Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n505/a08.html POLITICIANS, STAY OUT OF PERSONAL HEALTHCARE CHOICE Regarding the June 10 editorial, "Once legal, medical pot can be limited": 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 them feel better, then it's working. 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. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz falls into this category. She is opposing medical marijuana in Florida and is not advocating for marijuana decriminalization. Politicians have no business dictating personal healthcare decisions. It's time to let doctors decide what is right for their patients. Sick patients should not be arrested for daring to seek relief from marijuana. Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom