Pubdate: Sat, 23 Nov 2002
Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Press Democrat
Contact:  http://www.pressdemo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2055/a05.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEDICAL POT

Inhumanity Of Federal Policy Prompts Local Cities' Response

Jay Stromgren, banker and volunteer, ranked among Santa Rosa's most admired 
citizens. He was the soft-spoken, straight-arrow, conservative banker who 
spent his spare time working on behalf of the homeless, the poor and 
families in distress.

In 1998, when he was dying of pancreatic cancer, Santa Rosans read about 
his generosity and about his courage, and they prayed for him. During those 
difficult months of treatment when the former college quarterback lost most 
than 60 pounds, Stromgren was taking marijuana to relieve pain and nausea 
for the simple reason that nothing else worked. "I was totally amazed at 
the benefits," his widow, Santa Rosa City Councilwoman Sharon Wright told 
Staff Writer Paul Payne the other day. Six years after passage of 
Proposition 215 and four years after Jay Stromgren's death at age 57, 
Californians are still thwarted in their efforts to provide relief to 
people who -- in the judgment of a physician -- could be helped by medical 
marijuana.

The federal government continues to pursue a cruel and narrow-minded policy 
that seeks to punish anyone who would help the sick. This week, the 
Sebastopol City Council voted to criticize the federal government's 
inflexibility and to invite the local police department to refuse to 
cooperate with federal agents pursuing physicians and pot clubs. In two 
weeks, the Santa Rosa City Council will consider a similar resolution -- 
though one that steers clear of asking local police to refuse to cooperate 
with federal investigators.

In matters of politics, the city councils of these two cities find many 
reasons to disagree, but what they have found here is a matter of 
conscience that transcends politics.

People shouldn't have to suffer because Congress lacks the courage to make 
a humane exception to the laws prohibiting marijuana use.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D