MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE COURT MAKES AN IRRESPONSIBLE LEFT TURN

According to an Associated Press story by David Kravets (Oct. 15), a federal
court in San Francisco ruled not to punish doctors who prescribe marijuana
(cannabis). The article reported that nine states make allowances for
individuals to smoke cannabis with a doctor's recommendation, albeit federal law
prohibits the possession of cannabis. The court's ruling sends a message to
hamfisted doctors that it is appropriate for their patients to violate federal
law, and places them at risk to develop more serious physical and psychological
problems.

As a licensed mental health professional, who specializes in the
treatment of substance abuse and addiction, I am appalled at such
egregious behaviors by doctors and the courts. Cannabis contains a
psychotropic and addictive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol, or
delta-nine-tetrahydrocannabinol.

THC impairs memory and other cognitive functioning. The effect of THC
on the central nervous system includes, impairment and deficits of
attention, problem solving, and short-term memory. This addictive
chemical is lipid soluble and a neruotoxin, destroys brain cells. THC
metabolites, cannabinol and cannabidiol, accumulate in the lipid
membranes of neurons -- thus causing impairment and damage to these
brain cells. Persons who are addicted to cannabis have described the
effects of THC on the central nervous system as highly pleasurable and
irresistibly euphoric.

Scientific studies on the effects of THC point to brain damage,
amotivational syndrome, personality changes, sexual impotence,
chromosomal abnormalities, flat affect syndrome, immune system
deficits, and risk of cancer. Cannabis may contain more than seven
times the number of cancer related carcinogens than those found in
tobacco. The side effects of cannabis abuse and addiction are many,
but three of them do include, pain reduction, increased appetite, and
decreased nausea.

An individual who smokes cannabis does so to get the THC out of the
cannabis plant, into their lungs, which enters into the blood stream,
and goes to the brain, for the effect. The act of smoking cannabis,
weed, chronic, dro, hydro, grass, or pot in form of blunts
(cigar-like) or joints (cigarette-like) involves inhaling extremely
hot polluted gasses into the respiratory system. These hot gasses and
chemicals may cause permanent damage to the lungs and may increase the
risk of cancers. Research suggests that smoking cannabis is more
harmful than smoking tobacco. This is due to the lack of a filter with
joints or blunts. Also, there is an increased intensity and duration
of inhalation in the process of smoking cannabis, compared to smoking
tobacco.

No knowledgeable or ethical medical doctor would ever recommend to any
patient to smoke cannabis or tobacco. As evidenced by, the surgeon
general warning on any pack of cigarettes. Smoking cannabis may be
more physiologically and psychologically harmful than smoking tobacco.
Studies have shown that cannabis is both physiologically and
psychologically addictive.

Cancer patients who are undergoing treatment therapies experience
severe nausea and profound lack of appetite. THC has been discovered
to reduce nausea and increase appetite. There is a drug called Marinol
or Dronabinol -- a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The
therapeutic use of this medication is an antiemetic, to reduce nausea,
and stimulate appetite. This is a schedule II drug, often prescribed
to cancer patients to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or
radiation therapy. This drug appears to be an effective and safer
alternative to smoking cannabis. Marinol may also be an effective
therapy for other disorders.

Doctors and other professionals may want to consider the use of
pharmaceutical medications over the use of illegal drugs for the
treatment of diseases or their related side effects. This would also
reduce the prevalence of cannabis abuse and addiction.

Substance abuse and dependency cause serious social and economic
problems in these United States. Over 22 million persons in the United
States suffer from substance abuse and substance dependency disorders.
According to the 2002 Household Survey cannabis is the most prevalent
illicit drug. Federal law states that anyone who possesses cannabis is
in violation and can be charged with a crime. How can medical doctors
or even judges encourage individuals to engage in illegal activities?
Especially, when safer alternatives are available!

John S. Edmondson

Clarksville