MARYLAND'S MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION BID

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) spokesman Bruce Mirken's letter responding
to White House drug czar John P. Walters' good efforts to oppose medical
marijuana deserves much clarification ("Marijuana morality," Wednesday).

First, Mr. Mirken tries to claim that science is on his side by citing a
few organizations and publications that he says have expressed support for
"medical excuse marijuana." He, of course, neglects to tell readers that
the most prestigious medical organizations in this country o including the
American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, National Multiple
Sclerosis Society, the American Glaucoma Association and the National Eye
Institute, plus the United Nations o are all adamantly opposed to smoking
pot as medicine.

No wonder he must resort to referring to well-known legalization advocate
Dr. Jocelyn Elders to boost his argument. For the sick, there are many
other medications that do a much better job at relieving symptoms than
marijuana. If this weren't the case, we would hear an outcry from the
medical community to legalize the medicinal use of the drug. But no outcry
exists, except among drug legalization advocates.

Additionally, he tries to bolster his cause of legalizing drugs by claiming
that the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine Report
actually supported medical marijuana initiatives, such as the one just
passed in Maryland. Of course it does not, since the report specifically
states that "because of the health risks associated with smoking, smoked
marijuana should not be recommended for medical use."

Clinical trials to determine the efficacy of single marijuana compounds is
one thing, but widespread marijuana availability under the guise of
"medicine" is quite another.

Shame on the MPP, whose sole stated aim is to legalize marijuana outright,
for perpetrating lies and asking that the scientific process for
determining safety and efficacy of a medicine be circumvented in the name
of a larger political agenda. The Food and Drug Administration is the only
agency that can approve drugs.

Recently, MPP published its seven-point list of goals for 2003. Because MPP
is outraged that Mr. Walters is speaking out against marijuana
legalization, MPP lists as its No. 1 goal, "Emasculate the drug czar."

Joyce Nalepka

President

Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge

Silver Spring