Pubdate: Mon, 08 Aug 2011 Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Copyright: 2011 The Arizona Republic Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24 Author: Durrie Parks MEDICAL-POT COLUMN CLOSE-MINDED Edward Gogek has reached a conclusion based on his surmise from favorable data ("Medical pot just a smokescreen," My Turn, Friday). He is wrong all round. He went out to support his belief that marijuana is not medicine. There may be recreational users in the state's medical-marijuana program. However, there are certainly patients with qualifying illnesses and injuries. As a non-medicating patient myself, I know them. First, please remember these are human beings who are finding relief from sometimes catastrophic illness and/or injury. Gogek replays the ancient shibboleth that men and women are to be considered and treated differently. Having made up his mind, he does not even bother to look for or at other information and data. And it is out there. Medical marijuana is legal and working for patients in Arizona, across the U.S. and around the world, and has been for centuries. Gogek is wrong. Durrie Parks Mesa - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.