Pubdate: Mon, 04 May 2009
Source: Scranton Times (PA)
Copyright: 2009 The ScrantonTimes/Shamrock Communications
Contact:  http://www.scrantontimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1182
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

PRESCRIBED POT GOOD MEDICINE

State Rep. Mark Cohen identified the principal obstacle  to passage 
of his bill to legalize medical marijuana,  when he announced the 
effort last week.

The problem is broad public identification of the drug  with its 
illegal use rather than with its potential as  a legitimate 
therapeutic drug for people suffering from  several types of cancer, 
Crohn's disease, multiple  sclerosis and glaucoma.

If marijuana wasn't called marijuana, but was  introduced anew as an 
inexpensive pain reliever or  appetite stimulant that is effective 
under medical  supervision and less addictive than many other 
prescription drugs, it easily would be included among  the roster of 
regularly prescribed drugs.

Already, 13 other state governments don't care that the  drug is 
called marijuana; they have approved it for  regulated medicinal use.

A great many Pennsylvanians share that view. Mr. Cohen  cited an 
independent Franklin & Marshall College poll  of the 2006 Senate race 
between Sen. Bob Casey and  then-Sen. Rick Santorum, which asked 
about medical  marijuana, among other issues. It found that 76 
percent favored state-regulated use of marijuana as 
prescribed  medicine, while only 20 percent opposed it.

Mr. Cohen's bill, unfortunately, was treated in  Harrisburg as 
something of a curiosity, but it should  be treated as serious 
medicine in behalf of patients  who could benefit from its legitimate use.

New York and New Jersey also are considering regulated  legal use of 
medicinal pot. Pennsylvania should approve  it.
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