ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702100103
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BRIEFLY PUT
DEL. MORGAN Griffith, R-Salem, was one of only two delegates to speak on the floor of the House of Delegates against repeal of a Virginia law that allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for cancer or glaucoma patients. Griffith was one of only 13 delegates to vote against the repeal.
Good for him.
The red light he posted on the House voting board was not simply a ``no'' to repeal. It said ``no'' to a crass variety of knee-jerk reaction, political pandering and partisan positioning in a legislative election year. This is about politicians going to pot for currency in their upcoming re-election campaigns.
Recall, please, that the 1979 law was all but forgotten, and possibly has never even been used by Virginia doctors. It wouldn't have been an issue had California and Arizona voters not approved medical use of marijuana in November, bringing threats of federal sanctions from the didn't-inhale Clintonistas and political opportunity for state lawmakers to show they're not soft on drugs.
Not surprisingly, the House knee-jerkers passed the repeal - just as the New England Journal of Medicine came out in favor of allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes.
Griffith was right to call it a cynical rush to judgment before the drug's medicinal value has been properly tested. But even if you think he's wrong, you have to admire his pluck.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB