MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE

The use of marijuana as medicine, a right Arizonans approved in
November, 1996, could be closer thanks to a new government study of
the plant. The study linked marijuana use to relief for AIDS patients
and showed it does not prompt patients to use harder drugs.

After Arizona voters approved more than two years ago the medicinal
use through Proposition 200, the Legislature set aside the measure
awaiting Food and Drug Administration studies. The FDA is doing its
own studies and hasn't changed its position, yet the new study comes
from a panel of independent experts at the prestigious Institute of
Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences.

It found that the active ingredients in marijuana appear to be useful
for treating pain, nausea and severe weight loss associated with AIDS.
It's the most comprehensive analysis to date of the medical literature
on marijuana. Particularly interesting is its finding that giving the
drug to sick people showed no evidence that it would increase illicit
use in the general population - it is not a ``gateway drug.''

As recently as last September, the Legislature passed a resolution
declaring marijuana addictive and opposing its medical use. Morality
was likely the driving influence on these ``medical experts.''

By contrast, the new report was measured and responsible, simply
stating what had been found. It cautioned that the benefits of smoking
marijuana were limited because the smoke itself is so toxic. Yet
giving marijuana on a short-term basis under close supervision could
give relief to patients who didn't respond to other therapies.

Marijuana's smoke is more toxic than tobacco smoke, said the study,
but it can be given in capsules, patches and bronchial inhalers. The
study also found that contrary to popular belief, marijuana is not
useful in treating glaucoma and there was little evidence of a use in
treating Parkinson's or Huntington's diseases. It can help by
combating muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis.

People undergoing chemotherapy can benefit from marijuana's ability to
ease anxiety, stimulate the appetite, ease pain and reduce nausea and
vomiting.

Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, the director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy which requested the study, praised the report and said
he'll take the recommendations under advisement. He still worries
about confusion in law enforcement issues. He's suspicious about
``people with mischievous agendas at work.''

Nothing yet leans toward allowing widespread smoking of marijuana as a
result of medical studies. There's no hidden, evil agenda here, only a
sincere scientific effort to establish reasonable treatment for
suffering human beings.

The study offers hope for needed therapy.