Pubdate: Sun, 03 Jan 2016
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2016 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Cathy Donohue

Re: "Cannabis in Colorado; Two years after legalization," Dec. 27-30
news series.

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS (OR NOT) ON COLO. POT LEGALIZATION

As I read the articles in your "Cannabis in Colorado" series, I 
became aware that little research has been completed by people who 
are supposed to be experts.

Asked whether marijuana legalization has been worth it, Professor 
Mark A.R. Kleiman of New York University told interviewers to "come 
back in 10 years," preceded by a "droll chuckle." Dr. Larry Wolk, 
head of Colorado's public health department, stated: "There is really 
no significant data yet to demonstrate that there is increased use 
among adults or teens." And our good governor stops short of saying 
whether legalization, overall, is positive or negative.

As I have suggested to others who say we don't have enough data: "Buy 
a plane ticket to Israel." Israel, after more than 50 years of 
research, legalized medical marijuana seven years ago. Doctors who 
prescribe marijuana for patients of any age are a part of Israel's 
national health system and work side-by-side with all other 
physicians in the system. Why is it that Americans who are 
researching this old remedy seem to think they have to perform new research?

All of the Americans who profess to be "researchers" should spend a 
few weeks in Israel, learning what they found out after 50 years of 
study that prompted them to place cannabis physicians into their 
public health system. After all, we give them millions, maybe even 
billions of dollars for defense; they surely would allow Americans to 
learn from their research, as they know the meaning of the word "reciprocity."

Cathy Donohue

Denver
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom