Pubdate: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 Source: Claremore Daily Progress, The (OK) Contact: http://www.claremoreprogress.com/ Address: 315 W Will Rogers Blvd Claremore OK 74017-7021 Copyright: 2006, The Claremore Daily Progress Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Note: Editorial Staff, Albuquerque (NM) Tribune MEDICAL MARIJUANA It wasn't billed as the session on drugs, but the New Mexico Legislature definitely has a full plate of proposed drug laws, several of which merit passage. At the top of the list is the perennial effort to give state approval to the use of medical marijuana. Pass it, already. Sanctioning the limited use of prescribed marijuana for the relief of pain or nausea - particularly in cancer patients, including those taking radiation or chemical therapy - is the right and humane thing to do, despite continuing federal efforts to keep it a crime. Eleven other states allow for medical marijuana. If it provides relief - and the evidence is overwhelming that it does - - and it can be medically prescribed, regulated and used in a safe manner, medical marijuana should be allowed in New Mexico. In fact, there really is no compelling state or federal reason to block its use. ... Finally and unfortunately, legislative efforts to provide more money for drug abuse treatment was derailed last week, when about $2 million to fund it was stripped from the House version of the main budget bill. The Senate and Gov. Bill Richardson should restore the money to the state budget, because in addition to increasing penalties and attacking the street supply, the state should be doing more to help addicts kick the habit. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman