Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jun 2013
Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Copyright: 2013 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Author: John G. Chase
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n292/a10.html

TIME TO GIVE PATIENTS SOME RELIEF

Re: "High Stakes", June23

Opponents are using tired old arguments in favor of marijuana
prohibition. Their reasoning is based on opinion, not data. They
point out that there is already a legal drug, making smoked pot
unnecessary.

That is Marinol, a pill that contains marijuana's active ingredient.
It was rushed through DEA/FDA approval several years ago to blunt
criticism of marijuana prohibition. But Marinol is less effective
than smoked marijuana because its dose cannot be fine-tuned and
it can be vomited.

Now prohibitionists are on the defensive again, so they suggest it
might be okay to inhale the vapor of certain components of marijuana.
That's after obtaining DEA/FDA approval, of course, a task that could
take years.

Meanwhile patients continue to wait, decade after decade, held hostage
by prohibitionists, whose fear of drug abuse trumps all else. It is
time to give patients some relief. We can always go back. Then, at
least, voters will have data for an informed decision.

John G. Chase, Palm Harbor
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MAP posted-by: Matt