Pubdate: Sun, 3 May 2009
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2009 The Des Moines Register.
Contact: http://DesMoinesRegister.com/help/letter.html
Website: http://desmoinesregister.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n461/a10.html
Author: Michael J. Navin

ENOUGH STUDY: VOTE NOW ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Concerning an April 25 article in the Register about a judge ruling 
that the Iowa Board of Pharmacy must examine whether marijuana has an 
accepted medical use: I would think there have been many studies done 
already that could be used to come to an unbiased decision.

Past studies must have positive results for the side of legalizing 
marijuana because you never hear the results. I don't understand how 
pharmacists could not help but be biased.

The pharmaceutical industry can see the writing on the wall: Pot 
relieved my nausea (no more antacids); I don't feel stressed (no more 
Valium); and it lowered blood pressure (throw out some more pills).

Dig up some studies, release the results to the public, have some 
debates and let them vote on the issue. I'm sure that by now it's 
been proven that pot is not addictive and nicotine is. Let's make 
tobacco illegal instead. Oh, I forgot, the tobacco industry has a lot of money.

People with AIDs, cancer, etc., have enough on their plates without 
the government withholding something that could ease their pain.

Michael J. Navin, Menlo