RELAXING RULES ON POT UNWISE

Filner and his select colleagues obviously support legalization of
marijuana and seem convinced of its effectiveness. I agree with them,
but I think we may disagree on the form of legalization.

They seem to leave marketing as presently permitted and want only
decriminalization the method of "legalization." I contend that
legalization of a powerful drug that vies with opiates and is always
compared with opiates for effectiveness and side effects should be
legalized the same way as other painkilling, addictive drugs, and
marketed through a licensed pharmacy and dispensed by a registered
pharmacist upon the written prescription of a licensed medical practitioner.

If this is also their idea of "legalization" they should say that and
not imply that marijuana continue to be dispensed from a kiosk on a
street corner with pseudo medical instructions and virtually no
medical examination, either by physical exam or lab tests to find the
base cause of the pain experienced. If they contend that it is in the
realm of aspirin or acetaminophen then it should be tested and
released by the FDA for sale in grocery stores, convenience stores,
and other places that similar drugs are marketed. For any other form
of "legalization," let's replace the word "medical" with the word
"recreational" and market it as we do alcohol, with which it competes
for recreational use.

Legalization of marijuana is fine, but let's market it in the manner
for which it is legalized.

Dr. Jerry Christensen, Ramona