WHAT DOES VALIUM CURE?

Medicinal Marijuana

RE: 'A case against smoking marijuana' (July 25).

Dr. Andrea Barthwell argues that, despite its possible value, marijuana is
intoxicating. And that it is more important for patients to "get better"
than to "feel better." What nonsense.

Doctors prescribe mountains of drugs to legions of patients who are
chronically, and incurably, ill.

Pain can be very debilitating. Patients with arthritis, for example, may
function better because the drugs they have been prescribed help them to
feel better.

Following an industrial accident, I spent 10 days attached to a device that
allowed me to self-medicate with morphine. It did make me feel better, but I
didn't get better.

I have a permanent disability and the drug prescribed by a doctor was
definitely intoxicating.

What's the distinction here?

Many studies have indicated the vast medical potential of marijuana. It's my
understanding that even the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has
concluded that marijuana has medicinal value.

Patrick Cohoe

Winnipeg