MARIJUANA ISSUES HARDLY THE SAME

I was a bit confused by the selection made for May 20's guest opinion ("If
we target one drug, it must be marijuana"). The column, by the president of
a substance abuse center at Columbia University, was about teenage
recreational use of marijuana, and was added to the opinion page because of
the "local connection" of the recent submittal of signatures by an Iowa
City group for a medical cannabis initiative on the November ballot.

Unfortunately, this "local connection" doesn't exist. Califano makes no
mention of medical cannabis, nor does he suggest that by allowing terminal
patients access to this medicine, children are more likely to use
marijuana. However, many sources have reported since 1996 that states that
have enacted medical cannabis legislation did not see an increase in teen
marijuana use.

There's no excuse for experienced journalists to try to pass these
completely different issues off as one and the same. I would welcome an
opinion arguing against allowing dying patients to use cannabis to heal
themselves. This would engage the community in meaningful debate on the
issue and would allow them to make an informed decision come November.

However, the Press-Citizen has no business confusing its readers on this
important issue because it's looking for the sensationalist spin on a local
story.

Kristin Harms

Iowa City