Newsgroups: alt.drugs
From: [s d hc] at [pro-sancho.cts.com] (San Diego Hemp Council)
Subject: SAN DIEGO PAPER EDITORIALIZES *FOR* MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 94 10:36:08 PST

The following editorial appears in today's San Diego Union-Tribune:


CHANGE THE LAW
--------------
Allow drugs for medical purposes

There's a big difference between arguments to legalize all drugs and the
current debate over permitting the medicinal use only of drugs like
marijuana.

And nowhere is that difference more pronounced than in the case of Samuel
Skipper, a La Mesa man who used marijuana to combat symptoms he suffered
related to AIDS. That is, until a judge sentenced him to 16 months in prison.

Skipper said he used marijuana to prevent nausea and weight loss that often
are associated with AIDS. The drug also has been shown useful for the same
purpose for cancer patients. And marijuana relieves some symptoms of
glaucoma, although only nine people in the nation so far have been legally
permitted to use the drug for that purpose.

Skipper was on probation for growing marijuana when he told Municipal Court
Judge Charles Rogers that he could not remain on probation if that meant
authorities could continue to search him to see if he still uses marijuana.

Judge Rogers said he had no alternative but to revoke probation, because
Skipper would not abide by its terms. The judge also said he disagreed with
the marijuana law.

Sending to prison a person like Skipper, who is no threat to the public, is
a waste of expensive prison space. We're paying billions of dollars to build
prisons, not to house AIDS patients who use marijuana, but to keep violent
criminals off the street.

Every time we put a Samuel Skipper in prison, it means there's less room for
a Richard Allen Davis, the accused killer of Polly Klaas. We need cheaper,
alternative diversion programs for such nonviolent offenders.

But more importantly, no one should go to prison for a legitimate medical use
of a drug. The laws need to be changed to allow medicinal use of marijuana
when prescribed by a doctor. Marijuana should be tightly controlled like any
other prescription drug.

The Clinton administration is mulling whether to allow the use of marijuana
for patients suffering from serious illnesses. It seems there would be a
genuine medical use if it helps prevent nausea and returns the appetite to
people suffering from AIDS, cancer and other diseases.

However, the medical use of the drug has nothing to do with the argument for
drug legalization.

Legalizing drugs for recreational use would further the disease of addiction
that plagues our nation. Legalizing recreational use of drugs is the opposite
of legalizing the medical use of drugs. Unrestricted legalization would make
far worse the societal symptoms of drug addiction -- crime, violence,
homelessness, child abuse. It wouldn't cure anything.

All the same, doctors should be able to prescribe marijuana to treat the
symptoms of patients like Samuel Skipper.

___________________________________________________
 San Diego Hemp Council -- [s d hc] at [pro-sancho.cts.com]
  Hemp Can Save The Planet -- Re-Legalize It NOW!