Pubdate: Fri, 10 Apr 1998
Date: 10/04/1998
Source: The State Journal Register (IL)
Author: Larry Stevens

The Associated Press wire story you printed about the cannabis
research being conducted at the University of California at San
Francisco is interesting in light of the US House of Representatives'
recent resolution stating that "marijuana is a dangerous drug and
should not be legalized for medical use."

Scientists are telling us that the rich cocktail of compounds found in
marijuana, the cannabinoids, are uniquely suited for a wide variety of
medical uses. U.S. Army scientists are using a synthetic cannaboid to
prevent seizures and strokes in rats exposed to nerve gas.

The July 7 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences trumpets
THC and other cannaboids as antioxidants more powerful than vitamin C
or vitamin E and potentially useful in preventing brain damage caused
by strokes.

Yet the House will have none of this.  In response to medical
marijuana ballot initiatives springing up in Alaska, Colorado, the
District of Columbia, Oregon, Nevada and Washington, the House of
Representatives passed HJ Resolution 117 expressing their sense that
marijuana has no medicinal value.

Here is an example of a lie that matters.  It is a lie that is causing
needless suffering and even death.

It is a lie for which politicians who voted for the resolution should
be held accountable.

Larry Stevens