Pubdate: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 Source: Orange County Register, The (CA) Copyright: 2003 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www2.ocregister.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321 Author: Vic Afsahi MEDICAL MARIJUANA: TWO VIEWS I take the Constitution very seriously, and just as seriously, I disagree with the Register's opinion that the city of Santa Cruz has a right to allow its citizens to use marijuana ["Imposing compassion," Editorial, April 23]. Marijuana is a harmful drug with serious side effects. For example, the British Medical Journal just reported that marijuana is causally linked to schizophrenia. It contains more cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke (oftentimes 70 percent more, according to the National Institutes of Health) and the drug is the most implicated in treatment episodes for youth. The Institute of Medicine reported in 1999 that "because of the health risks associated with smoking, smoked marijuana should generally not be recommended for long-term medical use." It added that "in no way do we wish to suggest that patients should medicate themselves with marijuana." The medical community is not behind medical-excuse marijuana. Instead, a coalition of those who want to normalize drug use has an interest in letting the marijuana culture flourish. True compassion would entail giving the sick scientifically proven medicine and stopping the exploitation of the dying in the name of drug legalization. Vic Afsahi Newport Beach - --- MAP posted-by: Alex