Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jul 2009
Source: Globe-Gazette (IA)
Copyright: 2009 Globe-Gazette
Contact: http://www.globegazette.com/sitepages/modules/editorltr.shtml
Website: http://www.globegazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1568

LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS WORTH CONSIDERING IN IOWA

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has given the green light to  a series of
public hearings about the use of medical  marijuana.

Four such hearings, including one in Mason City, will  be held from
August through November. Dates have not  been announced.

This follows a growing trend around the United States  as lawmakers
and government officials re-examine laws  governing marijuana use. The
drug once thought used  only by dropouts is gaining new respectability.

Legalized marijuana, at least for medical purposes, is  not as taboo
as one might think. Marijuana use for  medical purposes is legal in 13
states. That's 13 state  legislatures that have decided that there's
enough  scientific evidence to back up the claim that marijuana  has
beneficial uses.

And what are those uses? Medical marijuana supporters  say the drug
can reduce pain, reduce muscle spasms,  relieve nausea and increase
appetite (no Cheech and  Chong jokes, please). Supporters say cancer
patients  and AIDS sufferers are among those who have drawn real 
benefit from using this drug.

In a story published Wednesday, the Globe Gazette Des  Moines Bureau
introduced readers to George McMahon. The  Livermore man is a
participant in a medical program run  by the federal government. Count
McMahon among the  believers.

"It was a miracle cure for me, and I'm wondering how  many more people
out there are just like me," said  McMahon, who suffers from spasms
and nausea.

We don't see the legal use of medical marijuana as  likely in Iowa
anytime soon. We're approaching an  election year and candidates will
want to avoid as many  hot-button issues as they can. The debates
about  same-sex marriage could be rancorous enough without an  attempt
to change decades of drug policy.

State Rep. Linda Upmeyer, a nurse practitioner and  Republican from
Garner, is interested in hearing what  medical marijuana supporters
have to say.

"I guess I don't think it's one of those political  'third rails,' "
Upmeyer said in Wednesday's story. "I  mean, I think people can have a
reasonable discussion  about it and either support it or not support
it, but I  think mostly, people need to know more."

At this point, we are not ready to make an endorsement  in this
matter. We believe that while Iowans have a  right to direct their own
health care we're not sure if  medical marijuana is as good as
advertised. We also  worry about the social cost of the partial
legalization  of such an addictive drug.

But we're willing to give this matter a listen. We  think our readers
should, too. This should be a  thought-provoking debate, to say the
least. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr