AMA CONTINUES TO REJECT MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

Doctors Also Urge Scouts To Reconsider Gay Ban

CHICAGO - A proposal to endorse the limited use of medical marijuana for
seriously ill patients was rejected at the American Medical Association's
annual meeting.

An AMA committee voted against the proposal Monday, and yesterday the
group's House of Delegates approved without debate a revised policy that
did not support medical marijuana use.

Under that policy, the AMA endorses "the free and unfettered exchange of
information on treatment alternatives."

Also yesterday, the 547 delegates:

Approved a resolution calling on the Boy Scouts to reconsider its ban on
homosexuals.

Rejected lobbying for a ban on advertising prescription drugs directly to
consumers. They approved a resolution calling for such ads to note that
doctors might recommend a different drug.

Agreed to form a committee to investigate a suit filed by Dr. E. Ratcliffe
Anderson Jr., the AMA's chief executive officer. He charges the AMA's board
took away his power to fire the general counsel after he complained that
the lawyer failed to exercise due diligence in the sale of AMA property.

Rejected a resolution asking it to endorse a moratorium on executions.
Opponents called it a legal issue, not a medical one. The AMA did reaffirm
its opposition to physicians participating in executions.