Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jun 2004 Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO) Copyright: 2004 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165 Author: Robert Melamede Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) AMENDMENT COULD ENABLE PATIENTS TO AVOID OPIATES The continuing arrests of sick Americans for their doctor-recommended medicinal use of cannabis is proof of governmental incompetence. Peer-reviewed modern biomedical research clearly demonstrates the pain relieving and immune modulating properties of marijuana. Governmental policies that ignore science are particularly tragic today when wounded soldiers are forced to use unnecessarily large amounts of addicting opiates when they would be healthier using low levels of marijuana's active ingredients and low levels of opiates. Why do our local congressmen ignore these facts and support federal terrorism against Coloradans by voting against the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment? Dr. Robert Melamede Associate professor and biology chairman University of Colorado Colorado Springs - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake