OTHER DRUGS CARRY MORE DANGER THAN MARIJUANA

This is in response to Shirley Bradley's letter regarding medicinal
marijuana ("Marijuana law would send mixed message," YourViews, June
5).

She acknowledges that medical marijuana is available to anyone
suffering from pain, headaches and attention deficit disorder, not
just dying patients. This is no surprise. Cannabis has been shown to
effectively treat anxiety, depression, glaucoma and pain. There are
other drugs available to treat these conditions. However, they can
be just as debilitating as the diseases themselves.

Hydrocodone is just as addicting and harmful as heroin because it's
derived from the same plant. Acetaminophen is found in most medicines
and treats pain, but is also linked to liver failure. One can
overdose or die on 10 pain pills. Marijuana has yet to be the direct
cause of any known deaths.

She mentions that legislators are not doctors. That's true. But
politicians do play a vital role in drug regulation -- such as the
Food and Drug Administration. Bills to regulate private
pharmaceutical companies have been voted down. Laws protect the
manufacturers of drugs if a product needs to be recalled.
Prescription pills account for 106,000 deaths a year, but nobody is
charged.

Surely that is more of a crime than a teenager with attention deficit
disorder smoking a joint or eating a cannabis cookie to focus in school.

Medicinal marijuana will not increase crime or ruin our society.
Studies show medicinal marijuana is cheaper to manufacture and has
relatively no side-effects. Yet we allow hydrocodone to be prescribed
to children. What's worse? Legal marijuana or legal heroin?

Keaton Richard, Bloomington