Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Kamloops Daily News Contact: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679 Author: Russell Barth Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n705/a10.html?1251 USE OF TERM 'DOPE' DEROGATORY Re: Medical User Won't Get His Dope Back., The Daily News, July 14. Two things: One, the use of the term "dope." It is a derogatory term for marijuana, implying that the user is "dopey" as in the mentally-challenged Disney character. Please refrain from using it, as we Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana Users find it offensive. We are not stupid for using marijuana, nor does the use of marijuana make people stupid. Further, it is no longer necessary to use quotes around the words medicine, medicinal, or medical when discussing medical marijuana. It IS medicine, and you need not undermine the value of the word by putting quotes around it, as this fosters tacit discrimination against the substance and its users. It suggests that users are merely pretending to use it as medicine. Please refrain from using these "journalistic" tools to undermine the rights and public image of licensed marijuana users. RUSSELL BARTH Nepean, Ont. (Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana User) - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart