MEDICAL MARIJUANA? NO

There is no lack of emotion and hype in the New York City Council's ongoing
debate over using marijuana in the treatment of certain cancer cases. What's
missing is sound science, good medical care and real compassion for
patients' suffering.

The Council's Resolution 71 urges the state Assembly and Senate to pass a
bill that legalizes possession of up to a half-pound of marijuana for
"medical use." But there is no reasonable medical evidence to suggest that
smoking marijuana is a safe and effective alternative to established,
conventional, approved drugs.

Pro-marijuana forces, backed by fringe groups like NORML, the Marijuana
Reform Party and the Marijuana Policy Project, contend that so-called
"medical marijuana" would ease suffering in diseases like cancer, multiple
sclerosis and glaucoma. But the American Cancer Society, National Multiple
Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology worry about the
side effects of the 400-plus chemicals contained in the drug, and point to
the availability of FDA-approved drugs that have yielded proven results.
These drugs are dispensed by pharmacists who closely monitor accuracy,
potency and the possible effects of intermixing medicines.

Right now, pharmacists can provide THC in pill and other forms that are safe
and effective and can be dosed to an individual's pain-relief needs. Rather
than rely on these proven treatments, proponents of the Council's resolution
would allow patients to manufacture their own marijuana with no safeguards
or regulation of potency, quality or safety. Added to that are the possible
consequences of exposure to fertilizers and pesticides that may be contained
in homegrown varieties.

Their prescription to a potentially dying person to, in effect, "heal
thyself" deprives the most vulnerable members of our society of the
best-quality medical care.

We can and should do more to help ease the suffering.

We should invest more in training doctors, nurses and caregivers in
palliative care designed to treat pain. But to let these important issues be
lost in the haze of a quick fix like "medical marijuana" serves neither
patients nor the cause of better care and treatment.