MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE

I thank the Daily Herald for printing Travis Akin's balanced story on
the possibility of a medical marijuana initiative in Illinois
("Advocates on both sides gear up for medical marijuana battle here,"
Jan. 16). Placing two contrasting viewpoints side by side demonstrates
the sheer mindlessness of medical marijuana opponents.

"When people see marijuana as a medicine, then (they think) it is not
harmful," said Judy Kreamer, a past president of the Illinois Drug
Education Alliance. "After all, (they think) it is a medicine."
According to Kreamer's logic, no one could possibly understand that
Thalidomide, morphine or even aspirin can be harmful, since these
drugs are legally available as medicine.

Maybe this is difficult for Kreamer to comprehend, but most people
know any drug can be harmful, especially if a drug is misused. People
also know that medicine, no matter how effective, is not to be used by
people who don't need it.

This common sense may be beyond some, but given a choice, a majority
of people exercise good judgment, just as a majority of voters in
every state hosting medical marijuana initiatives thus far have
recognized that marijuana does have legitimate medical uses.

It's sadly ironic that the name of Kreamer's group refers to drug
education when its officials don't seem to have a very clear
understanding of drugs or medicine.

Maybe they should spend more time educating themselves and less time
trying to deny relief to sick people who need it.

Stephen R. Young
Roselle