Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jun 1998
Source: Calgary Herald (Canada) 
Contact:  
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ 

CANNABIS FOR THE PAIN

Re: Marijuana advocate convicted. Calgary Herald, June 17. 

Cannabis is a safe and effective medicine. Many chemo therapy patients use
it to reduce nausea and vomiting and many AIDS patients use it to increase
their appetite. Marijuana has been a part of mainstream North America for
over 30 years. For a large part of society it is widely accepted.

The journal Pharmacological Reviews states after decades of research that
compared with legal drugs, marijuana does not pose greater risks.
Prescription drugs defined as safe by the FDA kill up to 27,000 Americans a
year. Aspirin has killed 1,000 people. Cannabis kill zero people a year.

Using marijuana for medical reasons can be argued back and forth by experts
as well as users. I'm not saying Krieger should be giving it out on the
steps of the court house. What I'm saying is if it makes a person feel
better, and it lessens their pain, why wouldn't you smoke it?

Melanie E. Trigger
Calgary

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Checked-by: Melodi Cornett