Pubdate: Sat, 17 Feb 2007
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n174/a12.html
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

POT VS. MARTINIS

Editor -- Regarding your Feb. 13 editorial, "Up in science": The 
rigorous medical marijuana study conducted by AIDS researchers at San 
Francisco General Hospital is a welcome change of pace.

For decades, the federal government has consistently blocked studies 
that might demonstrate the medical efficacy of marijuana, while 
spending millions on politicized junk science designed to document 
the plant's alleged harms. It would be interesting to research the 
dubious hypothesis that jail cells and criminal records are effective 
health interventions.

They have clearly failed as deterrents. The University of Michigan's 
Monitoring the Future study reports that lifetime use of marijuana is 
higher in the United States than any European country, yet America is 
one of the few Western countries that uses its criminal-justice 
system to punish citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis.

ROBERT SHARPE

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman