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)