HEAD SHOPS OR HOSPITALS?

The medical use of marijuana is legal in California, as described in our
story on pot clubs that distribute marijuana as treatment to patients who
have a doctor's permission (Law, Dec. 8).

But it is still outlawed by the U.S. government.

A number of our readers were concerned that interference from Washington
might spoil things at places like San Francisco's Cannabis Cultivators
Club, which sells pot in a headshop atmosphere.

Among the uneasy ones is Joel W. Johnson of San Jose, Calif., who sees the
pot clubs as more than a place simply to chill out. "The clubs provide a
center for suffers of AIDS, Johnson notes, "a place to get medical relief,
have fun and forget about troubles. What is so horrible about that?"

Peter McWilliams of Los Angeles, an AIDS and cancer patient, concurs: "I
have found these clubs to be invaluable. I use marijuana not to get high
but to curb nausea and keep down my pills."

Dale F. Gieringer, coordinator of California's National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws, based in San Francisco, has a complementary
view. "The clubs keep dealers off the streets and drugs out of the hands of
minors," Gieringer notes. "No wonder the feds are upset. The clubs have
succeeded where they have failed."

Joel W. Johnson