Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jun 2001
Source: Daily News of Los Angeles (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Daily News of Los Angeles
Contact: http://www.DailyNews.com/contact/letters.asp
Website: http://www.DailyNews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/246
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

AMA REJECTS ENDORSEMENT OF MARIJUANA

CHICAGO -- A proposal to endorse the limited use of medical marijuana 
for seriously ill patients was rejected at the American Medical 
Association's annual meeting.

A committee voted against the proposal Monday and the AMA House of 
Delegates voted Tuesday for a revised policy that does not support 
medical marijuana use.

Under the new policy, adopted without debate, the AMA endorses "the 
free and unfettered exchange of information on treatment 
alternatives."

The previous policy simply endorsed additional research into its 
effectiveness and safety of marijuana for medical use.

The proposal to support some medical use of marijuana was put forth 
by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs. "This report is about the 
relief of suffering; it's not about getting high," Dr. Melvin 
Sterling, a member of the council from Orange, Calif., told a 
committee Monday.

But others testified they were concerned that AMA endorsement could 
lead to more widespread medical use of marijuana than intended by the 
Council on Scientific Affairs.
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe