Pubdate: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 Date: 02/13/1999 Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) Author: Kenji Klein I applaud Sandra Lacar's (View Point, Jan. 30) desire to protect our youth from drugs. However, her opposition to medical marijuana is misguided. Allowing medical marijuana will not encourage teen drug use. Teen marijuana use actually dropped in California after passage of the medical marijuana bill. Perhaps the images of withered AIDS and cancer patients smoking pot helped undermine the cool rebel image that draws many teens to marijuana. Lacar also suggests that patients use only federally approved synthetic marijuana. Unfortunately, synthetic marijuana often does not work and is extremely expensive. Moreover, many patients report that it is far too intoxicating! Her concern that the American Medical Association does not endorse medical marijuana is understandable but misguided. Historically, the AMA has avoided politically charged issues. What is amazing, however, is the number of other reputable medical organizations that do support medical marijuana. These include prominent medical journals, public health organizations and several state associations of physicians, pharmacists and nurses. We can allow seriously ill patients access to necessary medicine without putting our youth at risk. I urge Lacar to reconsider her position. Kenji Klein (Via the Internet)