The Compassionate Coalition

PERSONAL FINANCE DAILY
Monday's Personal Finance stories
Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/personal-finance-daily----april/story.aspx?guid=%7bD196784E-494B-4F2F-92DA-ECB95348553C%7d&print=true&dist=printTop

By MarketWatch
Last Update: 2:53 PM ET Apr 16, 2007

It would be tempting to characterize the debate over the medical use of marijuana as a battle between the forces of stone-faced, gray-suited DEA agents and glassy-eyed, tie-dyed ex-hippies. But there is no such "Cheech and Chong" comedy when it comes to the folks whose pain is relieved only by smoking cannabis, and whose work is to document the medicinal benefits or drawbacks to the drug.

The federal government classifies marijuana among its most dangerous drugs. But that's not the view in several states and in the minds of patients who rely on prescription marijuana. The clash is reaching a crossroads as legal proceedings and medical research build a case on both sides.

The idea that marijuana should be legalized has been around for years, and it's one of the arguments opponents of medical marijuana use to defeat its prescription use -- that the move for regulated use is just one step on the way to packs of Mary Jane being sold next to boxes of Marlboro. Still, there shouldn't be any confusion over the needs of seriously ill Americans who need help now.

In our lead stories, we look at the debate over medical marijuana. Read health-care writer Kristen Gerencher's Vital Signs column to learn where the legal and medical communities stand today, and check out Washington reporter Ruth Mantell's look at the involvement of former Republican Congressman Bob Barr's in the marijuana lobby; plus, find out how to win reimbursement if an error by your stockbroker costs you money, all on Monday's Personal Finance pages.

The medical-marijuana debate is not about feeling good for the fun of it. For some people, it's about feeling good at all.

Full article: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/personal-finance-daily----april/story.aspx?guid=%7bD196784E-494B-4F2F-92DA-ECB95348553C%7d&print=true&dist=printTop