Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2007
Source: Rockford Register Star (IL)
Copyright: 2007 Rockford Register Star
Contact: http://www.rrstar.com/ezaccess/contactus/lettertotheeditor.shtml
Website: http://www.rrstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/370
Author: Aaron Chambers, Register Star Springfield Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ROCKFORD PASTOR SUPPORTS USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

SPRINGFIELD -- During his 30 years as a Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. 
Bob Hillenbrand said, he encountered a number of folks whose 
treatment could have been enhanced by medical marijuana.

Hillenbrand, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Rockford, 
recently joined an effort to allow those with debilitating medical 
conditions to legally possess the drug in Illinois.

"I think there's a lot of ignorance about this," he said Monday. "I'm 
certainly not an expert myself, but I have heard quite a number of 
doctors say -- and I happen to agree with them -- that treatment like 
this might very well be in order."

Legislation to legalize medical marijuana is pending before the 
Illinois Senate. Even if Illinois policymakers approve the measure, 
the federal government insists marijuana -- even for medical 
treatment -- is illegal.

"I think that medical treatments need to be determined by scientific 
evidence and by the doctor/patient relationship, not by somebody's 
fear of prejudice outside that relationship," Hillenbrand said.

He said he made a few phone calls to help mobilize other clergy 
behind the legislation, but he declined to identify them.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman