SMOKING MARIJUANA HARMS KIDS, ADULTS

If passed, the New Jersey "medical" marijuana legislation would set up
a marijuana program similar to the much-abused one in California.

The bill is well intentioned, but it would have many unintended
negative consequences.

Marijuana advocates paint a picture of seriously ill elderly people
with conditions such as cancer, AIDS or glaucoma who want to use
marijuana. But the reality is different.

An analysis of "medical" marijuana patient records in California shows
that most of the patients were young -- from the ages of 17 to 30.
Only 2.05 percent of all ages obtained marijuana for AIDS, glaucoma or
cancer. An extremely high number of people were using "medical"
marijuana for other reasons, including recreational use.

The anecdotal reports regarding marijuana's benefits are not reliable
medical evidence because they are not independently verified. They may
be inaccurate due to the emotional expectancy of the person using the
marijuana and the placebo effect. In some cases, there may be
deliberate exaggeration for ideological reasons.

The bill would permit huge amounts of marijuana to be smoked -- up to
six full-grown marijuana plants that can generate 5,000 to 28,000
joints a year. What other medicine has such huge quantities? Under the
bill you only have to be 18 to get the marijuana. Many 18-year-olds
are still in high school, so "medical" marijuana will have an impact
on kids. The most recent study released in 2008 shows that the
"medical" marijuana states account for eight of the top 10 states with
the highest percentages of young people (ages 12-25) who use marijuana.

No medicine is smoked because there is no way to calculate the dose or
to determine how much is being inhaled. In any case, smoking marijuana
is not necessary. There are many effective medications available,
including FDA- approved medicines based on cannabinoids -- Marinol and
Cesamet.

The harmful chemicals and carcinogens that are byproducts of smoking
marijuana will create new health problems, and there is evidence its
use damages sick people. Smoking marijuana has been linked to birth
defects, respiratory system damage, cancer, brain damage, strokes,
immune system damage, and making AIDS and hepatitis worse.

More research on cannabinoids is needed before we can be sure they are
safe and effective. We are a compassionate society, but we must do
what is best for the most.

Until we know more, we should not take the risk of causing damage in
the name of compassion.

David G. Evans

Executive director, Drug Free Schools Coalition