AMA REJECTS MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

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 the group's House
of Delegates on Tuesday approved a revised policy that does 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 the
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."

Also, the 547 delegates approved a resolution calling on the AMA to ask the
Boy Scouts to reconsider its ban on homosexuals. The measure deleted
language that said the Scouts' ban on gays risks driving youngsters to
suicide. The committee that heard the proposal said a lack of scientific
data led to the decision.