated and new. I will attempt to review the sources again and clear this up for you, but I'm not seeing a problem here. The law is the law and the scientific evidence is the evidence. Mentioning these two things is not synthesis, and they are discussed in the majority of the sources already. Viriditas (talk) 06:54, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Update: per my comments dated 09:31, 6 January towards the bottom of the page, I think I've figured out a way forward. Viriditas (talk) 09:34, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Looking at that paragraph again, I'm also not sure I'm comfortable with "many other states have since passed similar legislation", for similar reasons -- do we have a source connecting that to Brownie Mary? (If we do, no problem, but the article doesn't currently give one.) It would probably be enough to just state that California was the first state to pass this legislation; this shows the precedent this measure helped to set without implying further impact that may or not be connected with her work. Thanks for your work on these! -- Khazar2 (talk) 12:11, 5 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I will look. Viriditas (talk) 06:54, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
-- Khazar2 (talk) 02:30, 5 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
"excessive formality and routine required before official action can be taken" (dictionary.com)
"official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction" (Merriam Webster)
"Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making ... Red tape generally includes filling out paperwork, obtaining licenses, having multiple people or committees approve a decision and various low-level rules that make conducting one's affairs slower, more difficult, or both" (Wikipedia)
Even more than the specific language, though, the key point here is that you can't slam one side of a debate and call it fact without providing a secondary source--which the article currently doesn't. This is Wikipedia 101 per the policies on reliable sources, and I'm surprised it's turned into such a sticking point for this review. Why not just add a secondary source? My suggestion would be to add a secondary source and summarize its language without adding pejorative idiom. An alternative would be to include the exact language of one of the above sources (primary or secondary) criticizing the govt. and clearly attribute the opinion in-text. Using the secondary source you first proposed above, with a flat statement that Abrams had difficulty getting NIDA to support the research, seems quite reasonable to me. -- Khazar2 (talk) 16:39, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your comments. I don't think we actually have two sides of a debate here, so we may be talking past each other. We have the medical establishment saying yes, cannabis is useful, yes we would like to prescribe it to our patients who find it useful, and more importantly, yes we would like to research it. Then we have government bureaucrats motivated by political ideology telling these physicians, no it isn't useful, no your patients can't use it, and we will arrest your patients for using it, you for prescribing it, and you are forbidden from doing research. This isn't two sides at all, this is documented government interference with science, and that opinion is supported by the secondary sources up above. Finally, I don't see how "bureaucratic red tape" is pejorative when it accurately describes the event. The government decided to terminate the compassionate use program at the height of the AIDS epidemic when patients needed it most. This cruel and callous action was not supported by the public they represented nor by the majority of physicians or the medical establishment. They also setup deliberate roadblocks to prevent researchers from studying the drug. This is all a matter of historical record and part of the sources, so I'm not seeing it as a violation of any policy or guideline. Again, I'm willing to work with you on this, but you're going to need to meet me halfway. Viriditas (talk) 20:54, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

What do you see as "halfway" here? I've proposed several possible solutions in this thread short of removing this material, including your finding a source with this language and attributing it clearly, or finding a source with alternative language and mirroring that language. To me, this was already an attempt to meet you halfway, since I should have just told you to cut side criticism of the federal government that you couldn't be bothered to source, and stick to the facts about Brownie Mary herself. We've been back and forth about this for a few days now, and you still appear adamant that you have to include this criticism not directly related to Mary's life, to use language of your own, and to include no secondary sources about it in the article; no changes have been made. To me, that suggests we've reached an impasse, and my first inclination was to simply fail this nomination for sourcing and neutrality reasons.

All that said, you're a more experienced GA reviewer than I am, and I could well be wrong. (It happens pretty much daily, in fact.) Out of deference to that, I'll mark this for a second opinion and let another reviewer make the final pass/fail decision. Though we've disagreed on some particular points here, I respect your work on this one a lot--thanks for the time you've put into this interesting biography! -- Khazar2 (talk) 22:16, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

It's been 24 hours, not "several days" so your perception of time involved here is significantly different than my own, more so considering I've barely been online and busy with work during that 24 hours. Further, this is not unsourced criticism as you claim, it's an accurate paraphrase of the cited source and is supported by multiple secondary sources as I've shown above. Since you take exception with this wording, I've said I'm willing to consider alternatives, but your objections aren't based on anything tangible. That there was bureaucratic red tape standing in the way of Abrams' research is not in dispute. However, for some unknown reason you've disputed this as POV. I think a bit of attribution and a revisit of the relevant sources can solve this problem. Viriditas (talk) 23:53, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Well, in my local time I worked on it and got your responses Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so it felt like several days; I realize that may not translate easily into Wikipedia hours depending on your time zone. Sorry if I mischaracterized. The point I meant to emphasize is that we've gone back and forth about this several times, and we're quickly moving further from a solution, not closer. I've offered alternatives, I've agreed I could be wrong and asked for a second opinion, and still you're hammering instead of recognizing any of these efforts to seek compromise. That right there tells me that we've passed the point where we'll be able to collaborate well to finish off this review. I respect your work on this article, and respect your deep convictions on this issue (which I happen to share), but it's not a good use of my Wikipedia hours to go ten rounds with you on this when an outside reviewer can quickly settle the issue.
To try to explain one last time: you continue to talk as if the statement already has a reliable source in the article; at this point, I'm starting to wonder if we have different versions in our browsers somehow. I can only see Abrams himself, and a footnote within a footnote of some congressional testimony (another primary source). The article presents Abrams' views as fact without in-text attribution, despite his article being a primary source on an obviously controversial subject. You seem deeply opposed to the idea that a secondary source should be added and its language used, an easy solution that I proposed several times above; it seems to me that this should be Wikipedia 101. If your language is truly interchangeable with the source language, what's the problem with the source language? Even if you personally feel there's no difference, why should we change it in a way that another reader could perceive as different? (I'm a reader, and I do see these as different, so this isn't a hypothetical.) Despite your odd claim above that it's not, the phrase "bureaucratic red tape" is obviously pejorative ("a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle"), and it doesn't matter if you think it's a deserved pejorative; criticisms and judgments like that should be clearly attributed both in-text and in a footnote.
Again, though, I'm fine with deferring to a second opinion on this-- if another reviewer feels the article doesn't need a secondary source for this statement, I won't object. Though we've disagreed, I wish you best with bringing this the rest of the way to GA status, whether that takes a little more work or no changes at all. Cheers, -- Khazar2 (talk) 03:23, 7 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I already provided two secondary sources up above in this discussion. You keep saying this is a "pejorative" and a "criticism" of the government, but I'm afraid I don't see it that way. This is a matter of historical record (for example, the entire incident is covered by Werner 2001 which is already in use throughout the article). It's very possible you aren't familiar with that record (nor is the reader), so I must take responsibility for providing better sourcing and attribution. Can the wording be changed, and should it be changed? I'm looking into it. When I get home tonight, I will attempt to trace the original sources or at least find some more for further review, revision, and additional attribution. Viriditas (talk) 03:55, 7 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Changed per the suggestion of the reviewer. Sorry, but I'm on Hawaiian time, and that means this kind of thing takes time. Viriditas (talk) 09:34, 8 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I appreciate the change (if not the sarcastic edit summary); I'm still going to let another reviewer take this the rest of the way, though, just to get a fresh start to this one. I'm unwatching, so ping me if I'm needed. Best of luck getting this to GA--your work is much appreciated. -- Khazar2 (talk) 14:15, 8 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I'm glad you appreciated the change, however, I changed it against my better judgment and that will not happen again. In fact, I'm thinking of seriously restoring the "bureaucratic red tape" statement as it is fully supported by multiple sources in the article (as I have already demonstrated) and additional sources that I have not yet added, such as Martin A. Lee's Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana, p. 230. This is part of the historical record and is neither pejorative nor a criticism as you have falsely claimed. I don't care what second opinion you defer to, wrong is wrong. Viriditas (talk) 07:57, 5 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Thanks--refactoring this to the 1990s as context and background for Mary's arrest makes much more sense than taking us through to the present day. I'm still not persuaded that we need "Scientific research suggests that cannabis and its cannabinoid derivatives are useful in treating a variety of diseases" at the end of this article, however; it's redundant with the scientific background for Mary's actions given above, and the explanation of Abrams' work given here. Adding this general statement as a capstone feels like an attempt to score one last point for the medical marijuana argument generally, especially given the article's lack of representation for any opposing views. (The single opposition figure mentioned in this article is described as widely protested, and his views are clearly discredited with the word "claim"; see action point below.)
  • What I'd suggest instead is moving some of the information on Abrams' conclusions into the text; this is more clearly covered in Mary-related sources, and reaches the same conclusions, without requiring the article to take a general stand on the usefulness of medical mj. Does that make sense? -- Khazar2 (talk) 16:39, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • I prefer it in the current section where it is now. I had previously experimented with it in different parts of the article and it works best here. As for the stand on the usefulness of medical cannabis, that is the current, established opinion of medical professionals, backed by solid studies, not the opinion of government bureaucrats. I think that is an important difference. I'm willing to work more on this with you, so please consider this an open task for the moment. Thanks for your patience. Viriditas (talk) 20:54, 6 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Looking at this again, I believe it is accurate and supported by the sources. Perhaps you didn't notice that the majority of sources about Brownie Mary's legal defense appeal to medical necessity, which in turn, appeals to "testimony in favor of using the illegal drug for medicine", testimony that was offered by medical practitioners among others. The difference here is that now there is newer evidence which goes far beyond testimony. The fact that Brownie Mary was one of the people who paved the way for this research is supported by Abrams and others. And while I will certainly look into adding additional source notes for clarity (even though they are already in the article) the only other objection you've raised is that the article lacks an opposing view. I think the three arrests, the quote by James O. Mason, and the bureaucratic red tape from NIDA clearly represent the opposing view, but I can certainly add more. Viriditas (talk) 10:03, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I would NOT include what she isn't since that would or could be a huge list. You maybe peeked my interest by saying that she was so often described as grandmotherly. That MIGHT be enough of a hook to include this material if put in that context, but I certainly need alot more conviencing. --Malerooster (talk) 02:08, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I would agree with you because that context is quite different than the one in use by the sources. "Grandmotherly" here does not literally refer to one who has grandchildren as Khazar2 reads it but rather to her relationship to strangers who she helps and her looks. For one example, on July 24, 1992, the Associated Press reported that lab worker Sidney Torres at SFGH commented that Brownie Mary was "...very much loved. She's like a surrogate grandmother for everyone. She's overwhelmingly caring." Torres was talking about how "Rathbun often distributes drug-free baked goods in the ward". So this is not a literal use of the term grandmother but rather a description of her actions. However, that is only one use by the sources. Another use is a description of her appearance. For only one example, NPR reported in 1992 that "With her gray hair and pink housecoat, she could be anyone's grandmother..." Viriditas (talk) 09:43, 15 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

2nd Opinion

  • The article still needs a final review; I think my comments above have mostly or all been addressed, but it wasn't a comprehensive list. I've pulled out at this point per WP:RGA: "A reviewer involved in a contentious discussion should consider withdrawing, so that a less-involved editor can make the final assessment and decision on the Good article criteria." I know Viriditas sharply disagreed with my decision to withdraw, but I think it's easier here to just get a final evaluation and up/down decision from an uninvolved editor. I realize it means a bit of delay, though, and I apologize for that. Thanks, -- Khazar2 (talk) 14:11, 26 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Comment: In this version of the article, note 7 seems to consist of two long quotations; other similarly long quotations occur in notes 44, 45 and (arguably) 20. Our essay on Copyrighted material and fair use (linked from our MOS:QUOTE guideline) points out that "... copied material should not comprise a substantial portion of the work being quoted, and a longer quotation should not be used where a shorter quotation would express the same information". Are these identified quotations too long? The same essay also states "The quotation must be useful and aid understanding of the subject; irrelevant quotations should be removed". These particular quotations occur in the notes section so there is an implication that they may be irrelevant to the subject of the article. Otherwise they would appear in the body. Right? --Senra (talk) 12:07, 2 February 2013 (UTC) Struck. Not part of GA criteria --Senra (talk) 18:22, 2 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Opinion by Senra

I am willing to finish this review. I like the article and was in the process of applying ((GAList2)) but during a more thorough read I found some issues as follows (NB Assuming good faith for all sources):

  • There's nothing wrong with the lead and there's nothing wrong with the title. Mary was not "known" as Brownie Mary. Her family, friends, acquaintances, and authorities all referred to her as "Mary". She was, however, "popularly known as Brownie Mary" in the media, so the statement is entirely accurate and there's nothing wrong with it. Further, there's no "puffery" or purple prose of any kind. The phrase is reflective of an established, encyclopedic style reflected by numerous articles (including FA's) and print sources. Your reason for removing the term or changing it isn't based on any known guideline or policy. Viriditas (talk) 07:11, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Pogash, 1992, p. 168: "Some called her the cookie lady. Some called her by her real name: Mary Rathbun. Mostly, people just called her Mary, although she also answered to the name Brownie Mary, left over from the days when she sold Alice B. Toklas Brownies to friends and finally, to an undercover cop." And, Associated Press, 1992b, p. B4: "Rathbun...was dubbed Brownie Mary after she was arrested in 1981 for selling marijuana brownies." She was dubbed "Brownie Mary" by the media, the popular media. Viriditas (talk) 06:31, 8 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • But, it doesn't imply that at all. Are you aware that cannabis was legal and widely prescribed for medicinal purposes before 1937? Are you also aware that the American Medical Association objected to the prohibition of cannabis in 1937? Can you explain how the article is "too biased in favour of cannabis"? As for this paragraph, I'm not seeing any problem, but I agree that it can be rewritten for clarity. Viriditas (talk) 22:25, 3 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • The statements were highly controversial in the context of the overall controversy, which the Associated Press (and many other sources) called a "controversy". I will attempt to clarify this. Viriditas (talk) 07:37, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Clarification: controversy is defined as "disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated." According to an Associated Press wire article, "The nation's Public Health Service has quietly made the controversial decision not to provide marijuana for medical purposes to any additional AIDS, cancer, glaucoma or other patients." (Spokane Chronicle, Mar 10, 1992). Although Mason gave many reasons for this decision (all of which have been debunked as anti-science nonsense), the controversial reason addressed at the protest (and in this article) is summarized by JAMA as "[the fear] that AIDS patients, crazed on marijuana, would be more likely to practise unsafe sex." (Cotton 1992) This statement was a new variation on the old American reefer madness propaganda. The ridiculous notion that people dying from AIDS were practicing unsafe sex due to marijuana was seen by health providrers and drug policy academics and activists as the height of ignorance and absurdity. The Washington Post framed these specific controversial comments as one that has "outraged AIDS activists". In response to these controversial comments, Peron said, "Let's get real - marijuana doesn't make you a sexual maniac...The guy is coming from a homophobic point of view. He's obviously never smoked [marijuana]". Rathbun also responded, calling "Mason's position cruel and politically motivated. Let him follow me around for two days as I visit my kids in the wards, and then see where he stands on this". Mason's arguments also led to an internal, inter-agency dispute, with members of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy calling Mason's threat to cut sick people off from marijuana unfair, immoral, and unjust. Dr. Mark Kleiman, an associate professor of public policy at Harvard University, called the Public Health Service position on the matter gibberish, misleading, unpersuasive, and one that "completely concede[s] the case" for access to medical cannabis. Now, if that isn't the very definition of controversy, then tell me what is. Viriditas (talk) 10:31, 5 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • It is not a cliche. I'll take another look at the wording later tonight but I'm not seeing a problem with this usage. Viriditas (talk) 00:43, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • All I was able to find out is that she was held in jail until the DA dropped the charges. There's a sordid, embarrassing backstory involving the police officer who arrested her that would detract from the subject of the biographical article, and quite possibly violate BLP, so I did not followup on that angle. I would be happy to add that she was held on charges until the DA dropped the case. Viriditas (talk) 07:32, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • It isn't odd. It's an introductory paragraph summarizing the arrests followed by subsequent paragraphs detailing the arrests. You may be confused because there are no subsections separating the descriptions, but those are not needed. I'll take another look. Viriditas (talk) 08:44, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Looking at this again, I've decided to move much of it into the legacy section. Viriditas (talk) 02:49, 9 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • I agree that the prose can be improved, but your objections make little to no sense. You say that one problem is that "the reader assumes she was claiming Social Security for much of her life". How could that be possible when you cannot claim SS until you've reached your retirement age? Therefore, there is no implication nor could there possibly be any implication that she was claiming Social Security for much of her life, nor can I quite figure out why you think that. Not only do your objections make no sense, they have nothing to do with this review nor this article. Viriditas (talk) 07:16, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Having looked into this again, I'm not seeing any contradiction. The sources say she worked as waitress for 50 years (likely for International House of Pancakes up until the early 1980s). However, she qualified for Social Security by late 1988 and was likely receiving it by that time. The New York Times reports in 1996, her "source of income is Social Security checks". Again, there is no contradiction between her working as a waitress until the late 1980s and receiving SS checks. Viriditas (talk) 06:10, 8 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • Please go beyond executive summaries. The evidence from the sources in question show that cannabis is useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases. In these particular sources from three years ago, the sources show that "cannabis was effective in reducing pain in HIV-related peripheral neuropathy...reduced spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis..were efficacious in reducing neuropathic pain of diverse causes" (neuropathic pain of different origins such as physical trauma to nerve bundles, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes)...and reduced carbon monoxide levels were obtained using the safer vaporization delivery system. Useful and effective for a variety of diseases. Viriditas (talk) 08:24, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

--Senra (talk) 18:22, 2 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

  • I am currently addressing these issues. Viriditas (talk) 18:43, 3 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • The relevant link is medical cannabis in the United States, which I agree should be added to the body of the article. "See also" sections aren't necessary or helpful, but I would be willing to add it as a placeholder to remind me to add the link. As for whether "other articles" discuss this subject, with all due respect, that's a poor argument. Most of the articles in this topic series are incomplete and hardly accurate. Viriditas (talk) 22:54, 3 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • You are correct about the stray dashes, so I removed them per your observation. However, the rest of the section is entirely consistent and follows the sources. At the beginning of the section we find Peron speaking to ACT UP in New York about cannabis. Later, we find Mary joining an ACT UP protest in DC, evidently run by their chapter. She did not attend ACT UP/DC, she attended the demonstration held by ACT UP/DC "to protest the U.S. government's policies concerning the medical uses of marijuana" and she joined the protesters (who distributed brownies in her honor to support her) and she joined the press conference where she spoke and was interviewed with the group. Viriditas (talk) 09:16, 5 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • There's no difference of opinion. You are simply and completely wrong. Feel free to pass or fail, IDGAF. Viriditas (talk) 07:59, 5 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  • And finally, this article supports what I've been saying. Just because the DEA pressured the FDA to place politics above science doesn't make this article biased. Scientific evidence takes precedence over political ideology. Viriditas (talk) 10:01, 10 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Result

GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria


This will be updated as issues above are resolved

  1. Is it reasonably well written?
    A. Prose quality:
    Not entirely concise; some grammar; inconsistently presented facts (e.g. Waitress/SS)
    B. MoS compliance for lead, layout, words to watch,fiction, and lists:
    Words to watch
  2. Is it factually accurate and verifiable?
    A. Has an appropriate reference section:
    AGF on sources (though have checked a few)
    B. Citation to reliable sources where necessary:
    Sources all look reliable; One dead link
    C. No original research:
    AGF on WP:OR but looks OK
  3. Is it broad in its coverage?
    A. Major aspects:
    Mainly covers her later life
    B. Focused:
    Fairly focused
  4. Is it neutral?
    Fair representation without bias:
    Concern over controversial and last sentence
  5. Is it stable?
    No edit wars, etc:
    No instability noted during the review
  6. Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
    A. Images are tagged with their copyright status, and valid fair use rationales are provided for non-free content:
    Only one image which is correctly licensed
    B. Images are provided if possible and are relevant to the topic, and have suitable captions:
    Weak but acceptable relevance
  7. Overall:
    Pass or Fail:

--Senra (talk) 03:43, 4 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

The review seems to have stalled, and it looks like everything actionable has been addressed, so I'm closing. Wizardman 05:13, 10 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]