ACS CONTRADICTED

American Cancer Society spokesman David Sampson is not telling the
truth when he claims ("Bad medicine?") that his organization is
basing its reluctance to support medical marijuana on the 1999
Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.

The IOM report stated flatly, "Nausea, appetite loss, pain, and
anxiety are all afflictions of wasting, and all can be mitigated by
marijuana." Although the report expressed concerns about possible
health hazards of smoking and called for the development of a
"nonsmoked, rapid-onset cannabinoid delivery system," it specifically
acknowledged that for some patients with chronic or terminal
conditions, there is no feasible alternative at present.

The nonsmoked delivery system that the IOM asked for has existed for
some time. Three studies published in the last 18 months have shown
that devices called vaporizers allow the use of natural marijuana
with all the advantages of smoking -- rapid relief and ease of dose
adjustment -- without the harmful contaminants in smoke.

The American Cancer Society, of all organizations, really should not
need to have this explained to them.

Bruce Mirken

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, D.C.