Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2007
Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Copyright: 2007 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact: http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp
Website: http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

LET DOCTORS, PATIENTS DECIDE ON MARIJUANA

While there have been studies showing that marijuana can shrink 
cancerous tumors, medical marijuana is essentially a palliative drug. 
If a doctor recommends marijuana to cancer patients undergoing 
chemotherapy and it helps them feel better, then it's working. In the 
end, medical marijuana is a quality of life issue best left to 
patients and their doctors.

Federal bureaucrats waging war on noncorporate drugs contend that 
organic marijuana is not an effective health intervention. The 
federal government's prescribed intervention for medical marijuana 
patients is handcuffs, jail cells and criminal records. This 
heavy-handed approach suggests that drug warriors are not well-suited 
to dictate health care decisions.

It's long past time that Congress showed some leadership on the issue 
and passed legislation reaffirming the Constitution's 10th Amendment 
guarantee of states' rights. States that prefer to cage sick patients 
for daring to feel better can continue to do so. The more enlightened 
states that have passed compassionate-use legislation should not be 
stymied by a federal government that really should have better things to do.

ROBERT SHARPE

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Arlington, Va. 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman