EDITORIAL: Let science find out if pot helps

IT seems so simple. People can't agree on whether marijuana has any medical
benefits. Why not do scientific research and find out?

But discussions of marijuana get mired in politics, which keeps them
from getting grounded in fact. Most public officials are afraid to
appear cavalier about drug use, and antidrug crusaders tend to lump
marijuana in with crack and heroin as evil substances that destroy
lives. To them, admitting that pot might actually do good in certain
instances is heresy. Over the years, this has stymied the flow of
funding for marijuana research.

Fortunately, public opinion has moved beyond the posturing of political
leaders. Last fall, Californians passed Proposition 215 to allow the use of
marijuana with a doctor's permission. Other states have passed or are
considering similar measures. So opponents are becoming more interested in
research, since simple scare tactics aren't working.

California Attorney General Dan Lungren is one of the antidrug hardliners
who has agreed that it's time to seek the facts about marijuana. Good for
him. His solid credentials as a political conservative will make it easier
for others to support marijuana research without having to fear the
softondrugs label.

Lungren is supporting legislation sponsored by state Sen. John
Vasconcellos, DSan Jose, to set up a marijuana research center at
the University of California. The two have been negotiating for
several months to finetune the proposal. Lungren says the original
version seemed to assume a positive outcome for medical marijuana; he
wanted the language to be neutral. That's only reasonable. In fact,
if it were otherwise, the project would have less scientific credibility.

Lungren's support should make it easier for Gov. Pete Wilson to sign
Vasconcellos' bill. There is no good reason not to.

In passing Prop. 215, Californians reacted to strong anecdotal evidence
that pot helps sufferers of AIDS and cancer. The lack of provable facts has
hurt opponents of medical marijuana far more than supporters. At this
point, everyone should agree that scientific research is entirely
appropriate.