MEDICINAL MARIJUANA CURES

The staff editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of
"The Murray State News." The editorial board is composed of all
section editors.

Kentuckians suffering from multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease
affecting the central nervous system, are subject to what can become
continuous muscle spasms, shaking and pain.

Why Kentuckians and not all sufferers of the disease? Because Kentucky
is one of 42 states in the U.S. which prohibits the use of medicinal
marijuana, an aid numerous MS sufferers have claimed eases the often
unbearable symptoms of the disease.

Meanwhile, it is expected the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare
Agency will approve Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine designed to
relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

To do so, British lawmakers will be required to change the existing
law on the use of medicinal marijuana, an action officials claim they
are willing to do.

It is expected Sativex will be approved and on the British market this
summer, at which point the producers plan to expand to other parts of
Europe and North America.

But will MS sufferers be allowed to benefit from the new drug? If
state laws continue as they are now, only doctors in California,
Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, Nevada and Washington will be
allowed to prescribe the drug to needy patients.

Furthermore, it is not only people suffering from MS who can benefit
from using medicinal marijuana. In fact, those suffering from
glaucoma, eating disorders and the symptoms of chemotherapy can also
experience significant relief.

In the instance of MS, it is suspected that more than 10 percent of
its sufferers use marijuana illegally to ease their pain.

So why turn victims of devastating diseases into criminals?

Americans in every state deserve the opportunity to alleviate the
often debilitating symptoms of multiple sclerosis, cancer and glaucoma.

Many sufferers who have used medicinal marijuana vouge that it has rid
them of enough pain to live relatively normal lives.

How can the state deny its citizens a life free from
pain?

Afterall, drugs like morphine, which has effects significantly
stronger than those of marijuana, is legal if prescribed by a doctor.

So why not cannabis-based products?

It is time Kentucky takes a cue from the United Kingdom and the
above-mentioned states and sets stereotypes aside.

Let MS, cancer and glaucoma sufferers ease their pain, even if
marijuana is the medicine is necessary to do so.