Pubdate: Fri, 11 Dec 2009
Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)
Copyright: 2009 The Gazette
Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/
Website: http://www.gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n000/a203.html
Author: Tommy Latham

GEORGE WILL ON POT

As a conservative myself, I found George Will's editorial on Dec. 8 
concerning medical marijuana to be confusing and misleading. This 
surprises me, since Will is an intellectual conservative who usually 
searches out the truth. Nothing about this article was truthful, but 
it was filled with inuendos and presuppositions.

While commenting on Colorado's medical marijuana laws, he begins by 
calling the dispensaries "fiction." He believes that "most really 
just want to smoke pot" instead of using the weed to help alleviate 
pain and different ailments. So, where are his accurate statistics 
about "most." How does he come to that conclusion?

He quotes Colorado's attorney general, John Suthers, who is "trying 
to save his state from institutionalizing such hypocrisy." Such a 
lofty statement since Will, Suthers, and other politicians mock the 
fact medical marijuana is used for "chronic pain." Mr. Will even 
perpetuates the myth that there are drugs available to deal with 
chemo nausea. While there are such drugs, their effectiveness is in 
question in terms of nausea relief.

He even has the audacity to equate Nevada's prostitution industry of 
taxation and regulation with medical marijuana. Mr. Will then tries 
to equate marijuana usage with methamphetamine addiction. Where did 
this intellectual come up with these supposed facts and scholarly 
pronouncements?

All I know is my wife has been in chronic pain for more than three 
years. The doctors have had her on Vicodin and Oxycontin. One 
suggested a morphine pump be surgically implanted in her spine. 
Another doctor wanted her to try Ketamine -- an LSD-type drug.

So, the medical community can promote these hard drugs but is 
paralyzed to recommend medical marijuana which has decreased her 
pain? And, George Will continues the fear-mongering.

Tommy Latham

Colorado Springs
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake