norml08 - Page 19

 Doctor Merritt was unable to explain, under oath, the
 contradictory positions he has taken on this subject°
 Each of NORML_s doctors testified his opinion is based
 on the published scientific studies. With one exceptionr
 none of them could identify under oath the scientific
 studies they swore they relied on. Only one had enough
 knowledge to discuss the scientific technicalities involved.
 Eventually_ each one admitted he was basing his opinion on
 anecdotal evidences on stories he heard from patients, and
 on his impressions about the drug.
 Sadly, Doctor ivan Silverberg, an oncologist from San
 Francisco, exaggerated while on the witness stand. At first
 he swore _'there is voluminous medical research which shows
 marijuana is effective in easing nausea and vomiting. _'
 Pushed on cross-examination to identify this voluminous
 research, Doctor Siiverberg replied, _Well..., I'm going to
 have to back off a little bit from that. _ How far would
 Doctor Silverberg back off? Was he aware, at least, of the
 approximate number of scientific studies that have been done
 using marijuana to treat nausea? Under oath, he replied, '_I
 would doubt very few_ But, no, I_m not. _'
 Beyond doubt, theclaims that marijuana is medicine are
 falser dangerous and cruel.
 Sick men, women and children can be fooled by these
 claims and experiment with the drug° Instead of being
 helped, they risk serious side effec_s. If they neglect
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