MARIJUANA'S POTENTIAL

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has approved a pair of
scientific experiments to explore potential benefits in marijuana for
patients battling multiple sclerosis and AIDS. The approval of the
experiments doesn't legalize medicinal marijuana under federal law,
but it is an important development in the government's handling of the
issue.

The feds have been slow to come around to the possibilities of
marijuana for patients with chronic diseases. Some states have taken
it upon themselves to legalize the practice of prescribing marijuana
for medical purposes, but federal law still forbids such uses. The
federally approved experiments, which will take place in California,
are a step in the right direction.

It is important for scientists to get all the facts about the possible
medical attributes of marijuana. Too often, rigid attitudes toward the
drug have hampered what could be benefits. If marijuana can alleviate
pain in seriously ill patients, it should be available by prescription
drug.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the recent DEA approval is that
other experiments on possible medical uses of marijuana are in the
pipeline, awaiting approval. By allowing for scientific experiments,
the federal government is giving a much-warranted nod to medicine. If
potential benefits arise, federal law should certainly follow through
and legalize the treatment.