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DRUG INSANITY

Nathan Riley did an excellent job of summing up the dishonest and overtly political nature of the Food and Drug Administration's recent statement on medical marijuana.  ( "Bushies Once Again Bury Science for Politics," Apr.  27-May 3 ).

Among the many medical and public health organizations supporting laws to permit medical use of marijuana is the American Academy of HIV Medicine, which endorsed New York state medical marijuana legislation in 2003.  AAHIVM wrote, "When appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients." Since that statement, new data has shown that medical marijuana can help those experiencing nausea and vomiting from their anti-HIV drug cocktails to adhere to their medication regimens.

In June, Congress is expected to consider a modest but important amendment, to be introduced by Representative Maurice Hinchey ( D- Binghamton ), to stop the federal government from arresting patients in states which have chosen to permit medical use of marijuana.  The LGBT community needs to energetically get behind Hinchey's amendment, which represents a significant step toward sanity in federal marijuana policy.

For more information and to get involved, readers are invited to visit http://action.mpp.org

Bruce Mirken

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

San Francisco