Distributed by:

The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc.
http://www.mapinc.org/
PO Box 651
Porterville, CA 93259
Contact: Mark Greer
(800) 266-5759

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Precup
(419) 524-3804
(614) 890-3019 fax

SUBJECT: PUBLIC OPINION TOWARD MEDICAL MARIJUANA

(Columbus, OH) The Ohio Patient Network (OPN) proudly announces the release of its ground breaking study, "The People Have Spoken: Medical Marijuana Polling 1996-2002." This report outlines the findings of sixty-six separate public opinion polls on the subject, reviews many of the questions asked in them, describes respondents' demographics and party affiliation, defines the political implications, and illustrates why the medical marijuana issue is so important in the public mind. It also matches polling data to election results in order to create an easy-to-understand model of possible election outcomes should this issue receive major political party support.

In addition, this report includes a brief history of medicinal cannabis and highlights the impact of its prohibition both numerically and through personal accounts. A separate sheet listing the key findings with associated page numbers follows this release.

The narrative of The People Have Spoken can be viewed on the Ohio Patient Network Web site at http://www.ohiopatient.net. Presentation-quality PDF (Portable Document Format) files of the report and its data tables can also be downloaded.

The Ohio Patient Network is a coalition of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, concerned citizens and organizations who support the compassionate use of cannabis for various medicinal purposes. Our mission is to disseminate information among patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and attorneys, as well as to educate legislators and the public.

Questions concerning the study may be directed to its author, Mary Jane Borden, at mjborden@ohiopatient.net