FEDS ARE SURE TO MOUNT AN ALL-OUT EFFORT AGAINST MEDICAL POT USE

If Ohio joins the growing number of states with compassionate-use
medical marijuana laws, the state can expect staunch opposition from
the federal government.

By raiding California's voter-approved medical marijuana providers,
the very same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that claims illicit
drug use funds terrorism is forcing sick patients into the hands of
street dealers. Federal marijuana laws apparently are more important
than protecting the country from terrorism.

Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in
need, but marijuana prohibition itself should be subjected to a
cost-benefit analysis. Unfortunately, a review of marijuana
legislation would open up a Pandora's box most politicians would just
as soon avoid. America's marijuana laws are based on culture and
xenophobia, not science.

The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican migration
during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical
Association. White Americans did not even begin to smoke marijuana
until a soon-to-be entrenched government bureaucracy began funding
anti-pot propaganda, such as the film "Reefer Madness."

Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been
counterproductive at best. An estimated 38 percent of Americans have
now smoked pot.

The "reefer madness" myths have long been discredited, forcing the
drug war gravy train to spend millions of tax dollars on politicized
research, trying to find harm in a relatively harmless plant. The
direct experience of millions of Americans contradicts the
sensationalistic myths used to justify marijuana prohibition.

Illegal drug use is the only public health issue wherein key
stakeholders are not only ignored, but actively persecuted and
incarcerated. In terms of medical marijuana, those stakeholders happen
to be cancer and AIDS patients.

Robert Sharpe, Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.