CANNABIS FACTS TRUMP FICTION

Several recent letters argue that cannabis isn't medicine.

1974, Medical College of Virginia, researchers funded by the National
Institutes of Health to find evidence that marijuana damages the
immune system, found instead that THC slowed the growth of three kinds
of cancer in mice -- lung and breast cancer, and a virus-induced leukemia.

1988, Francis Young, DEA administrative law judge, calls cannabis "the
safest therapeutic substance known to man."

The five remaining patients in the Compassionate Investigational New
Drug program receive about half a pound of medical cannabis cigarettes
each month from their pharmacists, provided by the U.S. government,
grown at the University of Mississippi.

The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study was conducted by Dr.
Ethan Russo to study the patients in the CIND program. His results
showed:

Cannabis smoking provided effective relief of pain and muscle spasms,
and reduced intraocular pressure elevations in the selected patients.

The patients were able to reduce or eliminate their other prescription
medicines and accompanying side effects.

Clinical cannabis provides these patients an improved quality of
life.

Facts trump fiction anytime.

Allan Erickson

Drug Policy Forum of Oregon

Eugene, Ore.