Medicine: Pulling the Plug on Pot

Pulling the Plug on Pot

For patients with certain chronic or terminal diseases, a marijuana cigarette can blunt the side effects of radical treatments. Advocates of alternative medicine claim, for example, that the drug helps cancer patients endure chemotherapy, comforts AIDS victims and eases eye pressure for those who suffer from glaucoma. Last week, however, the U.S. Public Health Service said it will no longer condone cannabis therapy because of the fear that the practice could harm people with weak immune systems. The Federal Government currently allows 13 people to use the drug legally, and had approved the treatment for 28 others. Under the ruling, those...

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