Medical Marijuana Push Gaining Steam

[Ganjarden]

Cliff Village recently became the second Missouri municipality to pass a medical marijuana ordinance allowing seriously ill patients to use marijuana pursuant to the recommendation of a doctor ("Southwest Missouri hamlet lights a fire for legalizing medical marijuana," Feb. 9). Columbia did so in 2004.

A 2005 nationwide Gallup poll showed that 78 percent of adults support making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering. A 2004 AARP poll showed that 72 percent of adults aged 45 and older think patients should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if a physician recommends it. National support for these types of laws include the American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

More than one-fourth of the nation's population now lives in a state that has an effective medical marijuana law. Speaker of the (Missouri) House Ron Richard (R-Joplin) should take note of what the public, medical community and at least 13 other states already seem to know and assign House Bill 277 to committee so it can receive a hearing.


News Hawk- Ganjarden http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: Springfield News-Leader
Author: Kelly Maddy
Contact: Springfield News-Leader
Copyright: 2009 Springfield News-Leader
Website: Medical Marijuana Push Gaining Steam