The Food and Drug Administration is poised to approve thalidomide for
treating leprosy,cancer and arthritis["FDA near approval of new use for
thalidomide,"News,Sept.23], although the thalidomide is a proven
teratogen, having caused over 10,000 horrible birth defects worldwide.

The FDA is also considering making narcotic lollipops available to treat
severe cancer pain, even though there is serious concern that children could
be killed through accidental ingestion of such lollipops.

The FDA's philosophy is that with appropriate restrictions, the benefits
outweigh the risks, so doctors and patients should be allowed to make
informed choices about these two medicines.

Keeping that philosophy in mind, how can the federal government justify
arresting patients who use marijuana for severe pain ar nausea relief, when
marijuana has never been shown to cause death or birth defects?

K. Glaser
Diamond Bar