MARIJUANA NOT AS EFFECTIVE

This is in response to a letter to the editor by Jacqulene Brandt on
May 20. People who organize for the cause against "...withholding
medicine for the people by not allowing marijuana to be medically
organized" need to be informed -- along with every health care
provider I have spoken to about this issue who have not heard of
Marinol (dronabinol). This is delta-9-THC, the active component in
marijuana, an antiemetic (antinausea drug).

The very fact that this drug exists makes marijuana rights activists'
argument invalid. We are not trying to legalize heroin and cocaine,
they are already used in pharmaceutical forms, one being the oldest
medication and most effective analgesic and the other used in nasal
surgery.

Smoking marijuana simply hasn't been proven to be as effective as
other antiemetics. Perhaps this is why no one has heard of Marinol. I
have seen an IV solution of Marinol listed but only capsules are
listed in recent references.

Imagine a patient smoking something in a hospital that cannot be
regulated as to content or dosage. There is no reason to justify
legalizing marijuana for medical purposes other than to become one
step closer to complete legalization. This is the foot-in-the-door
tactic used by many special interest groups such as pro-lifers. I
really have no opinion on legalizing marijuana for medical purposes,
I only wish to share information.

Tala Rassool

Portage