MARIJUANA'S MEDICAL BENEFITS ARE IGNORED

While I wouldn't go as far as to question Jerry Seaman's credentials as a
pharmacist, I do suspect he doesn't do much reading ("Marijuana has no
medical validity," Letters, July 20).

Might I suggest he crack open a copy of "Marijuana: Medical Papers," edited
by Tod H. Mikuriya. Dr. Mikuriya was on the Shaffer Commission, whose
conclusions in favor of marijuana's legalization were ignored. I have also
known a number of individuals suffering from ailments ranging from cancer
and AIDS to MS to severe back pain, for whom marijuana's effectiveness was
instant and obvious.

Mr. Seaman seems to be living in isolation as well as in ignorance of a
mountain of evidence in favor of marijuana's medical benefits. The
Controlled Substances Act was passed for purely political purposes. The
U.S. government has consistently ignored every scientific report supporting
marijuana's medical effectiveness. The Supreme Court's decision of 2001 was
based entirely upon the language of the Controlled Substances Act, not upon
any scientific study.

For Seaman to use such a court decision as evidence against marijuana's
medical value is to employ the same circular logic that the government does
in its propaganda campaign against marijuana. People should make up their
minds about marijuana based upon facts, which Seaman's sweeping statements
completely lack.

Ray Carlson, Redwood City, Calif.