Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2007
Source: Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL)
Copyright: 2007 Southern Illinoisan
Contact:  http://www.TheSouthern.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1430
Author: Codell Rodriguez
Cited: "Waiting to Inhale" http://www.waitingtoinhale.org/

DOCUMENTARY TO EDUCATE ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

CARBONDALE - If there's one thing Jed Riffe can't  stand, it's the
media's handling of the subject of  medicinal marijuana.

Riffe said the subject he takes very seriously is  treated as
tongue-in-cheek with many news outlets.  Because he didn't see anyone
else taking it seriously,  Riffe made a documentary on the subject.

"Waiting to Inhale" will screen at 7 p.m. Thursday in  the Southern
Illinois University Carbondale Student  Center.

The film follows patients who use marijuana to help  with their
illness and parents who have lost their  children to addiction. Riffe
said it was important to  show both sides of the argument because it
makes a  better film and richer learning experience.

"In terms of film storytelling, you need drama and  conflict. And, out
of drama and conflict, we can  learn," Riffe said.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion with  Riffe;
Christopher Fichtner, former director of mental  health with the
Illinois Department of Human Services  and associate professor of
clinical psychiatry at  University of Chicago; and Gretchen Steele, a
registered nurse, multiple sclerosis patient and  medical marijuana
advocate from Coulterville.

"The film's a good way of getting a discussion going,"  said Dan
Bernath, assistant director of communications  for the Marijuana
Policy Project.

As a former member of an AIDS foundation, Riffe said he  has seen how
it can tone down the pain people with  serious illness must deal with.
He said the film looks  at this seriously and the patients are not
using the  marijuana for recreation.

"A couple of the people don't like to get high, so it  was an
unpleasant side effect," Riffe said.

Bernath said people should see the film to get a better  understanding
of the issue.

"I'm not sure people understand how urgent this is,"  Bernath said.
"There are real people suffering right  now and we can alleviate that
suffering by legalizing  medical marijuana."
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MAP posted-by: Derek