MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The action by President Bush regarding generic drugs was simply election
year pandering, "Drug rules revisions will help consumers" (10/24/02).

If the Bush Administration really cared about the health and well being of
Americans, DEA agents would not be out trying to subvert state laws passed
by voters that legalized medical marijuana.

Raids on medicinal pot gardens in California have resulted in seriously ill
patients being terrorized, handcuffed and even arrested and jailed, and now
federal agents are expanding the war on the sick into Oregon, where they
recently paid a visit to a quadraplegic's garden and tore up his legal
medicine.

The medical use of marijuana has the potential to reduce dosages of
conventional pharmaceuticals or eliminate them entirely.

Conventional prescription and over the counter medications all have a toxic
dose, and laundry lists of side effects. Even aspirin kills a couple
thousand people per year. Cannabis has never killed anyone.

Bush's cynical electioneering should fool no one. His loyalties still lie
with the drug companies, and whatever help consumers gain from this latest
move will be offset now that the elections are over. Rescheduling marijuana
so physicians can prescribe it would send a real sign that Bush cares about
American's health. Don't hold your breath.

Gary Storck

Madison