PUT POT IN A PILL

Special interest groups, guided by an attorney, are exploiting the
idiosyncrasies of a poorly written state law about medical marijuana
and the state law's conflict with federal law. Law enforcement is
stymied, the City Council is beleaguered and medical marijuana
dispensaries are perceived as fronts for Mexican drug cartels.

Like any drug, marijuana, or THC, can be therapeutic, but it can
also be toxic and potentially lethal if its dosage, frequency and
duration of use are not controlled. The THC content of the marijuana
sold in dispensaries or on the streets is not uniform
or standardized. Some marijuana sold in Missoula was lab-tested to
be nothing more than straw and horse manure.

Educated, compassionate physicians understand this and prescribe
marinol or dronabinol, which come in capsule or pill form. Dosage is
thus measured, controllable and therapeutic.

Why don't medical marijuana patients take their medicine in pill or
capsule form? The pharmacist is easier and cheaper to deal with than
the shadowy marijuana dispensary dealers or street dealers. Legal
ambiguity about this matter would "go up in smoke." Law enforcement
could relax, and the City Council would have one less agenda item.
Also, marijuana emergency room usage would decrease.

James J. Flynn

Spokane