TESTIMONY TO IGNORANCE

Re: Associated Press' May 2 article, "Medical marijuana user dies for
lack of liver transplant," and your April 30 editorial, "Pot costs
man shot at liver":

The death of Tim Garon of Seattle due to the denial of a liver
transplant for using medical marijuana is shocking testimony to the
ignorance of our medical establishment.

Ironically, Tim's death came just days after the announcement of a
Canadian study showing that the ingredients in marijuana actually
help manage treatment of Hepatitis C.

In light of the fact that a previous study by Dr. Diana Sylvestre at
the University of California, San Francisco, also found that
treatment with marijuana improves the prognosis of Hep-C patients,
the denial of Garon's transplant should be seen as downright malpractice.

Dale Gieringer, Ph.D., Coordinator, California NORML, San Francisco

(The writer is author of the "Marijuana Medical Handbook." - Editor)