MARIJUANA SERVES MEDICINAL PURPOSES

In your Feb. 18 article, "Official tackles marijuana myths," Sgt. Brad
Fojtik claims there's "no medicinal value in (marijuana), period."

I am one of several patients who use legal medical marijuana, grown and
distributed by the United States government through the National Institute
of Drug Abuse's Investigational New Drug program. I use my medicine to
treat symptoms of pain, spasms, and nausea related to years of
pharmaceutical and surgical maltreatment, repeated injuries, and a rare
genetic condition called nail patella syndrome.

Prior to being admitted to the federal program, I survived 19 major
surgeries, was taking 17 pharmaceutical substances daily and was dependent
on a wheelchair. Since my admission to the program 13 years ago, I've had
no surgeries or hospitalizations, I've stopped taking pharmaceuticals and I
ride a bike. I've spent the past decade traveling across the nation to
educate legislators, health care professionals, and patients about the
medical value of cannabis.

Like all other substances, marijuana can be used in ways that harm and ways
that heal. We should not criminalize sick and dying people who use cannabis
with a doctor's recommendation.

To quote Robert Randall, the first recipient of federal marijuana, "History
indicates the most trivial of facts can implode the most powerful dogma."

George McMahon Frankston, Texas