MARIJUANA NOT THAT DANGEROUS

I am an 18-year-old registered voter and a strong supporter of the medical
marijuana movement.

While I am also in favor of a complete government re-evaluation of the
drug, I think it is preposterous that people are suffering while other
uninformed people put up unneeded roadblocks.

We're talking about sick and dying people who can't find relief anywhere else.

Marijuana has not only been medically proved to help in cancer and AIDS
cases, but in arthritis, glaucoma and many other ailments as well. After
years of lies and false rumors, the medical community is finally
discovering what many people have known for years: Marijuana is not as
dangerous and useless as the American public once made it seem.

In response to the comments made by drug czar Barry McCaffrey and his
deputy director Donald Vereen about marijuana now being the second-leading
cause of car crashes among young people, I would mention that the No. 1
cause is still undoubtedly alcohol, a much more dangerous, yet legal, drug.
I applaud USA TODAY for its compassion toward the ill and dying.

Matthew S. Donowick Stow, Ohio

Checked-by: Pat Dolan