Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jun 2005 Source: Baltimore Sun (MD) Copyright: 2005 The Baltimore Sun, a Times Mirror Newspaper. Contact: http://www.baltimoresun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37 Author: Bruce Mirken Cited: Drug Enforcement Administration ( www.dea.gov ) Cited: Ashcroft v. Raich ( www.angeljustice.org/ ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n860.a11.html DEA BLOWS SMOKE AT MEDICAL MARIJUANA Bill Weinman of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration calls medical marijuana "a scam" because "you don't smoke your medicine" ("High Court to examine medical marijuana," May 29). He'll be relieved to know that medical marijuana need not be smoked. Medical marijuana can be eaten or made into various sorts of teas and tinctures, and some patients prefer to use it that way. For those who need the fast action and precise dose control of inhalation, simple devices called vaporizers make this possible without the noxious contaminants in smoke. Smoking is not the issue, and it never has been. Bruce Mirken Washington The writer is director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin