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