Pubdate: Tue, 06 April 1999
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 1999 The State Journal-Register
Contact:  http://www.sj-r.com/
Author: Joan Bellm, Editor, Drug Watch World News

MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA IS CAVEMAN APPROACH

Dear Editor,

Druggies of the world, unite!

Eat moldy bread to get your penicillin! Drink pregnant horse urine to get
your estrogen! Smoke a joint to get your THC! No sciences for druggies. Go
caveman all the way!

Distort medical reports and research! Demand your rights to get high!

But for those of us who want good medicine, not snake oil, check the
Institute of Medicine recommendations: "Smoking marijuana is a crude
delivery system for THC...which raises both safety and efficacy issues."
Conclusion of the Institute of Medicine: "If there is any future for
marijuana as a medicine, it lies in its isolated components, the
cannabinoids and their synthetic derivatives."

So why all the media hype about medical benefits of the weed? The IOM Report
isn't exactly new.  I was saying the same thing 20 years ago to community
groups.  Well, think about it.  There is no profit in preventing drug abuse.
But there are fortunes to be made by promoting drug use, especially in
production, sale and advertising.  No wonder millions of dollars have been
poured into marketing strategies to legalize pot.

Look at the front page headline, "Medical experts find benefits in
marijuana." Wow! Talk about a spin! I wonder how many will use that for a
"show and tell," and how many children will die as a result.

Joan Bellm Editor, Drug Watch World News, Carlinville

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