THE MEDICINAL VALUE OF MARIJUANA

As the proposer of a law that would remove criminal penalties for seriously
ill patients in the District who use and grow marijuana with the approval
of their physicians, I object to John Walters's characterization of the
issue [op-ed, May 1].

The administration's spokesman alleged that such an initiative is a
"cynical" ploy that will somehow lead to "drug legalization." But the
contradictions between rhetoric and reality on medical marijuana are piling up:

i In 1997, drug czar Barry McCaffrey claimed that science, not politics,
should determine whether marijuana has medical value, and he had the
National Academy of Sciences review the scientific literature. The academy
concluded that marijuana should be made available on a case-by-case basis
for patients suffering from AIDS, cancer and chronic pain. Mr. McCaffrey
dismissed the report and took no action on the recommendations.

i Since 1978 the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute on
Drug Abuse have been providing government-grown marijuana cigarettes to a
small group of patients each month. A study found that medical marijuana
provided "effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms and
intraocular pressure elevations." Despite Mr. Walters's vague claims of
brain damage, researchers found no sign of neurological harm in patients
using large quantities of marijuana for as long as 20 years.

i Federal drug warriors say it is impossible to make marijuana available
medically but have it remain illegal for recreational purposes, but if
doctors can prescribe morphine and cocaine, surely they could prescribe
marijuana, too.

We will continue to fight to remove criminal penalties against the medical
use of marijuana in the District and in the states until the federal
government changes the law to make marijuana medically available nationwide.

ROB KAMPIA

Executive Director

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington