Pot times July 16, 2005
Allow Medical Marijuana Use
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1123/a02.htmlNewshawk: Humphrey Ploughjogger http://www.MassCann.org
Pubdate: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE
Source: Lowell Sun (MA)
Copyright: 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact:
letters@lowellsun.com
Website: http://www.lowellsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/852
Author: Stephen Heath
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1092.a02.html
Dr. Phaneuf objects to the use of marijuana as medicine and cites her
beliefs about the potential risks of using marijuana in general. However,
she fails to inform readers that increasing numbers of legal medical marijuana
patients in the 11 states which permit legal access have abandoned
"smoked" marijuana in preference to safer delivery systems.
These include consuming their medicine in food products, using a vaporizer (
which removes carcinogens produced by smoke ) or applying tinctures.
It's important to agree that all medicines have side effects, including
marijuana. However, marijuana is never lethal like many heavy duty and
often addictive FDA-approved drugs.
Dr. Phaneuf also ignores the most pertinent question related to the
discussion of medical marijuana. That is, should a medical patient who
elects to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation be subject to federal
arrest, prosecution and a mandatory sentence to a federal prison cage? The ruse
being exploited by zealous prohibitionists is that a prison cage and a lifetime
criminal record are a practical response to otherwise law-abiding Americans who
elect to medicate with drugs other than those approved by the feds.
Stephen Heath
