In the News **Tuesday, May 2 – Washington, DC) – Lawyers on behalf of thousands of cancer, AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain and other patients today sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding a response to their petition filed 18 months ago claiming that the government’s policies on medical marijuana are in violation of the Data Quality Act (DQA). The patient advocacy group – Americans for Safe Access – says the government is circulating misinformation that ignores scientific data proving that marijuana can ease suffering for certain illnesses. The FDA released their high-profile Inter-Agency Advisory on April 20 stating that “no sound scientific studies supported medical use of marijuana” and ASA will not tolerate further delays. If HHS does not issue a definitive response by June 12, 2006, says the letter, a suit will be filed in federal district court. To read more, please click on the following link: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3374 To read the letter sent by ASA to the HHS: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/DQA_Intent_to_Sue2.pdf Other news stories relating to medical marijuana: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3396 So basically, we (med mj) are suing the Health and Human Services department for providing false and misleading information. Since this information is the basis for the Governments stance that there is no medicinal benefit of MJ. If the lawyers can disprove the governments information with independent medical studies, then it opens the door for reclassification, the first step toward legalization!
