APPLAUD LAWMAKERS FOR MEDICAL POT BILL

It took years, a lot of wrangling and considerable grief, but finally
New Mexico will join 11 other progressive and caring states that allow
the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Way overdue, it is the right thing to do, because its intent is solely
to bring comfort and relief to patients for whom marijuana is a
painkiller. It is such a simple, human thing to do that we are moved
to ask: What the heck took so long?

For the better part of a decade, repressive views have held sway in
this otherwise typically progressive state, which previously twice
elected a popular Republican governor who favored decriminalizing
virtually all illicit drugs.

Now, another popular governor, Democrat Bill Richardson, says he plans
to sign legislation that will allow patients in pain, who have a
doctor's recommendation, to use marijuana supplied by the state Health
Department.

This is, after all, a medical matter - between doctor and patient -
and the state and federal governments have no business banning
anything that can be legitimately used by physicians to improve the
health or well-being of their patients. On such questions, medicine,
not politics, should rule. And finally, in New Mexico, it will.

Reflecting the contentious history of the measure, Richardson said he
intends to sign the bill despite the political risk.

What political risk? Like so many squeaky issues in this country that
seem to get all the political grease, the reality is that most New
Mexicans and most Americans are sympathetic to people in pain and have
no problem with the notion that marijuana might be used to provide
relief.

What they want is a politician with half a brain and the political
courage to stand up and use it for public benefit, in the face of a
little ranting and raving.

Political wisdom holds that this is a contentious and highly
controversial issue and that Richardson, in supporting the medical
marijuana law, is gambling not only his popularity in New Mexico but
also his shot at the Democratic presidential nomination.

There may be political courage involved, but more probably it is
shrewd political insight that this governor once again displays. In
his own words, the law is for people who "are suffering. My God, let's
be reasonable."

Let's, indeed. Richardson noted that only about 160 people in New
Mexico might initially use the new law.

Richardson and the Legislature deserve praise for cutting through the
nonsense, finally standing up and doing the right thing - even if in
the face of a regressive federal government that has refused to
compromise in its inhumane declaration that marijuana is an illegal,
controlled substance with no medicinal value.

While federal courts continue to sanction that inhumanity with rulings
against patients, doctors and medicinal marijuana, in New Mexico
people in need of medical marijuana will at least know that their
state government, governor and Legislature are on their side.