Source:   Wall Street Journal  Letters March 31
Contact:  PainRelief Research Supports Marijuana
  Your editorialpage article (Marijuana is the Wrong Medicine," March
11) opposing medical use of marijuana is replete with
mistnderstandings and erroneous information, reflecting either
ignorance of the medical and scientific research or a cynical decision to
ignore the facts.

 Foremost, the authors claim that marijuana actually eniances pain
because it does not interact with the brain's "endorphin" system.
Millions of Americans who have smoked it would probably disagree.
But beyond the anecdotal evidence, there are decades of neuroscientific
research into marijuana's painrelieving properties. Researchers have
discovered an entire brain system for marijuana. Including receptors
and neurotraosmitters. A few years ago they mapped the brain nuclei
responsible for the drug's painrelieving effects. The authors are
purportedly scientists: did they forget about this research? Have they
not read a neuroscience Journal since 1985? This is wellfounded,
governmentfunded research, which the authors distort or simply
ignore. This offense against good science reporting is not excused by
the expression of antidrug sentiments.                    
PHILIP O. COFFIN
                    Research Associate 
               The Lindesrhith Center