Pubdate: Fri, 02 Apr 2004
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Richard Cowan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Richard+Cowan

WE AGREE CANNABIS IS MEDICINAL, WE ARGUE OVER WHO WILL DOLE IT OUT

Susan Martinuk's column about medical cannabis proves only that one
should not rely on prohibitionists for accurate information.

Martinuk says the British Medical Journal stated cannabis is no more
effective in treating pain than traditional painkillers and, when used
to treat nausea and vomiting, the side effects outweigh the benefits.
I doubt whether she has read the BMJ article. I have.

None of the studies reviewed by the Journal article involved the use
of whole cannabis, just isolated synthetic cannabinoids. Most patients
do not like synthetic THC and prefer whole cannabis.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not reject legalizing medical marijuana
because of a lack of demonstrable benefits.

The U.S. Congress made a political decision and the U.S. Supreme Court
could not override it because it was not clearly unconstitutional. It
did not rule on the medical merits of cannabis.

What would Martinuk have people do? Buy cannabis on the
street?

Richard Cowan,

MarijuanaNews.com, Vancouver 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake