PUBLIC SUPPORTS MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

A new poll taken in Maryland Jan. 9-12 underlines what many of us knew
already: The public supports the right of patients to use marijuana for
medical purposes, and legislators can act to protect patients without
risking trouble at election time.

The poll, conducted by Gonzales/Arscott Research and Communications, found
that 37 percent of Maryland voters would be more likely to vote for a
candidate who supports protecting medical marijuana patients while only 18
percent would be less likely to support such a candidate. Forty percent
said a candidate's position on the issue would have no effect. Men, women,
whites, blacks, Democrats, Republicans and independents all said they would
be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports protecting medical
marijuana patients.

This jibes with everything we know about voter sentiment on medical
marijuana. In every state where protection for patients has been on the
ballot, it has passed by a large margin. Local, state and national polls
have consistently shown strong public support.

Maryland legislators will soon get another chance to protect patients who
need marijuana to relieve symptoms associated with cancer, multiple
sclerosis, AIDS and other terrible illnesses. Now that they know they have
nothing to fear, one can only hope they will do the right thing.

Bruce Mirken