Pubdate: Sun, 18 Dec 2011
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2011 Ed Sikov
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Ed Sikov
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n709/a04.html

Sunday Dialogue

WHEN MARIJUANA IS USED AS MEDICINE.

Mr. Evans, who is not a doctor and doesn't specialize in any of the 
illnesses he cites, overextends his expertise when he advises me and 
other readers that medical marijuana does not help me and others like me.

I have Parkinson's disease, and I have used marijuana on occasion to 
relieve the uncomfortable stiffness that I suffer from time to time. It works.

Mr. Evans insists that "numerous safe and effective F.D.A.-approved 
medications are available for these conditions." He's right; I'm on 
several of them. But these drugs have unpleasant and, in one case, 
potentially debilitating side effects when used on a long-term basis. 
How easy it is for an anti-marijuana crusader to dismiss its medical 
benefits; how wrong he is to advocate denying me something that eases 
my suffering.

ED SIKOV

New York, Dec. 14, 2011
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom