DANGER OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

There's been talk of legalizing marijuana and even some good arguments
in favor of it for medicinal use only. California obviously made its
medicinal marijuana laws so vague that it's easy to get a prescription
card for it by your doctor. Allegedly, moms are using medicinal
marijuana instead of antidepressants, anxiety medications and
painkillers so they can be mellow when caring for their children. It's
also OK to drive under the influence of medicinal marijuana as long as
you carry a medicinal marijuana card with you.

At what level of use of medicinal marijuana does a person reach the
appropriate amount to benefit them but not put anyone else in harm's
way? Is medicinal marijuana addictive? Should you share your stash
with others since they haven't been able to get their of using
medicinal marijuana card yet?

My knowledge of marijuana comes from being around those who used it on
a regular basis with every excuse, defending its medicinal value.
Living in California for 10 years, you see everything: burned out
brain cells, burned holes in clothes from the oil residue and the
acrid smell of burned rope. My favorite were random acts of stupidity
of marijuana users trying to talk. It was bad enough that I smoked
cigarettes back then, but pot was the worst smell ever.

There might be benefits of using medicinal marijuana for cancer
patients or those with chronic intense pain, but like any controlled
substance, it should be monitored as marijuana is addictive. Abuse
should be considered if the patient has any substance abuse history.

It would be hard to determine between a genuine need for medicinal
marijuana and that of a quick drug fix. The drug culture can't wait
for marijuana to be legalized.

Linda J. Anderson, Sioux Falls