PROP. 203 TOO BROAD, TOO MUCH RED TAPE

To the editor: I have the following particular problems with Prop.
203, along with numerous personal reservations.

1. Marijuana has undeniable value in a limited number of people, e.g.
terminal cancer and AIDS. And I firmly believe it should be available
for those people in virtually unlimited quantities. But that value
does not include nearly all of the conditions listed in the
proposition.

2. It should be approved by the FDA for one or more of the conditions
in the proposition, and listed as a controlled substance, controlled
for medical purposes by the DEA, like other mind-altering drugs. It
could then be purchased at any pharmacy with a refillable prescription
from any physician with a DEA license, and probably would also be
covered by insurance plans. I would so prescribe it.

3. I would like to see something like this happen, because right now,
those who use it for the examples above have to depend on illegal
street sales, which may be interrupted by drug enforcement successes.
Then they suffer until a new shipment gets through.

4. The proposition creates a whole new state bureaucracy, which will
undoubtedly be underfunded for enforcement.

5. Marijuana for limited medical purposes is a good idea. Proposition
203 as a means of achieving it, is not.

CARL E. SHRADER, M.D.

Flagstaff