Pubdate: October 11, 1997 Source: The Herald, Everett, WA Contact: http://www.heraldnet.com INITIATIVE 685 Relieve pain for sufferers It is time to present an alternative viewpoint on Initiative 685. Initiative 685, if passed, would remove heroin, LSD and marijuana from the Class I narcotic schedule. This initiative, if passed, would allow physicians to prescribe marijuana for a patient suffering fro conditions such as multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and ravages of cancer secondary to chemotherapy drugs. The decision regarding the medicinal use of marijuana should be left to the doctor and patient not bureaucrats or legislators in Olympia or Washington D.C. The initiative will also release many people presently incarcerated on drug charges. These are not violent offenders no rapists, murderers, child molesters or people charged with assault or robbery. These are people in jail solely on drug possession charges. The Washington State Medical Association voted not to support the initiative. Why? They said there haven't been enough studies done to determine the efficacy of marijuana to relieve symptoms from the conditions listed above. Why haven't more studies been done? It is next to impossible to get government approval for such a study, that's how bad the "reefer madness" paranoia is in this country. A recent letter to the editor, from a local police chief no less, said among other things, that if this initiative were to pass it would make our drug laws unenforceable! Are they enforceable now? There are economic interests in keeping the current (unenforceable) drug laws in effect. Prisons are a big business these days. In privatelyowned prison systems, the more prisoners, the more money to be made. If you are undecided on how you're going to vote on Initiative 685 (or you think you're going to vote against it), please do yourself, the state and the country a favor and rent the documentary video, "The Hemp Revolution," available at Hollywood Video. Currently in the United States of America, it is illegal to even grow hemp, not just the plant from which marijuana comes but also the different species from which the hemp fibers are harvested. Hemp is an environmentally friendly, sustainable crop that could put some of the unemployed lumber workers back to work. JOYCE MATSON Everett