DO RIGHT THING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

A 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

Washington, D.C.