Pubdate: Mon, 24 Apr 2006
Source: Los Angeles Daily News (CA)
Copyright: 2006 Los Angeles Daily News
Contact: http://www.dailynews.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.DailyNews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/246
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Food+and+Drug+Administration

SEE NO EVIL

Regulators at the Food and Drug Administration last week decreed that
there were no sound scientific studies supporting the use of medical
marijuana.

But in its zeal to quash the legalization of medical marijuana, the
FDA ignored a 1999 Institute of Medicine study that found pot eases
pain and suffering for seriously ill people.

And if there aren't any medical studies large enough to satisfy the
FDA, there's a very good reason: The federal government won't allow
any serious inquiry into the medical benefits of marijuana.

Apparently, to concede some benefit of marijuana to terminally
chronically ill patients is to encourage widespread reefer madness
among the masses.

If the FDA wants to stand its ground on marijuana, that's one thing.
But regulators shouldn't deceive the public by implying its decision
is based on scientific fact. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake