Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jul 2004
Source: Santa Maria Times (CA)
Copyright: 2004 Pulitzer Central Coast Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.santamariatimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/396
Author: Scott Allen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

GETTING RELIEF WITHOUT INHALING

I grew up in the '70s. Marijuana was not quite as controversial as in the 
'60s, and it was certainly more popular while being just as illicit as ever.

I admit to experimenting with marijuana as a teenager, but never 
experienced the pleasure or enjoyment that frequent users seem to benefit from.

Since then I have read about the evolving movement for marijuana use in 
medical applications in various patients. I personally saw no reason to 
deny such patients some relief through smoking pot.

Today I find myself a cancer patient in need of both relief from nausea and 
an appetite stimulant after being unable to eat during bio/chemo treatments.

I've learned that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, can be had by a 
doctor's prescription in the form of a pill called Marinol. During my 
recovery I experienced the full benefit of THC without smoking marijuana.

So my opinion has changed. While I'm all for patients having access to the 
benefits of THC, I now know that people who want legal access to marijuana 
simply want to smoke pot. There is absolutely no need to smoke pot when THC 
is easily available in a pill. Informed citizens and voters should be 
aware, not fooled.

Now pot smokers have fooled the county supervisors as well, and the county 
will spend our tax dollars on the ID cards for medical marijuana users. 
Money spent on such a program is money up in smoke.

Scott Allen

Santa Maria 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake