MEDICAL MARIJUANA MYTH

MEDICAL marijuana is a farce on our community, the gravely ill and our
children. In your recent editorial (Opinion, Nov. 4), you contend that
marijuana offers relief from cancer or other diseases. In my 22 years of
law enforcement, I have seen those other diseases. They include back pain,
sore knees, upset stomach and headaches. There is no medical reason to use
marijuana, as your doctor can prescribe any number of drugs that relieve
the effects for those truly in need. For the rest, try aspirin.

The second point shows your true intentions and reasons for legalized
marijuana use. Your headline ``Maine enlightens up'' was not lost on those
of us trying to stem the tide of illegal drug use within our community. I
challenge you to talk with educators, law enforcement officers, drug
counselors or others dealing with your ``enlightenment'' of our community
and the harm it causes.

The truly ill can be given safe and effective medication that does not
require a cancer causing applicator. No physician can prescribe marijuana,
but they can prescribe Marinol. No doctor prescribes any medication by
smoking. You have championed the dangers cigarette smoke causes our
society, the cost to those who smoke and to their families, and the medical
costs each of us must bear in higher health fees. Please stay consistent
and stop the insane position that marijuana smoke is medicine.

Thousands of people are fighting the battle of educating our society that
drug dependence is a social ill that must be eradicated. Let me explain it
this way: While talking to a parent about their child's detention for
possession of drugs on a school campus, the parent said, ``Thank God it was
only marijuana!''

I too want those suffering from life threatening illnesses to receive
relief, but it must be FDA-approved. The facts do not support any
conclusion that marijuana is a safe and effective medicine.