REAL GOAL IS LEGAL MARIJUANA FOR ALL

Medical Use Of Cannibis Fails To Win Support From Doctors' Groups.

On Nov. 2, Maine voters will be asked to answer the ballot question: "Do
you want to allow patients with specific illnesses to grow and use small
amounts of marijuana for treatment, as long as such use is approved by a
doctor?"

My answer is a resounding "no." My decision to vote "no" is based on 35
years in law enforcement, my experience as a narcotics investigator and my
firm belief that any legalization of drugs is a threat to our children,
families and communities. This initiative is a thinly disguised first step
toward the legalization of marijuana and other drugs. It is intentionally
vague and requires little in the way of medical oversight or regulation. No
physician's prescription is required to possess the drug and the bill
places no restrictions on the types of illnesses or treatment that qualify
for marijuana use.

Pro-legalization groups have stated publicly that their effort to legalize
drugs begins with the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.
Medical access to marijuana is regarded as the "chink in the armor" that
will eventually lead to complete legalization.

Proponents of drug legalization cloak themselves in the appearance of
compassion by relying on anec-dotal evidence from cancer patients, HIV
sufferers and anguished family members of the terminally ill regarding the
relief patients have received from the use of marijuana.

In fact, not one major medical or health organization has accepted
marijuana as a safe or effective medicine. Organizations such as the
American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, National Cancer
Institute, American Glaucoma Association and the American Academy of
Ophthalmology have not endorsed the use of marijuana.

A report released in March 1999 by the Institute of Medicine concluded
"there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved
medication." Cannabis in plant form contains a mixture of chemical
compounds and, therefore, is ill suited to provide a precisely defined
medical effect.

In addition, the harmful effects of smoking marijuana far outweigh the
moderate beneficial effects on pain and nausea. The risks associated with
marijuana use include premature cancer, addiction, impairment of perception
and coordination, memory loss, harm to the immune system, airway injuries
and depression.

The push to legalize the use of medical marijuana has contributed to a
changing attitude in America that marijuana is safe and harmless. The
passage of medical use initiatives in Arizona and California has sent our
teens the message that marijuana is, in fact, a cure. This message is
confusing and dangerous.

Recent drug use statistics indicate that teen drug use has risen in the
past five years, after 13 years of steady decline. At present, 36 percent
of high school seniors report using marijuana in the last year.

Maine has a higher rate of marijuana use among the 18- to 24-year-old age
group than the rest of New England or the nation as a whole. Marijuana use
among Maine high school students exceeds the national rate by 13 percent.

As we struggle to address the use and abuse of drugs by our children, we
must avoid sending the message that drug use is OK. Experience has shown
that drug use increases dramatically when we as a society reinforce its
acceptability. We should not allow the advocates of drug legalization to
treat marijuana as "medicine" as a means of gaining its widespread acceptance.

Imagine going to your family doctor for migraine headaches or persistent
nausea. He tells you to use a "medicine" that is not FDA-approved, is not
subject to any product liability or quality control standards, is of
unknown strength, is made up of hundreds of different chemicals, has no
controlled daily dose and is ingested by smoking.

There is little scientific proof that the drug will work and its known
harmful effects include apathy, memory loss, mental disorders, reproductive
disabilities and immune system deficiencies. Would you take it? Would you
allow your child to take it?