parafarmer
12-29-2004, 05:12 PM
Medical Marijuana: The Pain of Prohibition
by Salim Muwakkil
Last week we learned that the pain relief drug naproxen, sold as Aleve, was found in a study to increase the risk of heart problems. This news followed a flow of bad PR on the pharmaceutical front about other pain relievers.
But while we openly discuss the lethal potential of legal pain relievers, shouldn't we question why one the least lethal medications remains illegal.
That medication is marijuana.
Numerous published studies suggest that cannabis (the scientific term for marijuana) has medical value in treating patients with serious illnesses such as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and, especially, chronic pain. What's more, 11 states have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana since 1966 and national polls reveal a wide majority support those laws. The latest national poll, conducted by the AARP, focused on older Americans and found that nearly 75 percent support legalizing medical marijuana.
Despite all of that, the federal government opposes therapeutic use of the drug. This opposition seems particularly irrational considering the troubled safety record of drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration. There are no known lethal side effects to marijuana use.
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1229-12.htm
by Salim Muwakkil
Last week we learned that the pain relief drug naproxen, sold as Aleve, was found in a study to increase the risk of heart problems. This news followed a flow of bad PR on the pharmaceutical front about other pain relievers.
But while we openly discuss the lethal potential of legal pain relievers, shouldn't we question why one the least lethal medications remains illegal.
That medication is marijuana.
Numerous published studies suggest that cannabis (the scientific term for marijuana) has medical value in treating patients with serious illnesses such as AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and, especially, chronic pain. What's more, 11 states have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana since 1966 and national polls reveal a wide majority support those laws. The latest national poll, conducted by the AARP, focused on older Americans and found that nearly 75 percent support legalizing medical marijuana.
Despite all of that, the federal government opposes therapeutic use of the drug. This opposition seems particularly irrational considering the troubled safety record of drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration. There are no known lethal side effects to marijuana use.
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1229-12.htm