EXPLORATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOULD GO ON.

Apparently there is considerable debate within the medical community on the
effectiveness of marijuana as a treatment for such things as nausea or
glaucoma. That helps explain why several medical groups oppose legalization
of the medical use of marijuana in Hawaii until much more clinical research
is conducted. The idea is also opposed by law enforcement, which does not
want to see any loosening of the restrictions on a mind-altering substance
that is widely used for "recreational" purposes.

All of this would be enough to scare most lawmakers away from proceeding
with any consideration of this idea. Fortunately, there are lawmakers as
well as Gov. Ben Cayetano - who are more farsighted than that. The House
Health Committee has - admittedly with reservations - kept alive Cayetano's
proposal for the legalization of medical marijuana use in Hawaii. This
decision is both progressive and sensible.

This does not mean the questions about medical efficacy should be shunted
aside. Nor does it void legitimate law enforcement concerns about increased
abuse of the substance following in the wake of even limited legalization.

But consider these thoughts: While the ultimate medical value of inhaled
marijuana may not be clear, the medical community is evolving. The New
England Journal of Medicine has editorialized in favor of medical marijuana
and the American Medical Association heretofore opposed to its use - now
supports further federal research. And in fact, the federal government has
already recognized the value of Marinol, in effect marijuana in a pill. This
is a drug in use and approved by the FDA. So one could argue the debate is
really whether smoking is a better delivery system than the pill.

Law enforcement?s concerns about abuse are legitimate. But the same argument
could be forwarded against so many drugs that are listed and legal under
medical supervision. How many of us have taken a prescription with the
warning label "Do not operate heavy machinery" only to jump directly into
our car? Indeed, it is already illegal to drive under the influence of
certain prescription drugs. Adding marijuana to the list of legally
available treatments wouldn't change that.

This is not an easy issue. Nor is it one where lawmakers are unable to find
credible voices on both sides of the decision.

But the right choice is to move the debate forward, to give Hawaii a real
chance to decide for itself whether this idea makes sense.