Pubdate: Mon, 16 Jun 2003
Source: Tahoe Daily Tribune (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
Copyright: 2003 Tahoe Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/443
Author: Matthew Hulett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Note: More news items about this will be posted, as soon as they are 
available, here: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ed+Rosenthal

FAY'S REACTION A SIGNPOST FOR SANER DRUG POLICIES?

Tribune:

So, Calvina Fay is outraged? That's a good thing. Why? Because when she 
says she supports a sound drug policy, she forgets to mention that every 
major drug policy study ever done recommends decriminalization of marijuana 
possession, many outright legalization. That would be 25 reports done over 
the past century. Recommendation No. 6 of the Institute of Medicine Report 
on Medical Marijuana recommended allowing medical access to marijuana on a 
limited basis. They did not say what the sick and dying should do after six 
months if their symptoms continued, other reports predating the IOM Report 
recommended allowing access to medical marijuana and to treat it like any 
other drug.

Hence, when zero tolerance folks like Ms. Fay are outraged, that is almost 
a signpost for saner drug policies coming ahead. Since our federal 
government mails out 300 joints per month to seven surviving patients in 
the Investigational New Drug Compassionate Use Program yet no one else is 
so blessed, Ed Rosenthal was filling in the gap serving as a reliable 
supply of medical cannabis and starter plants for those entitled to use 
medical marijuana under Proposition 215.

Ed Rosenthal served the sick and dying, while Ms. Fay touts drug policies 
that harm decent folk while failing to discourage youth illicit drugs use. 
Better to be called a drug kingpin by a woman who has probably never read 
one major drug policy work in her life, than to truly be a witch hunter.

Matthew Hulett

Brick, N.J.
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