Pubdate: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 Source: Bay City Times, The (MI) Copyright: 2004 The Bay City Times Contact: http://www.bc-times.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1453 Author: Gary Storck Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1213/a04.html MEDICAL MARIJUANA While it may be true the media has given short shrift to the City of Detroit's recent passage of a municipal medicinal marijuana ordinance, it has not gone unnoticed, (Our View, Aug. 24). Medical marijuana supporters here in Madison, Wis., were watching closely and were elated at the results. Madison voters passed a similar law here back in April 1977. While Detroit's law may only apply at the city level, like Madison's, its passage gives hope to patients who can benefit from medical marijuana, whether they live in Detroit or not. Passage of the Detroit law sends a strong message to spineless lawmakers at the state and federal levels who are fully aware of the value of medical marijuana to patients and their families, yet refuse to act, for political reasons. Withholding medicine from the sick by force is not only cruel, but also un-American. It's time this issue is settled at the national level so patients are no longer forced to choose between protecting their health or breaking the law. Gary Storck, Madison, Wis. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake