Pubdate: Wed, 07 Dec 2011 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Copyright: 2011 Journal Sentinel Inc. Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/general/30627794.html Website: http://www.jsonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265 Author: Charles Wood Medical Marijuana NOT A GOOD CHOICE FOR THOSE IN PAIN The Journal Sentinel Editorial Board feels that medical marijuana for the sick and suffering is a no-brainer (On, Wisconsin, Dec. 3). Perhaps the board should PolitiFact itself. Marijuana is an analgesic, just like alcohol - consume enough and you are numbed; numbing is not specific to what ails you. Because of this, marijuana is not a good choice for a painkiller. If someone is truly sick and suffering, let's get them access to Food and Drug Adminstration-approved medications, where we understand effects and dosage amounts and know the drugs are manufactured in a clean, safe environment. The Department of Health and Human Services recently evaluated marijuana as a medicine and made the following findings: 1) Marijuana has a high potential for abuse; 2) Marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in the United States; and 3) Marijuana lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Additionally, we have the luxury in Wisconsin to review what has occurred in states with medical marijuana: 18- to 25-year-old (healthy) males being main consumers, pot shops lowering property values, revenues (taxes) being eaten up by the higher cost of regulation and treatment. No one wants to see the ill suffer, but medical marijuana is just a sham to advance the legalization of pot. State Rep. Mark Pocan and state Sen. Jon Erpenbach have heard these facts in testimony; it would be refreshing for them to stop taking advantage of the ill to attempt to further their own agenda. Charles Wood Past President, Wisconsin Narcotics Officers Association Co-Chair, Waukesha County Drug Free Communities Waukesha - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom