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PUBLIC SUPPORTS MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

A new poll taken in Maryland Jan.  9-12 underlines what many of us knew already: The public supports the right of patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, and legislators can act to protect patients without risking trouble at election time.

The poll, conducted by Gonzales/Arscott Research and Communications, found that 37 percent of Maryland voters would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports protecting medical marijuana patients while only 18 percent would be less likely to support such a candidate.  Forty percent said a candidate's position on the issue would have no effect.  Men, women, whites, blacks, Democrats, Republicans and independents all said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports protecting medical marijuana patients.

This jibes with everything we know about voter sentiment on medical marijuana.  In every state where protection for patients has been on the ballot, it has passed by a large margin.  Local, state and national polls have consistently shown strong public support.

Maryland legislators will soon get another chance to protect patients who need marijuana to relieve symptoms associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and other terrible illnesses.  Now that they know they have nothing to fear, one can only hope they will do the right thing.

Bruce Mirken