REASONS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

The Monitor asserts that "activists claim that it may ease symptoms
for certain patients - though it has not been endorsed by the major
medical associations representing those patients." Not true. Here are
two of many examples:

In 2003, the American Academy of HIV Medicine stated that, "When
appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide
immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients."
And in 2008, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society said that it "supports
legislation to remove criminal and civil sanctions for the
doctor-advised, medical use of marijuana by patients with serious
physical medical conditions."

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project

San Francisco