REPORT DUE THIS MONTH ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Letter writer Peter McWilliams mischaracterizes the Clinton administration's
policy toward marijuana ("War against medical marijuana causes misery,"
Letters, Friday).

Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under the provisions of the Controlled
Substance Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and
Control Act of 1970.

It is classified this way because of its high potential for abuse and lack
of acceptable medical use.

In response to anecdotal claims about marijuana's medical effectiveness, the
National Institutes of Health are supporting peer-reviewed research on the
drug's safety and efficacy.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy is supporting a comprehensive
review of existing research on marijuana's potential benefits and harms by
the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine. We look forward to
receiving their report this month.

We agree with the International Narcotics Control Board's recent conclusion
that "Any decision on the medical use of cannabis should be based on clear
scientific evidence. Political initiatives and public votes can easily be
misused by groups promoting the legalization of all use of cannabis and/or
the prescription of cannabis for recreational use under the guise of medical
dispensation."

Francis X. Kinney Director of Strategy Office of National Drug Control
Policy Washington, D.C.