Pubdate: Mon, 20 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:  William Trollinger

PUBLIC'S WILL IGNORED ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Clarence Page argued that the public needs to make itself heard on the
medical cannabis situation ("Supreme Court overreaches with medical
marijuana ruling," Opinion Commentary, June 10).

But the public has made itself heard - some surveys have found that 80
percent of the public believes using cannabis for medicinal purposes
should be legal.

The problem is that federal officials - elected and unelected - aren't
listening. And unfortunately, there are so many issues on the table
that no elected official is likely to lose an election based on this
one small issue. Also, most people aren't directly affected by this
issue, and it does not have the visceral appeal of abortion or gay
marriage.

But considering the absolutely slavish devotion to polls practiced by
most of Washington's power elite, it's difficult to imagine another
issue on which public opinion is so lopsided that isn't being addressed.

Obviously, some very powerful special interests are at
work.

William Trollinger
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin