Pubdate: Fri, 31 Aug 2012
Source: Kokomo Tribune (IN)
Copyright: 2012 The Kokomo Tribune
Contact:  http://www.ktonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1204
Author: Shaun Slack

U.S. PUBLIC POLICY ON POT IS ABSURD

In 1974, the federal government tried to build up a case for why 
marijuana should continue to be illegal, but instead found that it 
slowed breast cancer, lung cancer and a virus-induced form of 
leukemia in mice. Why have these results been ignored?

Well, all further public cannabis research was ended by the federal 
government through either the DEA or President Ford.

Why do we tolerate our government covering up medical advances? So 
the legal drug companies can make profits on synthetic THC drugs that 
don't work as well as real THC? Maybe.

A study in the 1990s in Spain showed that THC could eradicate a 
malignant brain tumor. THC selectively kills cancer cells while 
leaving healthy cells untouched. There are no chemo drugs this 
effective. Other cancers that have been treated effectively with THC 
are prostate, colon, pancreatic, cervical, bile, liver and stomach cancer.

By the way, in Mexico during a four-year period from the end of 2006 
to 2010, there were an estimated 35,000 people killed in the war on 
drugs in that nation. How many in our nation?

The fact is this war on marijuana is even leading to the arrest of 
pro-marijuana activists. Pro-legalization activists are being 
arrested or cited for gathering petitions for legalization.

In Florida, a pro-marijuana legalization activist was arrested for 
gathering petitions. He was wrongly told he needed a permit to 
exercise his First Amendment rights.

The truth is our public policy on marijuana is absurd. We ignore its 
tremendous medical benefits and have drug gangs (that very much want 
to keep marijuana illegal for their own sake) fighting turf battles 
over market share.

It took our ancestors 12 years to end alcohol prohibition. What is 
our excuse with the much longer time marijuana has been prohibited?

Shaun Slack

Kokomo
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom