MARIJUANA STATS FROM ERS MISLEADING

Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force Director Terrence P. Farley's letter,
"Misinformation abounds on medical marijuana" of Feb. 24, shows that when
it comes to medicinal pot, he is also the director of misinformation.

I am sure by now the Observer has received many letters rebutting Farley's
lurid claims about the dangers of cannabis, so rather than trying to
address all of them, let's take an in-depth look at just one. According to
Farley, "As a factor in emergency-room visits, marijuana has risen 176
percent since 1994 and now surpasses even heroin."

Prohibitionists like Farley love to cite emergency-room data as proof that
cannabis isn't harmless; however, according to the Drug Abuse Warning
Network figures from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
there are only 125,000 total ER mentions of pot, of which just 25,000 are
for pot only. All of the rest involve alcohol or some other illicit
substance. The fact is the legal drug alcohol accounts for roughly 25
percent of all ER visits, while marijuana by itself and combined with other
substances involved less than one-tenth of 1 percent.

Farley's passion for prohibition makes it seem he is more interested in
preserving the industry that pays his salary than showing any compassion
for the very real suffering of millions of Americans who can find a little
solace and regain a little dignity through the medicinal use of marijuana.
It is not a hoax, and for a public figure to use his office to insult sick
and dying fellow citizens like Cheryl Miller in such a manner is shameful.

GARY STORCK, Madison, WI