Pubdate: 21 Feb 1999
Source: Edmonton Sun (Canada)
Copyright: 1999, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html
Author: Kathy Galbraith
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/v99.n190.a06.html
Comment: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk

WHY DENY A PERSON WHAT HELPS?

DR. GIFFORD-JONES impressed me with his knowledge of medical marijuana or
cannabis herb in the treatment of more than a few ailments.

He was correct in stating that smoking is not healthy, but he missed
explaining other ways of ingesting this remedy.

Herbal textbooks indicated tea, tincture, oil extracts and infused salve
all as effective methods of ingestion or use. Any plant with as many uses
as this one should be accessible to responsible adults who can show a
medical need. There is even fibre and vitamins in it. Smoking should only
be for the most desperate, certainly not for bored teens (MS patients like
Lynn Harichy, of London, Ont., and Grant Kreiger of Calgary, who have each
challenged the Constitution to be able to use their medicine without being
labelled a criminal.) Why deny a person what helps him or her?

Kathy Galbraith

Lethbridge

(Medical use of marijuana is gaining acceptance.) 
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