Pubdate: Tue, 27 May 2008 Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ) Copyright: 2008 Asbury Park Press Contact: http://www.app.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26 Author: Terrence P. Farley MARIJUANA GROUP EXPLOITS THE SICK I have been lax in replying to pro-drug legalization groups such as the Drug Policy Alliance, which has an office and staff in Trenton to lobby legislators and inundate media, including the Your Views column in the Asbury Park Press, with pro-drug propaganda. ("Medical groups back legal marijuana," May 19.) Contrary to the DPA statement, the 1999 Institute of Medicine report that notes marijuana and its cannabinoids have therapeutic potential says marijuana should not be smoked. A new, safe delivery system would have to be found for it to have medical value. The group also cites reports from small, uninformed medical groups that base their reports on information supplied by the DPA and written by its members. It cites a poll that it says finds vast support for medical marijuana, but the group neglects to point out it put the questions together for the pollsters to reach those conclusions. Law enforcement, community and school organizations have taken strong stands against the legislative bills in New Jersey because they will increase the already incredibly high usage of marijuana. The DPA should stop preying on sick people to help accomplish its goal of drug legalization. Terrence P. Farley SEASIDE PARK NEW JERSEY NARCOTICS TASK FORCE COMMANDERS ASSOCIATION - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom