DON'T DISCOUNT LEGITIMATE USES

It concerns me when powerful bureaucrats like Deputy Drug Czar Scott
Burns "see no gray area where marijuana is concerned," as noted in the
article about his recent visit to Montana. It is this type of fanatic
extremism in prosecuting the drug war that has resulted in sick and
dying people being sent to prison for using the only medication that
works for them, even when their doctors agree with the treatment.

Burns doesn't want to be asked why such established medical
organizations as the American Academy of Family Physicians, American
Public Health Association, American Academy of HIV Medicine, American
Preventive Medical Association and the state medical associations of
New York, Florida, California and Rhode Island all support the use of
medical marijuana under a physician's supervision.

Perhaps that's why Burns came to Montana "on the sneak," not
announcing his visit until the last minute, and precluding the public
from attending any of his carefully choreographed propaganda stops.
Burns doesn't want to be confronted with the truth.

Burns claimed that "if Montana legalizes the drug's use in medical
situations, then more children will think marijuana is a legitimate
medicine." But marijuana is legitimate medicine, according to the
preponderance of medical literature. There's no reason to think that
children knowing the truth will lead to increased illegal use. In
fact, teen drug use has been dropping steadily in California since its
medical marijuana law was passed.

I have confidence that once Montana voters learn the truth, they will
conclude that it is wrong to put sick and dying people in prison for
using medical marijuana under their physicians' care, and they will
vote "yes" on I-148.

Paul Befumo, Medical Marijuana Policy Project of Montana, Missoula