MEDICAL SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA IS EXPENSIVE AND UNRELIABLE

I applaud Sandra Lacar's (View Point, Jan. 30) desire to protect our youth
from drugs. However, her opposition to medical marijuana is misguided.
Allowing medical marijuana will not encourage teen drug use. Teen marijuana
use actually dropped in California after passage of the medical marijuana
bill.

Perhaps the images of withered AIDS and cancer patients smoking pot helped
undermine the cool rebel image that draws many teens to marijuana.

Lacar also suggests that patients use only federally approved synthetic
marijuana. Unfortunately, synthetic marijuana often does not work and is
extremely expensive. Moreover, many patients report that it is far too
intoxicating!

Her concern that the American Medical Association does not endorse medical
marijuana is understandable but misguided. Historically, the AMA has
avoided politically charged issues. What is amazing, however, is the number
of other reputable medical organizations that do support medical marijuana.
These include prominent medical journals, public health organizations and
several state associations of physicians, pharmacists and nurses.

We can allow seriously ill patients access to necessary medicine without
putting our youth at risk. I urge Lacar to reconsider her position.

Kenji Klein
(Via the Internet)