Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 Date: 06/23/1998 Source: Calgary Herald (Canada) Author: Melanie E. Trigger Re: Marijuana advocate convicted. Calgary Herald, June 17. Cannabis is a safe and effective medicine. Many chemo therapy patients use it to reduce nausea and vomiting and many AIDS patients use it to increase their appetite. Marijuana has been a part of mainstream North America for over 30 years. For a large part of society it is widely accepted. The journal Pharmacological Reviews states after decades of research that compared with legal drugs, marijuana does not pose greater risks. Prescription drugs defined as safe by the FDA kill up to 27,000 Americans a year. Aspirin has killed 1,000 people. Cannabis kill zero people a year. Using marijuana for medical reasons can be argued back and forth by experts as well as users. I'm not saying Krieger should be giving it out on the steps of the court house. What I'm saying is if it makes a person feel better, and it lessens their pain, why wouldn't you smoke it? Melanie E. Trigger Calgary