ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, GIULIANI NOT WILLING TO LET STATES DECIDE

Dear Editor: I had to laugh when I read Ron Brownstein's puff piece
about Rudy Giuliani respecting states' rights, "On divisive issues,
Giuliani says let states decide."

When it comes to states' rights, Giuliani is adamantly opposed to
medical marijuana, now the law in 12 states and supported by an
overwhelming majority of Americans.

"You can accomplish everything you want to accomplish with things
other than marijuana, probably better. There are pain medications
much superior to marijuana," Giuliani recently said in New Hampshire.

Perhaps the pain medications he was referring to is OxyContin.
Giuliani worked for Perdue Pharmaceuticals to help clean up the mess
from its recent $634 million fine for marketing the powerful narcotic
in ways that have led to deaths, massive addiction, and other kinds
of mayhem. Still, despite OxyContin's risks, it is useful to people
in severe pain, just as cannabis is useful in treating a wide range of illness.

Another recent article, "Study links pot use to psychoses," needs
clarification. This is not a new study but a review of existing
science. The new British government of Gordon Brown wants to
reclassify marijuana. This study, with authors being compensated by
drug makers as noted in the article, is simply an attempt to provide
political cover for returning to arresting rather than cautioning
British pot smokers.

Paul Armentano, senior policy analyst for the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Washington, explains it like
this: "Claims that cannabis use is a causal factor in mental illness
are far from scientifically established. At best, an observable
association between cannabis use and mental illness has been
established in a minority of users; however, much of this association
may stem from the use of other drugs or from individuals with
psychotic symptoms self-medicating with marijuana."

One definition of psychosis is, "A general term for a state of mind
in which thinking becomes irrational and/or disturbed." The real
problem seems to be that marijuana seems to cause psychoses and
hysteria in non-users.

The result is we all lose. Madison cannot have cannabis cafes, which
would offer a safer alternative to alcohol. Patients are denied legal
access. Farmers and businesses are denied a crop that can be used in
a wide variety of products. Now that's psychotic!

Gary Storck, co-founder

Madison NORML