MEDICINAL MARIJUANA: USE THE GOOD, ELIMINATE THE BAD

While I agree with columnist A.M. Rosenthal that drugs should remain
illegal, I do not agree that those of us who support legalizing the
medicinal use of marijuana have "swallowed propaganda for creeping
legalization" ("A drug chief who knows the mission," Commentary, April 30).

I am a minister and I deal with hospitalized church members and their
families on a daily basis. I am also a kidney transplant recipient. I know
personally the tremendous amount of physical pain that many patients bear
on a daily basis. If marijuana can relieve this pain, I am all for it,
though I would not personally choose to use it.

I believe that marijuana should remain a controlled substance and require a
doctor's prescription to purchase. But to simply infer, as Mr. Rosenthal
does, that all drugs ought to be banned turns a blind eye to any benefits
that can be derived from them.

Be assured, I would support any drug manufacturer who managed to synthesize
the pain-killing aspects of marijuana without the "high." But until that
time, let us use the good while trying to eliminate the bad.

James Nasuta, Independence, Ky.