Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jun 2010
Source: Pantagraph, The  (Bloomington, IL)
Copyright: 2010 Keaton Richard
Contact:  http://www.pantagraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/643
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n425/a09.html
Author: Keaton Richard

OTHER DRUGS CARRY MORE DANGER THAN MARIJUANA

This is in response to Shirley Bradley's letter  regarding medicinal
marijuana ("Marijuana law would  send mixed message," YourViews, June
5).

She acknowledges that medical marijuana is available to  anyone
suffering from pain, headaches and attention  deficit disorder, not
just dying patients. This is no  surprise. Cannabis has been shown to
effectively treat  anxiety, depression, glaucoma and pain. There are
other  drugs available to treat these conditions. However,  they can
be just as debilitating as the diseases  themselves.

Hydrocodone is just as addicting and harmful as heroin  because it's
derived from the same plant. Acetaminophen  is found in most medicines
and treats pain, but is also  linked to liver failure. One can
overdose or die on 10  pain pills. Marijuana has yet to be the direct
cause of  any known deaths.

She mentions that legislators are not doctors. That's  true. But
politicians do play a vital role in drug  regulation -- such as the
Food and Drug Administration.  Bills to regulate private
pharmaceutical companies have  been voted down. Laws protect the
manufacturers of  drugs if a product needs to be recalled.
Prescription  pills account for 106,000 deaths a year, but nobody is
charged.

Surely that is more of a crime than a teenager with  attention deficit
disorder smoking a joint or eating a  cannabis cookie to focus in school.

Medicinal marijuana will not increase crime or ruin our  society.
Studies show medicinal marijuana is cheaper to  manufacture and has
relatively no side-effects. Yet we  allow hydrocodone to be prescribed
to children. What's  worse? Legal marijuana or legal heroin?

Keaton Richard,  Bloomington
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake