Pubdate: Mon, 12 Apr 1999
Source: Kalamazoo Gazette (MI)
Copyright: 1999 Kalamazoo Gazette
Contact:  401 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI. 49007
Fax: (616) 388-8447
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Author: Mike Dooley

WHY CAN'T WE VOTE ON MARIJUANA USE?

I want to thank the Kalamazoo Gazette staff for the courageous stance
in the March 22 editorial on making marijuana available to those who
would benefit from its use.

On March 17 drug czar Gen. McCaffrey released his 18-month study on
how marijuana can relieve people in pain, relieve nauseous effects of
chemotherapy and severe weight loss associated with AIDS. It was shown
to help control muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis patients.

Like all before him the general said we need more studies. Last year
McCaffrey said medical use of marijuana was a "Hoax".

Why after 62 years of this prohibition, are the people not allowed to
vote on the matter? When states do vote for medical use, the federal
government threatens to arrest the sick and any doctors who advised
them.

Maybe soon we will have change. A judge in Philadelphia is hearing a
class action lawsuit brought by 165 people who say they need
marijuana. The judge wants to know why President Bush stopped the
study in the early 1990s and why no follow up studies have taken place
on eight patients who have been getting the herb for 20 years from the
federal government. See www. fairlaw.org

Mike Dooley
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