AMA BACKS OFF ENDORSING MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE

CHICAGO (AP) -- 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 on Monday voted against the proposal and the groups's
House of Delegates on Tuesday approved a revised policy that did not
support medical marijuana use.

Under the new policy, adopted without debate, the AMA endorses "the free
and unfettered exchange of information on treatment alternatives."

The previous policy simply endorsed additional research into its
effectiveness and safety of medical marijuana use.

The proposal to support some use of medical marijuana was put forth by the
AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs. Dr. Melvin Sterling, a member of the
council from Orange, Calif., told a committee Monday, "This report is about
the relief of suffering; it's not about getting high."

But others testified they were concerned that the AMA's endorsement would
have led to more widespread use of medical marijuana than the proposal
intended.

Also Tuesday, the 547 delegates approved a resolution calling on the AMA to
ask the Boy Scouts to reconsider its ban on homosexuals.

But the measure deleted language that said the Scouts' ban on gays risks
driving youngsters to suicide. The committee that heard the proposal cited
a lack of scientific testimony in doing so.

The AMA also, for the second year in a row, 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.