Pubdate: Mon, 19 Nov 2001
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Page: A20
Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1897/a05.html?1188
Authors: Gary Storck, Joyce Nalepka
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ashcroft.htm (Ashcroft, John)

MAD ABOUT MARIJUANA

David Broder's Nov. 11 Op-Ed column, "DEA Marijuana Madness," hit the nail 
on the head.

Why take away sick and dying Californians' source of medical marijuana, 
especially during a time of national emergency? California voters passed 
their medical marijuana law five years ago. While campaigning for the 
presidency George Bush pledged to let states set their own policies on 
medical marijuana.

It's time to end this wasteful war on marijuana. These attacks on some of 
our most vulnerable citizens demonstrate that George Bush's claims of being 
a "compassionate conservative" were just rhetoric. Keeping medicine from 
sick people is not compassion but infliction of pain.

GARY STORCK, Madison, Wis.

- --

Researchers at major universities have confirmed that marijuana cigarettes 
are of no therapeutic value. Marijuana's most active psychoactive 
ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), destroys the immune-system cells, 
called lymphocytes, which also are impaired by the AIDS virus -- putting 
AIDS patients who smoke pot in double jeopardy.

When we began our drug-prevention efforts 24 years ago, marijuana had a THC 
content of approximately 2 percent. Today's higher-grade marijuana contains 
up to 35 percent THC. The University of Maryland Center for Substance Abuse 
Research reported marijuana-related emergency room visits now are as common 
as heroin-related ones.

Not surprisingly, marijuana use is above the national average in eight of 
the nine states that passed pro-marijuana initiatives. Kids in treatment 
frequently say, "Everyone says pot is medicine. I thought it might be good 
for you -- and before I knew it I was hooked."

The state initiative process that created the medical marijuana cigarette 
myth is driven by the drug-legalization movement. In the past, David Broder 
has criticized these initiatives, calling the results "laws without 
government" [Op-Ed, March 26, 2000]. The "medical marijuana cigarettes" 
initiatives need to be reversed.

Only the Food and Drug Administration has jurisdiction to approve anything 
as medicine. Certainly, it is not the job of voters, elected officials or 
journalists.

JOYCE NALEPKA, President, Drug Free Kids: America's Challenge, Silver Spring
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jackl