Pubdate: Fri, 14 May 1999 Date: 05/14/1999 Source: Isthmus (WI) Author: Tom Bouri1 Note: subject line by MAP editor Most people still don't understand why the government is so opposed to legalizing med-ical marijuana. But the government has a very good reason to fear medical marijuana. Only after California and Arizona voted to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 did the fed-eral government finally commission a scientific study of medical marijuana. The results of this study, released by the Institute of Medicine on March 17, shoot down seven of the government's biggest lies about marijuana: . Marijuana has numerous medicinal uses. Marijuana is not a gateway drug. It does not lead to harder drugs. There is no evidence that legalizing medical marijuana will increase recreational use. Despite the health concerns of smoking, the IOM reported that there is still no evi-dence that marijuana smoking causes lung cancer. . Occasional marijuana use poses minimal risk to the user. There is no evidence that marijuana harms the immune system . Marijuana has minimal addictive potential. If patients allowed to legally use it, hundreds of doctors and researchers will be able to extensively study the health effects of marijuana. Once that happens, the government's lies about marijuana will be destroyed. Tom Bouri1