Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Suffering patients deserve access to medical marijuana Copyright by the Chicago Sun Times

Suffering patients deserve access to medical marijuana Copyright by the Chicago Sun Times

March 2, 2006

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that people who smoke pot for medical reasons can be charged under federal law, even if it is not a crime under their state's law. The ruling likely led to few charges, since most marijuana law enforcement is done by the states. But there was a fear the decision would chill efforts to pass medical marijuana laws in states that don't have them. That didn't happen in Illinois, where a medical marijuana law will be voted on as early as today by the Senate.

In fact, Illinois already has a law on the books authorizing the State Police and the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow medical marijuana. The new proposal, sponsored by Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), would require those agencies to allow it. The bill faces a tough time getting through the Legislature in an election year, but it deserves to be passed.

Marijuana has a wide variety of medical uses. One important use is to reduce the nausea and vomiting that are often side effects of anti-cancer drugs. The National Cancer Institute recommends other drugs but says pot may be appropriate for some cancer patients. It has also been used to stimulate eating in AIDS patients who have lost their appetite, to treat the pain from multiple sclerosis and to treat fluid pressure within the eye caused by glaucoma.

Pot opponents point to a lack of studies proving its medicinal value, but as we noted last year, the federal government cites pot's illegal status to choke off academic research that could document its benefits.

Of course, marijuana can be dangerous if abused. But so can so many other drugs with legitimate medical uses. For some reason, pot has a reputation that makes it more of a pariah. That's why lawmakers might be reluctant to support the bill. They know opponents will accuse them of being potheads or stoners or -- the ultimate insult -- someone who is soft on crime. That's an easy, nonsensical accusation to make, which is why it's all but certain to be made.

But the bill makes it tough for abuses to happen. It says that people with debilitating conditions and their doctors should be issued a registry card by the Department of Public Health. That card would entitle them to grow up to eight marijuana plants and possess a small amount of pot.

The bill says that if the Public Health Department fails to craft rules to implement the act, a qualifying patient can sue to force the department to act.

Clearly, this is no back-door effort to decriminalize marijuana. Rather, it is an attempt to make sure people who can benefit from the drug can receive it -- just like any other prescription medication. It's folly to say marijuana is illegal under all circumstances when it's easy to carve out exceptions that won't lead to abuse. If pot can provide comfort to people who -- according to their doctor -- need it, then it's unmerciful to stand in their way.