Marijuana Study

A woman who once served as the nation's highest ranking medical official thinks North Carolina should join 12 other states in legalizing the medical use of marijuana. Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders told a House committee on Wednesday that the federal government, beginning in the 1940s, had needlessly restricted the use of marijuana as a drug that could be used to treat pain. Although calling for more study to critically examine the benefits of marijuana as a pain-killing drug, Elders touts it as a way for cancer patients to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy. The House Science and Technology Committee hosted Elders while considering a resolution from Rep. Earl Jones, D-Guilford, the committee chair, that calls for legislation to study the issue.
Elders became well-known for her controversial comments during her two years as surgeon general and was fired by President Clinton in 1994. She didn't shy away from controversy on Wednesday either. Elders compared marijuana to aspirin and Tylenol, noting that both can lead to death. "You can't kill yourself smoking marijuana," she said. But Rep. Marilyn Avila, R-Wake, challenged Elders on touting the benefits of marijuana. Avila questioned Elders about carcinogens in the plant and cited medical journal articles on the lack of studies looking at its long-term effects. "I'm in favor of study, but not at the North Carolina level," Avila said. Afterward, the Rev. Mark Creech of the Christian Action League said setting public policy with so little information made no sense. "This is really not a safe drug to take," he said. (THE INSIDER, 6/26/08).