NICE PERSPECTIVE

Kudos to Boulder Weekly editors for printing "Pot perspectives"
(Letters, May 6) with historical references that expose the
constitutional basis for drug prohibition as "shaky," exactly as the
author writes.

Is marijuana legally included with drugs that have "no currently
accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of
accepted safety for use under medical supervision"?

Consider that legal Marinol is a synthetic chemical that works like
THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Marinol is four to
five times the potency of the strongest street weed, about twice as
strong as hashish. Generically named Dronabinol, warning labels
specifically permit driving and using machinery when users know how
the medicine affects them.

Also, while some decline to enforce them, 31 states "in the United
States" have medical marijuana laws on the books.

Even the title of U.S. Patent No. 6630507, "Cannabinoids as
antioxidants and neuroprotectants" factually demonstrates currently
accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

The text of that patent details a wide variety of accepted, safe and
proven uses under medical supervision.

Therefore, is marijuana prohibition legal?

Don't hold your breath for an honest answer.

Jose Melendez, DeLand, Fla.