Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2008
Source: Ventura County Star (CA)
Copyright: 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact:  http://www.venturacountystar.com/
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n445/a01.html
Author: Ralph Givens

MEDDLING DRUG WARRIORS

Re: your April 30 editorial, "Pot costs man shot at a liver":

The treatment of patients like Timothy Garon, who was denied a 
transplant because of his marijuana use, shows how perverted American 
drug policy really is. The drug warriors have been meddling with 
medical practice for more than 90 years, to the detriment of patient care.

Before the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care 
Organizations issued standards for hospital care requiring maximum 
pain relief, the Drug Enforcement Administration had no compunction 
about interfering with pain relief. Patients were routinely denied 
adequate morphine because of drug warriors who never attended a day 
of medical school. Every hospital must meet JCAHCO's standard to 
operate legally, so the drug prohibitionists are no longer allowed to meddle.

Unfortunately, drug laws based on lies are used to deny all sorts of 
medical care to people.

It's long past time to end a drug crusade that has failed for 94 
straight years.

- -- Ralph Givens, Daly City
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom