U.S. GOVERNMENT USES MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Regarding the recent letter to the editor headlined, "Medical marijuana
still must be proven":

Perhaps Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Terrence Farley is unaware
that the U.S. government has cultivated and distributed medical cannabis,
the proper scientific term for marijuana, cigarettes to a select group of
patients, through a little-known program called Investigational New Drug.

The feds use cannabis to effectively treat symptoms related to glaucoma,
bone tumors, nail patella syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

Farley also should consider the rapidly accumulating empirical and clinical
research data from around the world.

These studies indicate that cannabis can provide symptomatic treatment for
AIDS, Alzheimer's and neuropathic disorders.

The research is so convincing that Bayer Corp. is developing a sublingual
cannabis inhaler, expected to be made available to patients in the United
Kingdom next year.

Cannabis has medical value. As more Americans become aware of this fact, our
laws will inevitably change to reflect scientific reality.

Then prosecutors like Farley can focus on real criminals rather than sick
and dying people who use an herb with their 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."

CHRISTOPHER LARGEN

Denton, Texas