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December 2, 2008 10:35:51 AM CST

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Major US Doctors' Group Backs Medical Marijuana

Posted Feb 15, 08 3:15 AM CST in Arts & Living,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – The second-largest physicians' organization in the nation is taking a stand supporting medical marijuana, declaring that science has proven the drug has therapeutic value. The American College of Physicians is asking federal lawmakers to drop marijuana from a category of drugs considered to have no medicinal value, the Los Angeles Times reports. In a position paper, the association also calls for the protection of doctors and patients in states with laws supporting pot use for health reasons.

The Bush administration has aggressively rebuffed any such moves. “We’d like to clear up the uncertainty and anxiety of patients and physicians over this drug,” said the organization's president. The association's document also calls for research to identify illnesses best treated with pot and to determine proper dosages. A medical-marijuana advocate called the new position "an earthquake that’s going to rattle the whole medical-marijuana issue.” Marijuana is often used to increase appetite and quell nausea.

Source Los Angeles Times

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Pro-medical marijuana activists demonstrate in downtown Los Angeles, on Thursday Oct.11, 2007. About 200 activists gathered today outside Gov. Schwarzenegger's office demanding he do more to end federal...   (Associated Press)
Joanna McKee uses a vaporizer to get one of her daily doses of medical marijuana, Wednesday, June, 27, 2007, in Seattle. McKee has been using marijuana to relieve the pain caused by her back and leg problems....   (Associated Press)
Joanna McKee uses a vaporizer to get one of her daily doses of medical marijuana, June, 27, 2007, in Seattle. McKee has been using marijuana to relieve the pain caused by her back and leg problems.   (Associated Press)
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