'TOKEN' GESTURE

I was disappointed in the column by Dr. David Gratzer (Health Care
Battle Much Ado about Nothing, Aug. 8) , who characterized the recent
change in the legal status of medical marijuana as "irrelevant." Dr.
Gratzer offers a superficial analysis of the state of medical
research as justification for this conclusion. He thereby misses the
point completely. It doesn't matter whether or not marijuana is
really helpful to seriously ill patients.

They believe that it is. It is barbaric to treat these people as criminals.

Canada has my deepest admiration. What you have done is sensible,
compassionate, and just.

Ray Aldridge, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.