MARIJUANA -- SAFE DRUG FOR 5,000 YEARS

Regarding Randy E. Barnett's March 16 editorial-page commentary
"Reefer Madness1": While there have been studies showing that
marijuana can shrink cancerous tumors, medical marijuana is
essentially a palliative drug. If the effects of marijuana help a
cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy feel better, then it's working.
In the end, medical marijuana is a quality of life issue best left to
patients and their doctors.

Federal bureaucrats waging war on non-corporate drugs contend that
organic marijuana is not an effective health intervention. The federal
government's prescribed intervention for medical marijuana patients is
handcuffs, jail cells and criminal records. This heavy-handed approach
suggests that drug warriors are not well suited to dictate health-care
decisions. Congress needs to show some leadership on the issue and
pass legislation reaffirming the Constitution's 10th Amendment
guarantee of states rights. States that prefer to cage sick patients
for daring to feel better can continue to do so. The more enlightened
states that have passed compassionate-use legislation should not be
stymied by the federal government.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington