Pubdate: Thu, 13 Sep 2012
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2012 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Author: Erin Smith and Christine Mcconville

SUPPORTERS SAY MEDICINAL POT PROS OUTWEIGH CONS

As critics slam a November ballot measure to legalize medical 
marijuana as a law enforcement nightmare, a longtime local marijuana 
advocate says the drug is an important tool to help alleviate the 
agony for patients with chronic diseases.

"The benefit does outweigh it all," said Dr. Lester Grinspoon, a 
retired professor at Harvard Medical School. "While it is not 
perfect, it is a step forward. People out there are suffering and 
don't need to suffer."

Grinspoon said his son, Danny, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic 
leukemia in the late 1960s and about three years later began 
chemotherapy treatments, which caused him to vomit for up to eight 
hours. He said his wife gave Danny a little pot before chemotherapy 
after hearing it stopped nausea for another teen cancer patient in Texas.

"Let me tell you that was a godsend for him but also for us because 
we never had to observe that kind of pain and suffering he went 
through again," Grinspoon said.

A recent survey shows Bay State voters favor passage of the ballot 
question 2-to-1, and proponents also hold a funding advantage.

The Committee for Compassionate Medicine, the state's pro-pot group, 
has raised more than $1 million with virtually all of the funds 
coming from out-of-state billionaire and retired Progressive 
Insurance CEO Peter Lewis, who gave $465,000 so far this year and 
$512,860 last year. Meanwhile, Vote No on Question 3 reported raising 
$600 so far this year.

If the ballot question passes, it won't deter the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, said New England spokesman Tony Pettigrew.

"We enforce federal law, and marijuana is against federal law," said 
Pettigrew. "It's not going to affect how DEA conducts our investigations."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom