Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 Source: Press & Sun Bulletin (NY) Copyright: 2005 Press & Sun Bulletin Contact: http://www.pressconnects.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/878 Author: Christina Hobbs Cited: Gonzales v. Raich ( www.angeljustice.org/ ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) MEDICAL MARIJUANA OK The prosecution of people who smoke marijuana because of a doctor's recommendation, as ruled by the Supreme Count on June 2, is ridiculous. Our representatives need to examine the facts and effects of marijuana for medical use. Patients use marijuana to treat symptoms associated with arthritis, multiple sclerosis and migraine. It is also useful for reducing nausea associated with chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer, wasting in AIDS patients, glaucoma, and nausea associated with medications used to treat AIDS. How can something that's natural be overridden by the use of morphine, quaaludes and other drugs required to alleviate the pain? I don't think smoking marijuana should be legal, but for someone with a terminal illness, if it enhances the quality of life and can provide relief when nothing else can, how do we have the right to take that from them? Christina Hobbs Owego - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin