Medicinal Marijuana Worth A Look

[User]

State Rep. Mark Cohen identified the principle obstacle to passage of his bill to legalize medical marijuana, when he announced the effort last week.

The problem is broad public identification of the drug with its illegal use rather than with its potential as a legitimate therapeutic drug for people suffering from several types of cancer, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma.

If marijuana wasn't called marijuana, but was introduced anew as an inexpensive pain reliever or appetite stimulant that is effective under medical supervision and less addictive than many other prescription drugs, it easily would be included among the roster of regularly prescribed drugs.

Already, 13 other state governments don't care that the drug is called marijuana; they have approved it for regulated medicinal use.

A great many Pennsylvanians share that view. Mr. Cohen cited an independent Franklin & Marshall College poll of the 2006 Senate race between Sen. Bob Casey and then-Sen. Rick Santorum, which asked about medical marijuana, among other issues. It found that 76 percent favored state-regulated use of marijuana as prescribed medicine, while only 20 percent opposed it.

Mr. Cohen's bill, unfortunately, was treated in Harrisburg as something of a curiosity, but it should be treated as serious medicine in behalf of patients who could benefit from its legitimate use.

New York and New Jersey also are considering regulated legal use of medicinal pot. Pennsylvania should approve it.


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Source: Daily Review (PA)
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