I-148 OPENS DOOR FOR ABUSE

I would like to respond to Paul Befumo's Oct. 3 letter. The National
Household Survey on Drug Abuse clearly shows a trend of increased
marijuana use among California teens following passage of California's
medical marijuana law.

Paul Befumo says that the NHSDA survey didn't break down results by
state until 1999. Not true. California results for 1994 to 2001 are
available and can be accessed on the Office of Applied Science Web
site.

Befumo further states that with the NHSDA survey, the participants
(teenagers) "must discuss illegal behavior in a face-to-face interview
with a representative of the government who comes to their home."

Not true. I will quote from the NHSDA report, under Data Collection
Methodology: "Interviewers were instructed to conduct interviews in a
private place, away from household members. Answers to sensitive
questions, such as those on illicit drug use, were recorded by the
respondent and were not seen or reviewed by the interviewer.

After these answer sheets were completed, they were placed by the
respondent in an envelope, which was sealed and mailed to the
contractor, Research Triangle Institute, with no personal identifying
information attached. Respondents were assured that their identities
and responses would be handled in the strictest confidence in
accordance with federal law. This is quite a different scenario from
that which Befumo tries to portray.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, only one of more than 400 chemicals in
marijuana, might alleviate some symptoms such as nausea and pain in
some people.

But smoked marijuana has far too many harmful chemicals to be
considered "medicine" and has never been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration because of its overall devastating effects on
individuals and society.

Perhaps there isn't a simple answer about how to address the problems
some people experience with taking chemotherapy medicine. I sincerely
sympathize with families who have had to deal with those kinds of
terrible problems.

However, passing Initiative-148 is not the answer. It will only open
the door to increased drug abuse, causing even more suffering for
Montana individuals and their families.

David W. Henrich

8 Mile Continental

Butte