Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ) Copyright: 2005 East Valley Tribune. Contact: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708 Author: Kirk Muse DRUG FIRMS WON'T ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA I'm writing about Bruce Mirken's thoughtful letter: "Congress can change marijuana law" (Thursday). Yes, congress can change the law regarding medical marijuana. But will they? No. The prime beneficiary of Monday's Supreme Court ruling is the U. S. pharmaceutical industry. The U. S. pharmaceutical industry doesn't want an easy-to-grow herb replacing their very expensive, patented medications. The U. S. pharmaceutical industry is America's most profitable industry, and they want to keep it that way. Why do Americans pay more than any anybody else on the planet for prescription medications? Primarily because of the "favors" granted by the U. S. Congress. And the U. S. pharmaceutical industry essentially "owns" the U. S. Congress. (See the web site: www.saynotodrugs.org). Follow the money and you will know how and why. Kirk Muse Mesa - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin