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ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT POT

Medical group takes right approach to resolving debate about marijuana use

In the fall, California voters made it clear they think marijunaa
has a legitimate medical use.

Approval of Proposition 215 made it legal for Californians to use
and grow marijuana for medicinal purposes. But the controversial measure
left many key questions unanswered.

The California Medical Association, which opposed Proposition 215,
this week took a welcome step that could lead to clearing up murky legal
and medical concerns about marijuana use.

CMA officials endorsed a measure introduced by state Sen. John
Vasconcellos (DSanta Clara) that would earmark $6 million for research
into the therapeutic uses of marijuana. It also would set up a distribution
system for patients who might benefit from use of the drug.

We see no harm in conducting legitimate medical research into the
effectiveness of marijuana. For reasons that seem more political than
medical there have been few reliable studies conducted on pot.

Advocates of marijuana claim it can help relieve symptoms for those
suffering from serious diseases such as cancer, AIDS and glaucoma. Those
who argue against its use say that other legal drugs available by
prescription are just as effective for those ailments.

There also is a need to clarify how marijuana can be obtained by
theose who qualify legally. Proposition 215 did not authorize the sale of
pot, though several marijuanabuying "clubs" are operating openly in
Northern California. The legislation would create a task force to study
public versuss private distribution methods.

Gov. Pete Wilson in the past has vetoed all measures legalizing the
medical use of marijuana. A spokesman indicated the governor likely would
be skeptical about signing any medical marijuanarelated bill. In this
case, we believe that would be a mistake.

The legal, political and medical questions surrounding pot use need
to be answered once and for all. This measure can help resolve those
troubling concerns.

The CMA has endorsed a commonsense approach that will allow
Californians to decide whether marijuana is a miracle drug or just another
way to get high.