AFSCME Endorses Medical Marijuana

8/11/06

From Stop the Drug War

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME), the country's largest public service workers' union, passed
a resolution endorsing medical marijuana at its national convention in
Chicago Tuesday. AFSCME thus becomes the latest major civic
organization to advocate for access to therapeutic cannabis.

Passed on an overwhelming voice vote by convention delegates, the
resolution notes that marijuana has been shown to effectively treat
illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma,
Crohn's disease, chronic pain, and the side effects of medical
treatments for these illnesses. And here's the bottom line:
"Therefore, be it further resolved that AFSCME endorse and support
legalization of medical marijuana for appropriate medically indicated
ailments, including but not limited to AIDS, HIV, cancer, arthritis,
etc."

AFSCME represents some 1.4 million American workers in both the public
and private sectors, including bus drivers, child care providers,
custodians, librarians, and other state, local, and federal government
employees. Of particular relevance to drug policy issues, AFSCME also
represents nurses and corrections officers. Some 6,000 delegates are
meeting all week in Chicago for the union's 37th annual convention.

"Our efforts to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest are
gaining new momentum every day," said Aaron Houston, director of
government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington,
DC. "This year alone, we've seen such new supporters as the
Presbyterian Church (USA), Citizens Against Government Waste, and now
AFSCME. With support this broad and growing this fast, it's no
surprise we saw record support in the US House of Representatives this
year, and we expect to keep building this large and powerful
coalition."