One of the leading supporters of marijuana legalization, Dr. John P. Morgan, passed away today (Feb. 15). The cause of death was leukemia. He was 67.

The co-author of Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts (1997) with Lynn Zimmer and a professor of pharmacology at New York's City College from 1977 to 2004, Dr. Morgan had a longtime association with NORML, which included many years of service on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Dr. Morgan was born in 1940 in Cincinnati. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in 1962 and from the university's College of Medicine in 1965.

Along with Harvard's Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Dr. Morgan had been among the few medical professionals to support the legalization of marijuana. "Marijuana is a drug with some hazard," he cautioned. "I don't know of any drugs with no hazard. But of all the psychoactive drugs, marijuana is by and large the safest. I don't believe it causes cancer. I don't believe it causes chronic lung disease. I don't believe it contributes to vehicular mayhem. I'm a strong advocate of the legalization of marijuana and other drugs not because they're safe, but because they're dangerous. They would be better controlled by a system of regulation, a system in which a retail market can develop, a system that removes the criminality."

NORML's executive director Allen St. Pierre stated: "Every single man and woman in this country and around the world who care about replacing prohibition-oriented policies with science/public health-based policies owe a man like John Morgan immense thanks and praise."

NORML founder and legal counsel Keith Stroup added: "John Morgan was one of the most caring and compassionate individuals I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and he was one of the major players at NORML for the last two decades." 

CelebStoner's Steve Bloom recalls another side of Dr. Morgan: "He was a student of music and marijuana. His lunchtime video and music presentations at the NORML Conferences were always a highlight. John sought my assistance and I was always glad to help. He may have possessed an inestimable knowlege of medicine, but John was a music aficionado at heart." 

Jacob Sullum weighs in on Dr. Morgan 

Comments (0)

Title
Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment