Pubdate: Fri, 23 Aug 2013
Source: Lincoln Journal Star (NE)
Copyright: 2013 Lincoln Journal Star
Contact:  http://www.journalstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/561
Author: Wayne Whitmarsh

PROVEN MEDICINE

Our federal government continues to refuse to acknowledge the 
medicinal value of cannabis/marijuana, despite the mountain of 
well-documented studies that conclude otherwise.

More states are disagreeing. In July, New Hampshire became the 19th 
state to allow medicinal marijuana. It was followed by Illinois on Aug. 1.

Other countries are moving more quickly than the United States. The 
Uruguayan House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize 
cannabis. Its Senate is expected to approve it. Uruguay will become 
the first country to regulate production, distribution and sale of 
the plant. New Zealand is the first country to have a law allowing 
recreational drugs to be legally approved if shown to be safe.

Our government prefers to forget its 35-year-old Investigative New 
Drug Program. It still compassionately provides a declining number of 
patients a canister every month containing as many as 300 cannabis cigarettes.

Just last week, CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta added his 
expert voice in support of medicinal cannabis, stating: "It doesn't 
have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate 
medical applications. In fact, sometimes marijuana is the only thing 
that works."

How long before all U.S. patients have access to this proven medicine?

Wayne Whitmarsh, Lincoln
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