DEFENDING THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

Portland, Ore. -- This is regarding "Marijuana is not medicine"
(Commentary, Feb. 17), by Andrea Barthwell, a deputy director at the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and a past
president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. I am
secretary of Oregon NORML (National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws) and the chair of the 2003 Oregon Medical Cannabis
Awards, which Barthwell attacked in her opinion piece. Barthwell
characterizes the event as "the town chili cook-off."

This event, the only one of its kind in the United States, is open
only to patients and caregivers registered with the State of Oregon
Medical Marijuana Program. Anyone may attend the awards--it is a
smoke-free event--because all judging has been done in the privacy of
the patient/judge's home in the weeks prior to the event. All entrants
and judges must prove they are legal under Oregon state law before
being allowed to participate.

During the day of the awards banquet, there are speakers and
discussion groups covering many subjects related to the legal,
medicinal use of cannabis (marijuana) in Oregon. There is no public
consumption of cannabis allowed at any time by any person.

Barthwell complains, "Even children--with a note from a parent, of
course--could participate as judges. The very nature of the event
exposes medical marijuana opportunists for what they are: people who
are looking for the best high, not the best medicine that science has
to offer."

Oregon law allows a minor to be a registered OMMP patient, with
approval of parents or guardians, under medical supervision. Under
Oregon law we would be violating the rights of a patient if we
discriminated against him or her based solely on age.

Event rules required minors to include, with their event application
package, written permission from their parents or guardians for
participation in the event, and that the parents' or guardians'
signatures be notarized. This is far from willy-nilly suborning of
children, as Barthwell insinuates.

The position of Oregon NORML regarding drugs (including caffeine,
alcohol, tobacco and over-the-counter medications) and children is
simple: Children and drugs should mix only under the care of a
physician. Remember there are many things in life that are OK for
responsible adults that are not OK for children--getting married,
signing contracts, smoking, consuming alcohol, watching X-rated
movies, driving, and on and on.

Barthwell incorrectly characterizes the reason for the awards. We are
not "looking for the best high," as she claims. We are primarily
interested in determining which strains of cannabis are most effective
for various medical conditions or symptoms, thus enabling patients to
grow the proper strains for their needs without wasting time (four to
six months), money and energy growing a strain that does not help them.

Some other reasons for the awards include the educating of the public
attending (patients and non-patients alike), giving the opportunity
for social companionship and networking for patients and caregivers,
and giving recognition to caregivers for helping patients.

Barthwell mocks the use of medical cannabis, disregarding studies and
reports documenting the medical usefulness of cannabis.

Steven M. Cooper