Pubdate: Wed, 15 Mar 2006
Source: Mountain Xpress (Ashville, NC)
Copyright: 2006 Mountain Xpress
Contact:  http://www.mountainx.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/941
Author: Bob Niewoehner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MAKING SENSE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

As a recent Madison County resident and an active and long-time 
proponent for the use of medical marijuana, I would love to share a 
little something with your fine readers. The National Organization 
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws' Web site recently reported on a 
comprehensive review published in the October 2005 issue of the 
scientific journal, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry. That review 
concludes that: "Cannabinoids possess ... anticancer activity [and 
may] possibly represent a new class of anti-cancer drugs that retard 
cancer growth, inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood 
vessels) and the metastatic spreading of cancer cells."

Is it not amazing how scientific research continues to show us all, 
almost at a weekly pace, something new and potentially therapeutic 
about the cannabis plant? If a medical or biomedical explorer emerged 
from the jungle today with a plant that has numerous therapeutic 
benefits, is nontoxic, is an excellent source of fiber, fuel and 
fabric, and could possibly help cancer patients, that person and 
plant would be cheered around the world.

Sadly, and with high irony, that plant does exist in our lives. It is 
called cannabis, and processing it in most of America will be met by 
fierce governmental opposition and intervention -- not reward or recognition.

In 1994, in Farmington, N.M, I lost my mother to breast cancer. I 
hope anyone who reads this never has to go through that ordeal, 
especially when there may be something that will help but is made 
unavailable. Please do what needs to be done to get the legislation 
passed to legalize medical marijuana, for God's sake. Have your 
lawmakers take a step in the right direction for a change. You can 
read the full report and citations on line at: www.norml.org/ 
index.cfm?Group-ID=6814.

- -- Bob Niewoehner

Wilton Beach Cay, Belize
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman