Pubdate: Mon, 18 Mar 2002
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Wayne Phillips
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n444/a06.html
Note: Parenthetical remark provided by the Sun editor; headline provided by 
Newshawk

SAFER THAN ASPIRIN

RE "MARIJUANA not okay: CMA boss," (March 12): Cannabis is often cited as 
being comparable to tobacco, with the damage caused by smoking tobacco 
given as a reason to prohibit use of cannabis. Lung damage concerns 
associated with the use of medical cannabis, have as their basis a moralist 
stance rather then a scientific one.

Cannabis, in fact, is safer than aspirin. Considering the anti-cannabis 
bias -- i.e. "Reefer BADNESS" -- to be found at the Physicians for a 
Smoke-Free Canada website, it is no wonder cannabis is never requested by 
dying patients in Henry Haddad's home town of Sherbrooke.

Statements such as "the demand for medical cannabis to help dying patients 
reflects the poor job Canada does providing palliative care," are merely a 
glimpse into the bigotry Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada willingly 
proliferate in order to forward its contribution to the pogrom against 
cannabis and the users thereof.

Wayne Phillips,

Hamilton

(You're conflating two different organizations, both of which back their 
arguments with facts, not badmouthing)
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel