MARIJUANA SHOULD BE IN THE TOOLBOX

I-148 -- Allowing the use of marijuana under medical supervision by
patients with certain medical conditions.

Our position: Yes

Best known as an illicit recreational drug, marijuana also is
medically beneficial to some patients with debilitating medical problems.

Unfortunately, concerns associated with the illegal use of marijuana
to get high -- and there are plenty of them -- cloud the issue.

But the drug's benefits are well documented for people suffering from
cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and other diseases or conditions that bring on
severe pain, nausea or seizures.

As the National Academy of Sciences reported in 1999: "Nausea,
appetite loss, pain and anxiety are all afflictions of wasting, and
all can be mitigated by marijuana."

For the record, we do not support the blanket legalization of
pot.

Much of the marijuana available now is far stronger and more addictive
than it was 20 or 30 years ago. And we are well aware of its
reputation as a gateway to even more dangerous drugs.

We do, however, support giving doctors every tool possible in treating
patients.

If attempts to pharmaceutically isolate the active ingredients in
marijuana resulted in a little pill that worked as well, we'd all be
much happier.

So far, that hasn't happened.

That's why I-148 supporters here are pushing a measure similar to that
passed by voters in nine other states.

Doctors would certify that a patient would benefit from marijuana.
That patient would be registered by the state and allowed to grow,
possess and use their own marijuana.

Patients would get ID cards so that law enforcement could easily
distinguish those legitimately using the drug.

Anyone who steps outside of the strict guidelines of the law, would be
subject to full criminal prosecution.

The U.S. Supreme Court just agreed to hear a California case
challenging the right of the federal government to prosecute patients
who use marijuana.

California maintains that the feds do not have the right to interfere
with state laws passed to protect or help its citizens. At least three
other states have signed onto the suit.

In Montana, we have the benefit of looking at states where marijuana
already is legal for medical purposes.

According to a report from the General Accounting Office, most law
enforcement agencies in those states report no increase in crime or
problems because of the laws.

And a study in California shows that teen use of marijuana actually
dropped since the state passed its medical marijuana law eight years
ago.

We support this initiative to give doctors and patients more legal
options for beneficial treatment.