Sunday Dialogue

WHEN MARIJUANA IS USED AS MEDICINE.

The addictive properties of marijuana are no reason to denounce its
use as an effective and safe medicine. Many of the "safe and
effective FDA-approved" drugs are opioids, which studies have shown
to be nearly twice as addictive as marijuana and carry additional
risks such as extreme nausea, physical dependence and death from overdose.

Furthermore, any claim that marijuana has no medicinal benefits is
disingenuous. A recent federal petition by the governors of
Washington State and Rhode Island to reclassify marijuana for medical
use cited more than 700 peer-reviewed independent studies documenting
the medical value of cannabis.

States have often been one step ahead of the federal government in
pioneering social change, and it is commendable that 16 states and
the District of Columbia have already passed laws that recognize the
medicinal value of marijuana. There is absolutely no evidence that
any "chaos" or "unintended consequences" have materialized in these
jurisdictions.

On the contrary, anecdotal testimony from severely ill individuals
indicates that this drug has vastly improved their quality of life.
What purpose can campaigning against these people possibly achieve?

ELIZABETH THOMPSON

Policy Associate, Drug Policy Alliance

Trenton, N.J., Dec. 14, 2011