Marijuana Policy Project

PHILADELPHIA -- A free screening of the medical marijuana documentary, "Waiting to Inhale," takes place March 30, at the Community Education Center here, followed by a panel discussion with local medical marijuana activists.

Winner of several awards, including the Worldfest Houston 2005 Goldfest Special Jury Award, Best Documentary 2005 New Jersey International Film Festival and winner of the Eureka! International Film Festival, "Waiting to Inhale" examines the debate over marijuana's use as medicine in the United States. The film includes interviews with patients and leading medical marijuana researchers and experts.

- WHO: The screening is hosted by Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana and PhillyNORML
- WHEN: Sunday, March 30, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
- WHERE: The Community Education Center (CEC), 3500 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia, 19104

Twelve states currently have laws protecting seriously ill patients from arrest for using medical marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. Legislatures in Illinois, Minnesota and New York are also considering similar bills this year, and a medical marijuana ballot initiative question will likely appear on the ballot in Michigan in November.

A 2005 Gallup poll showed that 78 percent of Americans favor legal protection for seriously ill medical marijuana patients. In February, the American College of Physicians – the second largest U.S. medical association, representing 124,000 physicians – released a position paper supporting protection for doctors and patients and calling on the federal government to stop interfering in states with medical marijuana laws.

With more than 23,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.