HAWAII CONGRESSWOMAN SUPPORTS MMJ RESEARCH

HONOLULU - Congresswoman Patsy Mink wants to see the government continue
its research into the possible medical benefits of marijuana.

Mink, D-Hawaii, wrote in a June 21 article published in the congressional
newspaper Roll Call that further study is needed before a definitive answer
can be given as to whether there are real medical benefits to using
marijuana. ``The question that needs to be answered is whether there is
evidence that there are real benefits from the use of marijuana by people
who are suffering debilitating illnesses,'' Mink wrote.

At this point, the congresswoman doesn't support legalizing use of
marijuana for medicinal purposes, an aide in her office said Friday.

Mink's comments echo the recommendations found in a May report from the
Institute of Medicine, which said research needs to continue into the
subject. The report was done at the request of the White House Office on
National Drug Policy.

The report recommended more study to define the individual health risks
associated with smoking marijuana, whether for medicinal or recreational
purposes.

It also said smoking any plant material can be harmful to a person's lungs,
but Mink said such considerations were less important to people with
terminal illnesses, since their life expectancy is shorter.

Advocates for medical marijuana say it helps alleviate pain for patients
undergoing cancer treatment, and is helpful to people with HIV and AIDS,
glaucoma and for improving appetite.

Jonathan Adler, a Big Island marijuana advocate, said Mink's article is
important in that it helps legitimize the calls by others for the
government to permit people who are ill to use marijuana.

Adler admits to routinely distributing marijuana to people with medical
conditions that warrant its use, and said law enforcement officials know of
his activities and do nothing to stop him.

``I've been supplying to patients every day for three years,'' Adler said.
``Either I'm obeying the law and nobody is recognizing it, or I'm breaking
the law and nobody is recognizing it.