HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS WORSE THAN MARIJUANA

The history of marijuana as medicine dates back to 4500 B.C. in China.
Now letter writer Libba Jackson-D'Ambrosi suggests that until
marijuana passes rigorous FDA standards, it should not be considered
medicine. Using this logic we should outlaw tea with lemon and honey
as treatment for colds and sore throats.

Notwithstanding its ancient use as a palliative, the dangers of
caffeine are well documented, and if tea with honey and lemon had to
pass the same rigorous standards for use as marijuana, it would never
be declared a medicine. The writer forgets that marijuana was legal
for many years before its possession was criminalized through a
political, not a scientific, process.

Our marijuana laws do more harm than good, and parents concerned about
their children's well-being have more to fear from the household
chemicals they store in their homes than from marijuana.

THOMAS J. HILLGARDNER

Jamaica, N.Y.