Pubdate: Thu, 09 May 2013
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2013 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Alice Tibbetts
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n189/a12.html

HERE, POLICE SHOULDN'T BE VOICE OF AUTHORITY

Why would Gov. Mark Dayton listen to the police over the medical 
community when considering the value of medical marijuana? ("Medical 
marijuana supporters push for legalization," May 3.) A front-page 
story the same day noted that suicide deaths have risen sharply among 
baby boomers because we have such easy access to prescription pain 
killers, drugs that are easy to take in a large enough amount to kill 
us. Are we outlawing them because they kill people? Heck, no, even 
though they are widely abused by all age groups, including young people.

But medical marijuana for pain relief (a drug that no one dies from) 
is unacceptable to the governor because the cops say it is a "gateway 
drug." And the loudest voice here seems to be a police officer, 
Dennis Flaherty - who is not a medical professional - telling us that 
the police are not really convinced marijuana works for pain relief. 
What's next? Will the governor appoint a cop to lead the state's 
health care agency?

ALICE TIBBETTS, St. Paul
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom