Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2008
Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW)
Website: http://www.drugsense.org

LETTER OF THE WEEK

MANY SUPPORT MEDICAL POT

By Bruce Dunn

On  June  30,  there  was  a letter from Dr. Nicholas Pace of New York
University  expressing  concern  about young people thinking marijuana
harmless  if  a  medical  marijuana bill is enacted. Doctors prescribe
methamphetamine,  cocaine  and  morphine.  Do  teens think those drugs
are harmless?

Moreover,  a  study  by Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D, associate professor of
psychology  at  the  State  University  at Albany, and others reviewed
all  public  data  about  teen  use  of marijuana before and after the
enactment  of  the  medical marijuana law in 10 states. In every state
there  was  a  decrease,  more  than  50  percent  in  some  cases, in
youthful use after implementation of the law.

Pace  says  academic  medicine  does  not  support  the medical use of
marijuana.  Recently  the  student  section  of  the  American Medical
Association  voiced  its support, and they are the future of medicine.
Before  that,  the  American  College  of Physicians expressed support
and  suggested  the  drug  be  rescheduled  so  it  can be prescribed.

Other support comes from:

* The Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences report,
1999:  "Nausea,  appetite  loss,  pain  and  anxiety...  all  can  be
mitigated by marijuana";

* American Nurses Association, 2003: "Marijuana/cannabis has a wide
margin  of  safety  for  use  under  prescribed  supervision,  and  is
effective for numerous conditions";

* Dr. Joycelyn Elders, former U.S. Surgeon General, 2004: "The
evidence  is  overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of
pain,  nausea,  vomiting  and  other symptoms caused by illnesses like
multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS _ or by the harsh drugs
sometimes used to treat them"; and

* DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Francis Young, 1988:
"Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest,
therapeutically  active  substances  known.  It would be unreasonable,
arbitrary,  and  capricious  for  the DEA to continue to stand between
those sufferers and the benefits of this substance."

Bruce Dunn

Morris

Pubdate: Tue, 8 Jul 2008

Source: Daily Star, The (NY)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n000/a049.html 
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