Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jun 2005
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2005 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs
Author:  Russ Lane
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Raich (Raich v Gonzales)

STATES RIGHTS

Local Comment

Neither North Carolina nor South Carolina is among the 10 states with 
medicinal marijuana legislation, in which a doctor's recommendation allows 
those with serious illness to use the otherwise illegal substance.

Dr. John Charles, medical director of the Grand Strand Regional Medical 
Center, said he considers the ruling to be more a comment on states rights 
than about marijuana's medicinal purposes.

"Most of the reasons for medicinal marijuana use is largely anecdotal," he 
said. "It's the case of 'nothing else worked so let's try this.' And it 
worked."

Charles cited major illnesses as diseases in which the drug has had an 
effect in some patients.

"It does remain sort of a drug of last resort," Charles said.
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