Pubdate: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2001 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Ray Aldridge Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) 'TOKEN' GESTURE I was disappointed in the column by Dr. David Gratzer (Health Care Battle Much Ado about Nothing, Aug. 8) , who characterized the recent change in the legal status of medical marijuana as "irrelevant." Dr. Gratzer offers a superficial analysis of the state of medical research as justification for this conclusion. He thereby misses the point completely. It doesn't matter whether or not marijuana is really helpful to seriously ill patients. They believe that it is. It is barbaric to treat these people as criminals. Canada has my deepest admiration. What you have done is sensible, compassionate, and just. Ray Aldridge, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. - --- MAP posted-by: