Pubdate: Thu, 9 Jun 2005
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2005 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://www.seattletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Jennie Close

ALTERED STAKES OF REALITY

Opponents of the use of medical marijuana often point out that the 
effectiveness and safety of marijuana as a medicine have not been 
established through proper, scientific means such as the FDA approval 
process. They say the evidence for its effectiveness is largely anecdotal.

But couldn't the same be said of the evidence for marijuana being a 
dangerous drug? Where is the scientific documentation that cannabis is more 
dangerous than drugs that are currently sold at the local drug store? For 
that matter, where is the scientific evidence that it is more dangerous 
than alcohol?

It makes no sense that anecdotal evidence and propaganda can be used to 
keep a potentially beneficial drug illegal, but the same type of evidence 
cannot be used to make it available to those who need it for medical purposes.

Jennie Close, Seattle