Kentucky's Cancer Fight Needs This Weapon

Kentucky's Governor is interested in programs and policies that would bring down the horrific cancer rate of the Bluegrass State. Currently , according to an article that appeared it the 29 Feb 2012 edition of the Kentucky Enquirer, the state sees more than 24,000 cases of cancer each year. Around 9,500 Kentuckians die from cancer every year. Kentucky's lung cancer rate is 49% higher than the other states and we have one of the highest colon and rectal cancer death rates in the nation.
Governor Beshear announced the formation of the Kentucky Cancer Foundation to make cancer screenings more affordable. While I applaud the Governor's efforts He could probably do more to lower Kentucky's cancer rate than he could imagine just by supporting Senate Bill 129 the Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Medical Marijuana Act. Despite the Federal Governments claim that marijuana has no medical value, there are innumerable anecdotal stories and personal testimony's as to the effectiveness of marijuana in the treatment of many otherwise fatal cancers. There are a number of reliable studies and research to show that the notion of marijuana as a cancer preventer and cure is now within the realm of objective science. This information is all readily available at either MPP.org or NORML.org and show that, yes Virginia, marijuana does prevent and treat many types of cancers. A very informative piece written by NORML senior policy Analyst Paul Armentano titled, ' Cannabinoids As Cancer Hope', sums up clearly the current status of marijuana cancer studies and research and is available at NORML.org, click on library, then , health reports.
Given the scientific evidence both from studies and lab research, there is no doubt that there is a cancer prevention/cure aspect to marijuana. Lab work in Europe showed that in vitro cancer cell lines for breast, prostate and colon cancers died when the cannabinoids from marijuana's active ingredient were introduced. A large study with over 2000 participants done by a Dr Donald Tashkin, was one of few studies supported by the Federal Government. It was considered a slam dunk for the prohibitionists because they had no doubt that marijuana would be linked to lung cancer. The Government hurriedly withdrew the minute the results showed marijuana was an anti-cancer agent and that regular marijuana users got head, neck and lung cancers at the same rate as those who do not smoke at all.
The Government has known about marijuana's anti-cancer properties since 1974 when researchers at The Medical College of Virginia discovered them and has chosen to ignore or suppress this information in order to continue the irrational war on marijuana users. One must ask, how many of our citizens have succumbed to cancer who would now be alive had President Nixon not ignored his own appointed Shafer Commission and declared the war on drugs?
Kentucky's Governor and all it's legislators should heartily support and pass Senate Bill 129, The Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Medical Marijuana Act which would end Kentucky's participation in this charade and allow for the use of this wonderful medicine. Kentucky's research facilities, hospitals and institutions of higher learning can get to work finding all the secrets of this new medicine and in the process maybe even find the ever elusive cure to cancer. If that, alone does not justify supporting and passing Senate Bill 129, I don't know what will.