LET DOCTORS PRESCRIBE CANNABIS

I disagree with the "Herbal medicine in the mid-valley" editorial
(Oct. 14). The practical impact of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act
(OMMA) is that some patients are protected from state and local laws
so they can access medicine used to treat pain and other debilitating
conditions.

While you falsely claim that backers of the OMMA are not medical
experts, there are more than 1,000 Oregon doctors participating in the
OMMA, and they are helping more than 6,000 Oregonians.

What is clear is that most Oregonians would rather get medical advice
from licensed physicians rather than newspaper editors and police.

The way to ease confusion is for the Bush/Ashcroft administration to
immediately reschedule cannabis so that doctors can prescribe it and
patients can purchase their medicine in a pharmacy.

RICHARD E. BAYER M.D.

Fellow, American College of Physicians

Southwest Portland