Pubdate: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2010 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n491/a09.html Author: Herbert D. Kleber, MD THE RISING TRADE IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA To the Editor: Re "When Capitalism Meets Cannabis" (June 27), about the medical marijuana business: While components of the cannabis plant can have useful medical effects, its recreational use still produces problems, including addiction and impaired driving. Adolescents are especially at risk. Compassion for the very sick shouldn't blind us to the risks of cannabis abuse. If marijuana were legalized and taxed, the increased revenue would pale in comparison to the increases in health care and other social costs. The federal government, with the help of the pharmaceutical industry, should embark on a crash program to develop medically useful compounds from cannabis. As for recreational use of marijuana, national referendums should decide whether we want an alcohol model -- with strict enforcement on under-age use, potency controls and all the potential risks. What is not desirable is the "Wild West" situation in California and Colorado. Herbert D. Kleber, M.D. Manhattan, June 28 The writer is a professor of psychiatry and director of the Division on Substance Abuse at Columbia University. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake