Pubdate: Sun, 06 Dec 2009
Source: Grand Forks Herald (ND)
Copyright: 2009 Grand Forks Herald
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/PmdVQo7l
Website: http://www.grandforksherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/513
Author: John Chase
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n1064/a02.html

LEGALIZATION SOLVES 'MEDICAL POT' PROBLEM

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- Columnist George Will understands the dynamics of 
prohibition when he says that "legalization of medical marijuana may be 
more socially destructive than full legalization" ("Drop 'medical' from 
medical pot laws," Page D2, Nov. 29)

The same thing happened with medicinal alcohol during alcohol prohibition 
in the 1920s. At the time, there was lots of quibbling about which medical 
conditions required how much of what kind of alcohol. It was like a 
conversation about how many angels can stand on the head of a pin, and it 
created disrespect for the law.

But we must get patients out of the drug war. The best way is to legalize 
pot. Decriminalization is not a compromise because it would do nothing to 
end the street market.

When pot has the legal status of beer, patients can have it without concern 
that they -- or their docs -- might be arrested for a questionable medical 
diagnosis or for using "too much" or the wrong kind of pot.

John Chase

Palm Harbor, FL 
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