CATO Institute's Bandow: Clinton Should Back Medical Marijuana

MEDICAL MARIJUANA February 1993

President Bill Clinton should change current federal policy to permit medical use of marijuana, writes the Cato Institute's Doug Bandow [Doug Bandow, "Sometimes Marijuana Is the Best Medicine," The Wall Street Journal (Counterpoint), 1/28/93, A15].

Bandow is not optimistic, however, based on a recent statement by a Clinton spokesman that the President backs the current prohibition on marijuana for any purpose. But Bandow also points out that Surgeon General nominee Joycelyn Elders, M.D., favors legalizing the drug for medical use.

Citing the known medical uses of marijuana as an appetite stimulant and antiemetic, Bandow appeals to Clinton's oft stated commitment to change: "What better opportunity could there be for the new president to demonstrate his commitment to change than to stop treating AIDS and cancer patients as the enemy?"