Pubdate: Fri, 23 Mar 2012
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2012 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Robert Sharpe

GOVERNOR O'MALLEY SHOULD SIGN MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Gov. Martin O'Malleyneeds to do the right thing and sign medical 
marijuana legislation if it makes it to his desk ("Patients urge OK 
of medical marijuana," March 10).

While there have been studies showing that marijuana can shrink 
cancerous tumors, medical marijuana is essentially a palliative drug. 
If a doctor recommends marijuana to a cancer patient undergoing 
chemotherapy and it helps the patient feel better, then it's working. 
In the end, medical marijuana is a quality of life decision best left 
to patients and their doctors.

Drug warriors waging war on non-corporate drugs contend that organic 
marijuana is not an effective health intervention. Their prescribed 
intervention for medical marijuana patients is handcuffs, jail cells 
and criminal records.

This heavy-handed approach suggests that drug warriors should not be 
dictating health care decisions. It's long past time to let doctors 
decide what is right for their patients; sick patients should not be 
jailed for daring to seek relief from marijuana.

Robert Sharpe, Lancaster, Pa.

The writer is a policy analyst for the advocacy group Common Sense 
for Drug Policy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom