Pubdate: Wed, 05 Feb 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 Rebecca Haag
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Author: Rebecca Haag

POT'S POTENTIAL PRAISED

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health deserves praise for the
rigor with which it selected medical marijuana dispensaries ("Bay
State approves 20 marijuana dispensaries," Feb. 1). The department
also deserves praise for implementing a process by which those in
Massachusetts who are living with chronic pain or experiencing nausea
related to medical treatment will soon have another option to
alleviate their pain.

The Herald quotes the Massachusetts Medical Society's president, Dr.
Ronald Dunlap, saying that "there is insufficient scientific
information about the safety of marijuana when used for 'medicinal'
purposes." How, ironic, then, that a Scientific American editorial
(Feb. 1) calls for an end to the bans on scientific research into the
efficacy of marijuana and other drugs perpetuated by the War on Drugs.
The editorial says that marijuana has logged thousands of years in use
as a therapy for "diseases and conditions ranging from malaria to
rheumatism." To that list, I would add HIV/AIDS.

- - Rebecca Haag, CEO AIDS Action Committee, Boston 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D