On November 5, 1996, you can help make life easier for tens of thousands of sick people in California. You can vote Yes on Proposition 215, and give doctors the right to prescribe marijuana as medicine.
Proposition 215 - the Compassionate Use Initiative - will allow doctors to prescribe marijuana as part of the treatment of a variety of illnesses. It will allow patients to use marijuana for therapeutic purposes, under a doctor's supervision.
Proposition 215 will allow patients to cultivate marijuana for personal medical use.
Proposition 215 will not legalize recreational use of marijuana, and it prohibits the diversion of medical marijuana for recreational use.
"On November 5, your vote can help somebody in pain get relief.
Vote Yes on Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Initiative."
Gene Berkman, Libertarian candidate for Congress,43rd District
Marijuana has been used for healing for thousands of years. It is mentioned in ancient Chinese medical texts and in European herbal formularies of the 18th and 19th Centuries.
From 1850 to 1941, marijuana was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which describes drugs commonly used in American medicine. American doctors used cannabis preparations to treat migraine headaches, rheumatism, asthma, gastric ulcer and other maladies. It was also found useful in helping opium and morphine addicts to kick their addiction.
In 1937, the American Medical Association opposed passage of the Marijuana Tax Act, stating that "it would seem worthwhile to maintain its status as a medicinal agent..."
Passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937 effectively ended its use in medicine until 1975, when the Food & Drug Administration established a Compassionate Use Program. The FDA made government grown marijuana available to a small number of individuals suffering from glaucoma, or from the side-effects of cancer therapy.
At its high point, the federal government was supplying marijuana to 13 patients. President Bush ended the Compassionate Use Program in 1991, but for 16 years the federal government acknowledged that marijuana is a useful medicine.
Scientific Studies have proven marijuana can:
780,000 California votes signed petitions to put the Compassionate Use Initiative on the ballot. Since it qualified for the November ballot, a number of professional and civic organizations have issued statements in support of Proposition 215:
Health Professionals Say Yes On 215:
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice urges a Yes vote on Proposition 215
Dr. Dean Edell says: "The medicine works. It is being kept from patients for purely political reasons."
San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey says:
"For people who are suffering and in pain, the use of marijuana is strictly a medical issue to be decided between patient and physician and should not become a law enforcement issue."
On November 5,1996 California voters will be able to decide whether doctors will be able to prescribe a medicine of proven value. On November 5, you can help decide whether patients can get some relief - under a doctor's supervision.
In 1993, the California legislature, with bipartisan support, passed a resolution calling on Congress to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
In 1994, the California legislature, with bipartisan support, passed SB 1364, which would allow doctors in California to prescribe marijuana for therapeutic purposes. Governor Wilson vetoed SB 1364.
In 1995, the California legislature, with bipartisan support, passed AB-1529, which would allow patients with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis to cultivate or possess marijuana for medical use, with a doctor's approval. Governor Wilson vetoed AB-1529.
If the voters of California vote Yes on Proposition 215, Governor Wilson cannot veto this initiative. We have it in our power to overrule Governor Wilson.
You can send a message to Sacramento and Washington that compassion matters. Vote Yes on Proposition 215, The Compassionate Use Initiative.