MEDICAL POT LAW GOES FAR ENOUGH

Man, these guys are persistent. If your characterization of
pot-smoking adults includes the term "laid back," think again.

Maine Citizens for Medical Marijuana, the Maine Vocals and Maine
Citizens for Patients' Rights are three groups dedicated to expanding
the use of marijuana in the state.

Dissatisfied with a state law that allows the controlled use of
marijuana to alleviate the symptoms of certain medical conditions,
the groups are advocating everything from the establishment of
marijuana dispensaries to outright legalization of the stuff. They've
got T-shirts you can buy, a series of "marijuana-themed" concerts has
been organized, and they're about to circulate petitions to get their
issues on the ballot.

We're with the American Medical Association on this issue. It
endorses the very limited use of smoked marijuana for patients with
"debilitating symptoms" over a period of only six months, while at
the same time recommending that marijuana remain a controlled substance.

It calls for further studies of the drug and related substances to
determine possible efficacy, it urges the National Institutes of
Health to facilitate such clinical research and it asks that the NIH
support the development of a smoke-free inhaled delivery system for
marijuana in order to minimize the toxic health effects of inhaled smoke.

Maine's current law allowing limited marijuana use for very sick
patients goes far enough.

Until further research demonstrates a compelling medical need to
expand that law, we suggest that the members of the various groups
advocating expansion just chill, man.