Pubdate: Fri, 25 Apr 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n343/a02.html

LET DOCTORS DECIDE

Regarding Douglas MacKinnon's April 18 op-ed ("Medical pot push 
driven by profit," Metro): Although there have been studies showing 
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 them feel better, 
then it's working. This is a quality-of-life decision best left to 
patients and their doctors.

Drug warriors waging war on noncorporate 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

ARLINGTON, VA.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom