MEDICAL POT HARMFUL

This is in response to your editorial, "Medical marijuana, yes or
no?," March 9:

Obama's administration is giving the choice of legalization of medical
marijuana to each state individually. He is just opening a whole new
set of issues in America. The legalization of marijuana in the state
of California is becoming more and more of a popular opinion, and
coming closer to becoming official.

If the state starts allowing marijuana in certain situations, it opens
a can of worms. People will start getting the idea that if marijuana
is OK for this person to use, obviously it is not a bad thing for them
to use. The idea of marijuana as a medicine could cause a rampage of
drug-addicted people in the state. That may not have been the intent
of the researchers and doctors, but it will be the outcome. The
actions of these potentially drug-addicted people will not be
profitable to the state. The health of them will be even worse; pulse
and blood pressure increases rapidly and airways are impaired from
marijuana use.

When marijuana is dispensed into the community as medicine, it will
also be taken advantage of. People who really don't need the drug for
medical use but want it for pleasure will find ways to convince the
doctors they need it. Others will sell their prescription for money.
There are so many problems that could occur by dispensing marijuana to
the people.

There are so many other medical options to cure pain; there are always
new and improved prescription drugs. Medical marijuana may help some
people's pain, but it will hurt the state in a way bigger way.

Jennifer Kent

La Mirada