Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 Source: Star-Ledger (NJ) Copyright: 2001 Newark Morning Ledger Co Contact: http://www.nj.com/starledger/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424 Author: Jim Miller Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) ANTI-POT PROPAGANDA Sick and dying citizens find symptomatic relief consuming marijuana, using it as tincture or rubbing compound or smoking it. David Evans' May 21 letter, "Medical marijuana hoax," is the work of a propagandist. He quotes a 1998 Institute of Medicine finding that sees "little future in smoked marijuana as medicine." However, the institute also said it "uncovered an explosion of new scientific knowledge about how active components in marijuana affect the body and how they might be used in a medical context." Evans says medicines are available for all conditions that marijuana supposedly helps. My wife has spasticity and pain in her arms and legs because of 30 years of multiple sclerosis. She has tried all pertinent legal prescription drugs. One almost killed her. Marijuana butter is her safest, most effective medicine. Clarence Thomas, writing for the Supreme Court in the medical marijuana case, said a 1970 federal law "reflects a determination that marijuana has no medical benefits worthy of medical exception." Contrary to Evans, the court didn't decide that marijuana has no medical use. Thomas simply deferred to a law passed 28 years before the "explosion of new scientific knowledge" about medical marijuana. Jim Miller, Silverton - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager