Pubdate: Sat, 11 Dec 2004
Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)
Copyright: 2004 Knight Ridder
Contact:  http://www.contracostatimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/96
Author: Jennifer Eaton
Cited: Raich v. Ashcroft ( www.angeljustice.org/ )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

PROS TOP CONS

There are both positive and negative effects of the possibility of
legalizing marijuana for medical use, but I think the positives
outweigh the negatives.

There will be people who abuse the system as they do with anything
else, but allowing people in extreme pain to be comforted during an
uncomfortable time is well worth it.

Decent people are suffering and will not abuse the system. Legalizing
marijuana for medical reasons is not condoning it for others, but
simply allowing people to use it with a clean conscience, not one of
shame.

The people who want to smoke marijuana now are smoking it legally or
illegally, and police can still conduct drug busts as usual.

If marijuana is legalized, there needs to be a concrete plan of
distribution and enforcement of tight regulations.

Jennifer Eaton

Walnut Creek
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin