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MELLOWING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA WELCOME

National mellowing on medical marijuana is a welcome sea change in attitude.  On Oct.  19, the Justice Department issued a new medical marijuana policy, which states that patients who comply with state law should not face federal prosecution.

Finally, an enlightened decision that respects suffering individuals as well as states' rights.  These patients are not criminals and the Obama administration has made it clear that they shouldn't be treated as such.  ( Congressman Sam Farr's Truth in Trials Act would bring federal law in line with this understanding ).

The claim that marijuana has no accepted medical use is contradicted by the science.  The National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine published a report in 1999 affirming marijuana's efficacy and recommending that it be made available on a patient-by-patient basis.  Since then numerous studies have added to our knowledge of how marijuana helps those suffering from pain, wasting syndrome and life-threatening illness.  The Journal of Opioid Management recently endorsed its use as well.

Currently 13 states have legal pot and there are eight more with pending legislation, including our own blue state of North Carolina.  United States support for legalizing marijuana is 44 percent, according to a national Gallup poll "" up 10 points since 2000.  This is an encouraging sign for everyone who supports marijuana policy reform.  A welcome sea change.

R.  L.  McGee

Wintervillee