Pubdate: Sun, 8 Aug 2010
Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)
Copyright: 2010 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Referenced:  Other Views: Smoke Screen 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10.n615.a09.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

EDITORIAL SERVES ITS PURPOSE

Our Mission Is to Stimulate Discussion; a Medical Marijuana Opinion 
Certainly Did

The statement that appears below this and every other editorial in 
this newspaper reads, "The Mail Tribune offers its opinion pages to 
stimulate discussion and understanding of issues important to our 
community." Judging by the protesters who appeared in front of our 
building Wednesday, it appears we have succeeded.

The protesters were upset about an editorial we reprinted July 31 
from The Oregonian regarding an initiative on the November ballot 
that would change the way medical marijuana is dispensed to those who 
are qualified to receive it.

The Oregonian's editorial board said it was not yet ready to take a 
position for or against the ballot measure, but it suggested the real 
motivation behind the initiative -- and the medical marijuana 
movement -- was eventual legalization of marijuana as a recreational drug.

Offensive and disrespectful, howled the protesters. The editorial, 
they said, disparaged sick and disabled patients who are simply 
seeking effective treatment for their symptoms.

Not exactly. The editorial disparaged those who use the medical 
marijuana law to obtain the drug legally but who do not suffer from 
terminal illnesses or severe symptoms unresponsive to conventional medications.

Let's be clear about one thing: The editorial in question was not 
ours; it was The Oregonian's. In this newspaper, it was clearly 
labeled "Other Views" to differentiate it from the opinions of the 
Mail Tribune editorial board.

We publish opinions on a wide variety of issues from a wide variety 
of viewpoints. We certainly don't agree with them all, nor do we 
expect readers to. That's the reason for the "stimulate discussion" 
part of our mission statement.

So let's discuss.

There is evidence that some severe and debilitating conditions 
respond well to marijuana, including the nausea that accompanies 
chemotherapy for cancer, or the loss of appetite and inability to 
keep food down that plagues HIV sufferers. That's why Oregon voters 
- -- correctly, in our view -- agreed to allow limited medical use of marijuana.

There is also evidence that some people licensed to grow marijuana 
for patients are making money on the side by selling it to those 
without medical marijuana cards. And, as The Oregonian pointed out, 
of the 36,380 Oregonians with cards, 32,614 checked "severe pain" as 
their reason for needing the drug.

Are the protesters who picketed us last week willing to swear that 
not one of those people was using the law as a way to use marijuana 
recreationally without fear of prosecution? We suspect not.

As for the motivation of medical marijuana advocates, many are driven 
by concern for truly sick people seeking relief, and we respect that.

We note, however, that a news release announcing the protest carried 
the endorsement of the local chapter of the National Organization for 
the Reform of Marijuana Laws. NORML's mission, according to its 
website, is "to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the 
repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of 
cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty."

As The Oregonian argued, that is an entirely different discussion.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake