REASONS WHY DOCTORS DON'T PRESCRIBE POT

I read the recent column in favor of medical use of marijuana
(Gathering Places, Star-Bulletin March 30) by Pamela Lichty with
interest.

I am a physician who has practiced pulmonary medicine in Hawaii for
35 years. I have assisted many patients with terminal diseases and
many patients with diseases due to inhaled marijuana. It astounds me
that anyone would attempt to insinuate a rational connection between
the two.

Cumulative effects of smoking these substances have been well
documented. The physical, social and financial disease associated
with its use are also well known.

What Lichty did not include in her essay is the fact that cannabis
has been available for some time in Hawaii and has been helpful in
some cases of malignancy, but more commonly useful in treating
patients' whose chronic lung disease requires withdrawal from
cannabis.

This form of prescription drug use has not become popular among those
people who maintain that the cult of growing, smoking and selling
cannabis has redeeming value.

Some reasons that physicians are not prescribing inhaled drugs are:

There is no need for marijuana to treat individuals with terminal diseases.

That it is available in safer less deleterious forms.

People with terminal disorders frequently have lung disease, which is
aggravated by the use of inhaled substances.

Because most physicians are prudent with prescribing in an attempt to
avoid doing harm with drug therapy.

Making medical needs an excuse for providing laws which promote
growing and smoking marijuana, is craziness.

Philip R. Foti, M.D.