MAJORITY FAVORS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Every day, it seems, we get new evidence of how out of touch our elected
officials are with the public they purport to represent.

The latest example: A new Zogby poll released June 13 shows that 62.2
percent of voters favor laws protecting the right of seriously ill people
to use medical marijuana without fear of arrest.

Still, the Bush administration continues its multibillion-dollar war
against medical marijuana, and Congress does nothing.

But Zogby's data show that solid majorities of voters in every region, age
group and political affiliation -- even Republicans, conservatives and
born-again Christians -- say Congress should let this new medical marijuana
proposal take effect. Full results of the poll are available at
www.mpp.org/Zogby.html

Perhaps Congress and the president finally will start listening to the will
of the American people. If not, it will be up to voters to elect leaders
who will.

Bruce Mirken

Director of Communications Marijuana Policy Project,
Washington, D.C.