PUT LEGALIZATION OF POT TO A VOTE

Concerning the Register's story about a judge ruling that the Iowa
Board of Pharmacy must examine whether marijuana has an accepted
medical use ("Medical Marijuana Hearings Planned," July 22): I would
think that there have been many studies done already that could be
used to come to an unbiased decision.

Past studies must have supported legalizing marijuana because you
never hear of the results. I don't understand how pharmacists could
not help but be biased. If people could grow Lipitor on a bush, the
pharmacy people would say it should be illegal.

My guess is that the pharmaceutical industry can see the writing on
the wall; pot relieved my nausea (no more antacids, Pepto-Bismol),
hey, I don't feel stressed (no more Valium), less stress equals lower
blood pressure (throw out some more pills).

Why not dig up some studies, release the results to the public, have
some debates and let them vote on the issue? I'm sure that by now
it's been proven that pot is not addictive and nicotine is.

Let's make tobacco illegal instead. Oh, I forgot, the tobacco
industry has a lot of money.

The people with illnesses such as AIDS and cancer have enough on
their plates without having the government withholding something that
could ease their pain.

- - Michael J. Navin, Menlo