Research, not rhetoric: Marijuana can save lives

[Cobalt Violet]

Research, not rhetoric: Marijuana can save lives

March 5, 2007
BY DAVID OSTROW

http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/283137,CST-EDT-REF05.article

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This is only the latest in a growing accumulation of research showing that medical marijuana can provide real -- sometimes even lifesaving -- benefits. In a study published last year of patients being treated for the hepatitis C virus, those using marijuana to curb the nausea and other noxious side effects of anti-hepatitis drugs were significantly more likely to complete their treatment.As a result, the marijuana-using patients were three times more likely to clear the deadly hepatitis C virus from their bodies -- in plain English, to be cured -- than those not using marijuana.

While we don't yet have a way of ridding the body of HIV, there is strong evidence that continuing on treatment without interruption increases one's chances of keeping the virus under control. That translates directly to increased survival. And again, there is published evidence that use of medical marijuana to relieve nausea and other treatment side effects can help HIV/AIDS patients stick to their regimens.

Does all this sound too good to be true? That might be because our government spends many billions of dollars in its "War on Drugs" to make us believe that marijuana is an addictive and dangerous drug and actively spreads disinformation about its medical usefulness.

Clearly, the White House and its drug czar, John Walters, should abandon their rigid, unscientific rejection of medical marijuana and start reshaping federal policy to match medical reality. And if they won't act, Congress should. There are a number of actions Congress can take to put federal medical marijuana policy on a path toward sanity.
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The war on drugs is a stupid war that's hurting people. We need to modernize our drug law.

[porphyrian]

1. Hell, it's just fun, and way less harmful than alcohol in every way.

There is really no good reason for it to remain illegal. There are already existing laws to deal with every situation its detractors cite to keep it illegal.

[Cobalt Violet]

3. We have to demand a facts based look at our drug policies.

All the reasons not to legalize it are BS. :smoke:

[porphyrian]

4. I totally agree. It's time the people have more say in our laws than corporations and PACs.

If it were actually up to the people, it would be legal.

[Qutzupalotl]

2. In this case, it's a war on a plant.

How silly is that?

[Cobalt Violet]

5. Very crazy.

Enough people know better. I wonder why people aren't demanding things change. It's time to up date the laws.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. It's a war on minorities.

Drugs were never a big deal until people started associating it with black people.

[Cobalt Violet]

7. They love to war upon people.

This is also a war on the sick and dying.