Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jun 2015
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2015 Star Tribune
Contact:  http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n307/a06.html

SUCH RESISTANCE CANNOT BE THE PRODUCT OF CLEAR THINKING

Regarding Ed Gogek's June 8 commentary "Why docs don't favor medical 
pot": 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, it's working. 
Medical marijuana 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.

Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Va.

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