Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jul 2011
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2011 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298

SENSIBLE AND HUMANE

There is no good reason to deprive patients with cancer or H.I.V. or
Lou Gehrig's disease of the relief from pain or extreme nausea that
could come from using marijuana.

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who once opposed his state's
medical marijuana law, has changed his mind, deciding earlier this
month to allow six alternative treatment centers to begin dispensing
the drug to those in need, possibly by early next year. Gov. Andrew
Cuomo of New York needs to change his mind as well.

Governor Cuomo said during his 2010 campaign that he opposed
legalization of medical marijuana. Recently, he said he was still
opposed but that he was "reviewing" the issue and "we're always
learning and listening, talking and growing. We hope." It shouldn't
take much more personal growth to make the right call.

Governor Cuomo should ask Governor Christie about how he resolved his
own doubts. Mr. Christie could explain how his law is the nation's
most restrictive and how the federal Justice Department has indicated
that its agents will rightly direct their energies in New Jersey to go
after big-time marijuana traffickers, not doctors or alternative
centers helping the desperately ill.

Under New Jersey's law, doctors can recommend that a patient suffering
from a specific disease or condition use marijuana of limited
strength. Patients cannot grow their own, and they can only purchase 2
ounces every 30 days. Physicians must register to recommend the
marijuana use, and patients and caregivers must undergo background
checks to get ID cards.

Mr. Cuomo should champion a similar and humane system and ensure that
New York's residents coping with illness have the same chance at relief. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.