Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI) Section: Opinion, Pg A10 Copyright: 2006 Madison Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506 Author: Ronald Fraser LAWMAKERS NEED TO LISTEN UP In the national debate over the use of marijuana for medical purposes, ordinary people and their representatives in Congress seem to be living on different planets. Poll after poll shows Americans, by a huge majority, want their doctors, not lawmakers, to decide if marijuana should be used as a medicine. Today, however, federal laws prohibit physicians from prescribing marijuana for pain relief even where state and local laws say it is OK to do so. This has not always been the case. "For most of American history, growing and using marijuana was legal under both federal law and the laws of individual states," according to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service, an arm of the U.S. Congress. "From 1850 to the early 1940s cannabis was included in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as a recognized medicinal. (But) its decline in medicine was hastened by the development of aspirin, morphine and other opium-derived drugs, all of which helped to replace marijuana in the treatment of pain." In both 2003 and 2005 Gallup polls asked, "Would you favor or oppose making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe to reduce pain and suffering?" In 2003, 75 percent said they would favor it. And in 2005, 78 percent favored it. Apparently members of Congress don't read the polls these days, nor do they care much about state laws. In 12 states -- though not Wisconsin -- laws already give doctors the power to decide on marijuana for pain. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., last year introduced a bill "to provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various states," and to prohibit the federal government from stopping "an individual from obtaining and using marijuana from a prescription or recommendation by a physician for medical use." The bill is stuck in the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Since a federal bill allowing states to regulate the medical use of marijuana can't make it to the House floor for an up or down vote, an alternative strategy is to attach a medical marijuana amendment to a spending bill that will reach the House floor. Last July, Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey, D-N.Y., did just that. But the amendment was rejected on a 264-161 vote. In other words, while 78 percent of the Americans favor letting doctors (and states) decide this issue, only 38 percent of the House members favored a law supporting that policy. Four House members from Wisconsin, including Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, voted for the amendment. American democracy calls on lawmakers to be responsive to the common sense and wisdom of ordinary citizens. Instead, some members of Congress from Wisconsin and elsewhere are standing in the way of existing state laws and the majority of Americans who want their physicians, not politicians, to decide if marijuana should be used to ease suffering in sick patients. If these officials don't improve their hearing, voters might consider replacing them this November with people who have better listening skills. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman