Pubdate: Sat, 18 Aug 2007
Source: Lawrence Journal-World (KS)
Copyright: 2007 The Lawrence Journal-World
Contact: http://www2.ljworld.com/submit/letter_to_the_editor/
Website: http://www.ljworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1075
Author: Scott Rothschild
Photo: Former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan, right, looks at 
Laura Green, director of the Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition, 
during a news conference Friday at the Statehouse in Topeka. The 
group is calling for the legalization of medical marijuana by the 
Kansas Legislature. http://www.mapinc.org/images/MedicalMarijuana.jpg
Cited: Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition http://www.ksccc.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

STEPHAN JOINS PUSH FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Former Kansas A.G. Says Treatment of Drug 'Absurd'

Topeka -- The push to legalize medical marijuana got a big lift 
Friday when former Attorney General Bob Stephan announced his support 
and urged Kansans to get behind the effort.

"The state should not pre-empt the role of the physicians when it 
comes to deciding what is best for ill Kansans," said Stephan, a 
cancer survivor and the longest serving attorney general in state history.

But lawmakers said there was little chance of legalizing medical 
marijuana, at least in the 2008 legislative session that starts in January.

The Kansas Medical Society has taken no stand on the issue, but the 
Kansas State Nurses Association plans to consider a resolution in 
October for the legal use of therapeutic marijuana.

"On behalf of registered nurses statewide, we believe that this is a 
relevant and timely health care issue that warrants discussion," KSNA 
President Ellen Carson said.

At a news conference with the Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition, 
Stephan recounted his own fight with cancer, and thousands of visits 
with other cancer victims.

Stopping to gather his emotions, Stephan said marijuana should be 
available to people who are suffering pain that cannot be alleviated 
by other treatments.

"When it comes to marijuana, it is treated like some voodoo medicine 
that should not be recommended by physicians. I find this to be 
absurd," Stephan said.

Stephan served as attorney general from 1979 until 1995. In response 
to questions, he said he never used marijuana.

The Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition, which has 400 members in 
chapters in Wichita and Lawrence, seeks to have Kansas join 12 other 
states in passing legislation that allows physicians to recommend the 
use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Stephan and the coalition said marijuana can relieve pain and nausea 
for patients with cancer and other conditions, such as AIDS, glaucoma 
and anxiety disorders.

But Jerry Slaughter, executive director of the Kansas Medical 
Society, said his concern would be the legal protection of physicians 
because marijuana is an illegal drug under both state and federal law.

Slaughter said there are probably doctors on both sides of the issue.

"There is a growing debate about pain management," he said.

State Rep. Jim Morrison, R-Colby, said he would oppose the proposal.

Morrison said if marijuana were legalized for medical reasons, then 
other drugs, such as LSD, would have to be legalized for medical purposes.

He also said it would be difficult to control the cultivation and 
distribution of marijuana, and that he believed physicians have 
adequate medicines to treat pain.

State Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, said he opposed it too, but was 
willing to consider it.

Journey said he doubted such a proposal would be approved by the 
Legislature, but that Stephan's backing gave the issue more traction. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake