Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005
Source: High Point Enterprise (NC)
Copyright: 2005 High Point Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.hpe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/576
Author: Robert Gregg
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1134.a04.html

MEDICINAL MARIJUANA ISN'T JUST AN EXCUSE FOR HIPPIES TO GET HIGH

Evidently, Steve Bryant (July 17, "Dealers come dressed to kill") has
missed the connection. Drugs are now illegal and yet the youth he
mentions has died from a drug overdose. The state of current law did
not prevent tragedy.

If drugs were legal there would be no one trying to sell drugs (candy)
to kids, just as is the case with state regulated drugs. As for the
hippies and their pleas for medical marijuana, may I refer you to
Montel Williams, an ex-naval officer who suffers from MS and only
finds relief with medical marijuana.

If Bryant has an open mind, he could refer to the Chronic Pain studies
of Dr. Ethan Russo. Dr. Russo of the University of Montana also does
research for a company called GW Pharmaceuticals in England. They
recently introduced in Canada a medicine called Sativex which contains
all the constituents of marijuana and is marketed by Bayer (as in aspirin).

He could also investigate the works of Dr. Lester Grinspoon at Harvard
Medical School, or the work being done in many countries all over the
world. In my case, medical marijuana enabled me to live a more normal
life after suffering brain seizures. The prescriptions left me
debilitated with the side effects. Marijuana released me from that
hell with no side effects.

Robert Gregg
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin