Posted on 10/18/2002 8:48:25 AM PDT by MrLeRoy
ALBANY, Oct. 16 — Flanked by terminally ill people who told tales of unrelenting pain, Tom Golisano today endorsed the medical use of marijuana, and lashed out at Gov. George E. Pataki for blocking a state program to provide the drug to patients.
"My approach to this issue is to return the discretion to the doctors, who are trained to make these decisions," said Mr. Golisano, the Independence Party candidate for governor. He charged that Mr. Pataki was opposed "because he is in the pocket of the big drug companies who stand to lose money if medical marijuana is made available."
Mr. Pataki's administration, like that of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, has refused to put into effect a 1980 law letting severely sick people use marijuana, subject to a prescription and approval by a state board. Some doctors and patients say that in some cases, marijuana is more effective against pain than standard medicines, and it can combat the appetite loss that contributes to many seriously ill people's wasting away.
H. Carl McCall, the Democratic candidate, like Mr. Golisano, says he would activate the state program.
In the past, aides to Mr. Pataki, a Republican, have flatly said he opposes medical marijuana. Asked about it today at upstate stops in Saratoga Springs and Bolton Landing, the governor at first declined to give an opinion, saying only that "our medical professionals" did not think marijuana use was warranted.
When pressed, he said, "They have concluded that it is not justified at this time, that there are alternatives, and I support that conclusion."
[...]
Lisa Reiss, one of the people who joined Mr. Golisano today at the Albany Public Library, has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair. She said her husband, who died from AIDS and cancer, "lasted a lot longer with the help of the marijuana."
"I've used it," she said. "It has eased a lot of my pain. I would use it again if it was legal."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I'm sure those Drug Warriors who argue that 'the drug ban is the law---get the votes to change it or shut up' will be along shortly to condemn Pataki for his gross disregard of New York State law.
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