Pubdate: Sat, 31 Jan 2009
Source: Times, The (Trenton, NJ)
Copyright: 2009 The Times
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/times/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458
Author: Calvina Fay
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n071/a02.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A USER'S SMOKESCREEN

I write in response to the guest opinion article "Medical marijuana: 
Opening Pandora's box?" (Jan. 20) by Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, who 
is right to question the unintended consequences of this New Jersey 
legislation which seeks to allow medical use of marijuana. Times readers 
should know that most people with fatal diseases are not smoking pot -- 
they are under the care of legitimate doctors and are receiving valid 
medicines to treat their ailments. This dangerous bill would allow 
widespread marijuana use and fraudulent claims of illness for all drug users.

In cities like San Diego, where this issue has been closely examined, only 
2 percent of those smoking marijuana under the guise of medicine have 
serious conditions such as AIDS, glau coma or cancer. A full 98 percent are 
"treating" minor conditions such as back and neck pain, anxiety, muscle 
spasms, insomnia, headaches and other less significant conditions. But even 
more troubling is that 12 percent of the users are under the age of 21.

Crude marijuana is not prescribed by a doctor because it has not been 
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Crude marijuana can 
never pass FDA standards for several reasons: It is neither safe nor 
stable. In fact, it is particularly dangerous to patients in an already 
weakened condition. Even marijuana in its FDA-approved pill form is a 
third-tier medication and not often prescribed by doctors.

After researching the efficacy of marijuana for medicinal use, the 
Institute of Medicine concluded that although there may be value to some 
compounds found in cannabis, there is no future for smoked marijuana as a 
medicine.

As a drug policy expert with more than 25 years experience in the field, I 
can assure you that for every symptom of every illness, there is a better 
medicine, a bet ter therapy than so-called medical marijuana. Please ensure 
that your legislators are not misled -- it is much more compassionate to 
ensure sick people are not being exploited by those who just want to make a 
quick buck peddling snake oil.

- -- CALVINA FAY, St. Petersburg, Fla.

The writer is executive direc tor of Save Our Society From Drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D