MEDICAL MARIJUANA: TWO VIEWS

I take the Constitution very seriously, and just as seriously, I disagree
with the Register's opinion that the city of Santa Cruz has a right to
allow its citizens to use marijuana ["Imposing compassion," Editorial,
April 23].

Marijuana is a harmful drug with serious side effects.

For example, the British Medical Journal just reported that marijuana is
causally linked to schizophrenia. It contains more cancer-causing agents
than tobacco smoke (oftentimes 70 percent more, according to the National
Institutes of Health) and the drug is the most implicated in treatment
episodes for youth.

The Institute of Medicine reported in 1999 that "because of the health
risks associated with smoking, smoked marijuana should generally not be
recommended for long-term medical use." It added that "in no way do we wish
to suggest that patients should medicate themselves with marijuana."

The medical community is not behind medical-excuse marijuana. Instead, a
coalition of those who want to normalize drug use has an interest in
letting the marijuana culture flourish.

True compassion would entail giving the sick scientifically proven medicine
and stopping the exploitation of the dying in the name of drug legalization.

Vic Afsahi

Newport Beach