SOLUTION DOESN'T REQUIRE LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

It is ridiculous for the courts to have to deal with the stupidity of
the pharmaceutical industry and the physicians. Marijuana is illegal.
Opium is illegal. We use the opium products daily in the form of
morphine, Demerol and codeine. Even though we utilize the products of
opium, it is illegal to use opium.

Tetra-hydrocannibinol is the active ingredient in marijuana.
Dronabinol is the synthetic active ingredient that is available in
Marinol. Marinol has been available for years. Marinol is a product of
Unimed Pharmaceutical Inc. It is a Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. company
(901 Sawyer Road, Marietta, GA 30062). This drug is available by
prescription. Marinol would give the patients their relief without
smoking illegal marijuana. It would be like using the opium products
without smoking the illegal opium.

If the pharmaceutical companies and physicians would just inform the
public and write prescriptions, the courts would not be "bogged down"
in the ridiculous lawsuits trying to legalize marijuana.

JOSEPH R. MITCHELL, M.D.

Gulfport