Pubdate: Sun, 31 May 2009
Source: Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH)
Copyright: 2009 Telegraph Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.nashuatelegraph.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/885
Author: Jonathan Perri

GOVERNOR SHOULD SIGN MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

The bill that would allow sick New Hampshire residents  to use 
medical marijuana with a doctor's approval has  passed both the House 
and Senate and is overwhelmingly  supported by New Hampshire residents.

Unfortunately, misinformation from Attorney General  Kelly Ayotte may 
lead Gov. John Lynch to veto the bill.

It is sad that Ayotte would spread falsehoods about  medical 
marijuana to New Hampshire residents and the  governor. Claiming that 
"the use of smoked marijuana is  opposed by all credible medical 
groups nationwide,"  Ayotte is either telling a bold-faced lie or has 
crafted her opinion on the issue without doing any  research.

If she had, she would easily have found many  organizations such as 
the American Academy of  Physicians, the American Nurses Association 
and the  American Public Health Association support medical  marijuana.

Ayotte also states that marijuana is a gateway drug,  yet gives no 
sources for this claim, probably because  no study has ever supported 
that marijuana is a gateway  drug.

Thirteen states have already passed legislation  allowing sick 
residents to use medical marijuana. The  sky has not fallen, and all 
of the states have either  kept their law in place or expanded it 
after evaluating  its success. Rhode Island is a perfect example.

These laws are put in place to ensure that only the  sickest people 
have access to marijuana and that they  can use it without fear of 
arrest or imprisonment --  freeing up New Hampshire police resources 
for serious  crimes.

An attorney general that uses false information to make  her point is 
a dangerous one for any issue, especially  one that deals with the 
well being of sick New  Hampshire residents suffering from cancer, 
multiple  sclerosis and HIV/AIDS.

If Lynch wants information about the validity of this  medical 
marijuana bill, he should contact health  experts such as the 
American Nurses Association and not  rely on misinformation.

Jonathan Perri

Outreach Director

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

San Francisco, Calif.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author is an alumnus of Franklin  Pierce 
University in Rindge.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom