MYTHS OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

The controversy generated by the proposal of Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao
to legalize the production of marijuana for use for medical purposes is
nothing but a tempest in a teapot.

For one, Chungalao gives the impression that there is a big market for
medicinal marijuana and that his region, where planting of marijuana is
rampant, would benefit economically from legalization of medicinal
marijuana. Actually, there is no such market. Even in California, Alaska,
Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, where state initiatives have
permitted the use of marijuana as medicine, the market is small and there
is already an adequate supply of the herb.

It's hard to create a commercial market for something which the customer
can cultivate at home if allowed to do so legally.

Like the big market for medicinal marijuana, the medical value of marijuana
can also be another myth or highly exaggerated. The White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy conducted a study in the late 1990s on the
medicinal value of marijuana.

The study said that there are indications of a "potential therapeutic value
for cannabinoid drugs particularly for symptoms such as pain relief,
control of nausea and vomiting and appetite stimulation" particularly for
people undergoing chemotherapy and those suffering from "AIDS wasting."

However, it was also pointed out that the "effects of cannabinoids on the
symptoms studied are generally modest, and in most cases there are more
effective medications."

The study warned that there are grave risks associated with the medical use
of marijuana. It said: "Marijuana is not a completely benign substance. It
is a powerful drug with a variety of effects. However, except for the harms
associated with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within
the range of effects tolerated for other medications."

It emphasized: "The chronic effects of marijuana are of greater concern for
medical use and fall into two categories: the effect of chronic smoking and
the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Marijuana smoking is associated
with abnormalities of cell lining the human respiratory tract. Marijuana
smoke, like tobacco smoke is associated with increased risk of cancer, lung
damage and poor pregnancy outcomes."

The case being heard this week by the US Supreme Court on medicinal
marijuana should prove interesting to Chungalao and would convince him that
there are no economic benefits for his marijuana-planting constituents in
the legalization of medicinal marijuana.

The case arising from a lawsuit filed by Angel Raich simply wants the court
to protect her from the federal government and allow her and other people
like her for whom prescription medicines offer no relief for the pain of a
brain tumor and other illnesses to use marijuana and grow it in their own
backyard.

Chungalao can forget any idea of exporting marijuana even in US states
where it is allowed to be used for medical purposes provided it is not
sold, not transported across state line and not used for nonmedicinal purpose.