Marijuana.com

420

On January 31, 2007, the Drug Policy Alliance filed anÂ*amicus (friend of the court) briefÂ*highlightingthe scientific underpinnings for the medical use of marijuana to treatsymptoms related to HIV/AIDS. The brief supports a motion for return ofproperty in the case of Ben Goldstein, an AIDS patient in San Franciscowho uses marijuana for medical purposes.
In December 2005, Mr. Goldstein was robbed in his home and hismedical marijuana was stolen.Â* The San Francisco Police Departmentapprehended the robber and recovered the stolen marijuana.Â* However,despite the fact that Mr. Goldstein is a qualified medical marijuanapatient, the police department refused to return his medicine to him.Â*Mr. Goldstein, represented by Americans for Safe Access, filed a Motionfor Return of Property.
Signatories to the brief consist of a powerful contingent oforganizations advocating on behalf of all people living with HIV/AIDS,including the National Association of People with AIDS, San FranciscoAIDS Legal Referral Panel, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project andthe Drug Policy Alliance.
Amici summarize for the court the conclusions reached byblue-ribbon government panels and federally-funded, peer-reviewedscientific studies: that marijuana has therapeutic properties notreplicated by other currently available medications.Â* Amiciargue that in light of the strong evidence underpinning marijuana'smedical efficacy, the court should order the return of Mr. Goldstein'smarijuana in order to prevent the police (and other third parties) fromunduly interfering with Mr. Goldstein's state-based right to follow therecommendation of his physician in pursuit of his wellness.
Just this week, a major new study released by the journal Neurologyadded to the growing body of research in support of the therapeuticvalue of medical marijuana to treat symptoms related to HIV/AIDS. Therigorous, double-blind controlled study funded by the State ofCalifornia found that AIDS patients suffering from a painful nervecondition in their hands or feet received as much or more relief frommedical marijuana as they would typically get from prescription drugs,though with fewer side effects. Amici plan to bring thislatest study to the attention of the court in the Goldstein case, asits findings bear directly on Mr. Goldstein's medical predicament.
http://www.nooked.com/news/itemtrack...10c149a4140e74

More...