Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jun 2009
Source: Hickory Daily Record (NC)
Copyright: 2009 Hickory Daily Record
Contact:  http://www.hickoryrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1109
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n640/a07.html
Author: Bruce Mirken, Director of Communications Marijuana Policy Project

Your editorial, "Time to consider medical marijuana" hit the nail on
the head. Indeed, many nations are well ahead of the U.S. in
addressing this issue.

Countries such as Israel, Canada and the Netherlands all have national
medical marijuana programs. Israel's has some 700 patients enrolled
and expects that number to reach 1,200 in September.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the program has widespread
acceptance, with the chief of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at
Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital noting that marijuana "stimulates the
appetite and minimizes nausea and vomiting, which is of great
importance in Oncology. It also has anti-inflammatory properties,
which helps in cases of infection or inflammation caused by radiation."

It's time for the U.S. to catch up.
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr