U.S. SHOULD LEGALIZE, REGULATE MARIJUANA

Christine Logslett's Aug. 13 letter, "Culture harmful to our children,"
included some assertions about marijuana that must be challenged.

In March 1999, the Institute of Medicine released a report, "Marijuana and
Medicine, Assessing the Science Base," commissioned by drug czar Barry
McCaffrey. It reported: "There is no conclusive evidence that the drug
effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other
illicit drugs."

While Logslett is correct that "marijuana is not approved by the Food and
Drug Administration for a reason," the reason is political, not scientific,
and has nothing to do with the safety or medical efficacy of marijuana.

While I'm sorry for those who have lost children to drugs, I'm tired of
people who try to justify keeping medicine from sick people by claiming they
are protecting "the children." Children can tell the difference between
medical use and drug abuse.

The fact is marijuana prohibition makes it easier for kids to find marijuana
than it is for patients who need it for medicine or adults who use it
responsibly.

The best way to keep marijuana out of the hands of children is to regulate
its sale as we do with alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana prohibition's 65 years
have proved the ban is nothing but a counterproductive fraud. It's time to
retire it before it causes further harm.

Gary Storck
Madison