HOUSE PONDERS LEGALIZING MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

At a time when researchers are plunging into the rainforest in search
of new medicines, there is a growing consensus that an herb easily
cultivated here may help patients struggling with cancer, AIDS,
multiple sclerosis and other painful, difficult-to-manage conditions.

The herb is marijuana.

The N.C. House Health Committee is considering a measure that, if
approved, would make North Carolina the 15th state to legalize its
medical use. We think state lawmakers are right to at least consider a
need to expand options for health care and help alleviate patient suffering.

Medical marijuana refers to the use of the cannabis plant as a
physician-recommended drug. Its use is legalized in Canada, Austria,
the Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Finland and Portugal and in 14 U.S.
states.

Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York are
also considering medical-marijuana bills.

A growing body of research confirms the medical benefits of marijuana
and its active compound for treating neuropathy, which causes
extremity pain. The New England Journal of Medicine has editorialized
in favor of marijuana's medical use. In January, the American College
of Physicians, weighed in, also in favor.

The main objection to legalizing medical marijuana is that
unscrupulous doctors will green light virtually anyone's use of the
drug. We agree that there is potential for abuse. But as Oxycontin
illustrates, that can happen with any prescription drug. So addiction
should not be a reason to refuse patients medical marijuana because
legal medical marijuana has not been proved to be physically addictive.

Many western states and a handful in the northeast protect patients
whose doctors have decided marijuana is the best treatment option. For
the most part, the laws have worked well, without the worst-case
scenarios feared by opponents.

It's time for North Carolina to ensure that its sickest patients have
all the treatment options they need, and if smoking marijuana will
allow them some relief, we are all for it. This is a medical issue,
not a war on drugs issue.