REEFER MADNESS

FLIMSY FALSEHOODS ABOUT MARIJUANA

To the editor: When Metro's Steve Gammell, of the Nevada Narcotics Officers
Association, vehemently opposes medicalization of pot ("Medical Marijuana,"
June 14), he hopes no one in earshot is aware of the 1989 Cannabis
Therapeutic Research Program Report, prepared by the California Research
Advisory Panel, which proved medical utility for smoked marijuana for nausea
suppression and glaucoma treatment.

When Mr. Gammell claims that telling the truth about medical marijuana
"would communicate a malignant message to young people who have been taught
that illegal drugs are evil and dangerous," he hopes no one in the room
knows about the absurd "Reefer Madness" propaganda Harry Anslinger used to
get the marijuana laws passed in the first place.

Mr. Gammell hopes that no one realizes that the drug warriors have nothing
better than Harry Anslinger's flimsy falsehoods to justify marijuana
prohibition down to this very day. Prohibitionists hope that no one
questions the lies they use to justify denying effective medical treatment
to the sick and dying.

The drug warriors hope you won't question the dishonesty they use to jail
people for "marijuana crimes." Prohibitionists hope you won't object to the
waste of billions of dollars used to support marijuana prohibition. And most
of all, the reefer maniacs hope you won't mind dying because of their lies
about pot, if you should ever need it as a medicine.

ROBIN GIVENS Mill Valley, Calif.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett