MEDICINAL VALUE

Buddy Sims along with Sgt. Jim Gerhardt, Commander Jerry Peters and other
cannabis prohibitionists (Letter: It Ain't "'Medicine' Nov. 1) may believe
cannabis (marijuana) has no medical value, but that is contrary to
scientific evidence and over 5,000 years of documented history of medical
use. Cannabis was listed in the American U.S. Pharmacopeia for about 100
years before cannabis prohibition caused its removal.

In 1988, DEA Judge Francis Young ruled that "oemarijuana is one of the
safest therapeutically active substances known to man." Even the
federal government gives cannabis to some patients for medical use for
over 20 years through the Compassionate Investigational New Drug program.

And Sims stating "oeThe American Medical Association recommends that
marijuana remain a Schedule I controlled illegal federal substance"
is simply false. It was national news in November 2009 that the AMA
officially asked the federal government to review the status of
cannabis in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. They have
acknowledged the medical benefits of cannabis.

Stan White

Dillon