NEW YORKER SAYS MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOT DANGEROUS

Ellen Pollard's claim that "marijuana is addictive and is the No. 1
gateway drug to substance abuse of other drugs" ("Give up medical pot
and save kids," Statesmen Journal, August 18) is simply not true.

A 1999 study by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that "few
marijuana users develop dependence." Some do, "but they appear to be
less likely to do so than users of other drugs (including alcohol and
nicotine), and marijuana dependence appears to be less severe than
dependence on other drugs."

And a 1994 National Institute on Drug Abuse study, concluded that
marijuana's addictive qualities are about the same as caffeine.

What kind of message is sent to children when adults lie or spread
misleading information about the dangers of Oregon's medical marijuana
law?

Walter F. Wouk, Cobbleskill, N.Y.