Pubdate: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Jose Mercury News Contact: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190 Fax: (408) 271-3792 Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Author: David Davinroy, DARE school resource officer Redwood City MEDICAL MARIJUANA MYTH MEDICAL marijuana is a farce on our community, the gravely ill and our children. In your recent editorial (Opinion, Nov. 4), you contend that marijuana offers relief from cancer or other diseases. In my 22 years of law enforcement, I have seen those other diseases. They include back pain, sore knees, upset stomach and headaches. There is no medical reason to use marijuana, as your doctor can prescribe any number of drugs that relieve the effects for those truly in need. For the rest, try aspirin. The second point shows your true intentions and reasons for legalized marijuana use. Your headline ``Maine enlightens up'' was not lost on those of us trying to stem the tide of illegal drug use within our community. I challenge you to talk with educators, law enforcement officers, drug counselors or others dealing with your ``enlightenment'' of our community and the harm it causes. The truly ill can be given safe and effective medication that does not require a cancer causing applicator. No physician can prescribe marijuana, but they can prescribe Marinol. No doctor prescribes any medication by smoking. You have championed the dangers cigarette smoke causes our society, the cost to those who smoke and to their families, and the medical costs each of us must bear in higher health fees. Please stay consistent and stop the insane position that marijuana smoke is medicine. Thousands of people are fighting the battle of educating our society that drug dependence is a social ill that must be eradicated. Let me explain it this way: While talking to a parent about their child's detention for possession of drugs on a school campus, the parent said, ``Thank God it was only marijuana!'' I too want those suffering from life threatening illnesses to receive relief, but it must be FDA-approved. The facts do not support any conclusion that marijuana is a safe and effective medicine. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart