Pubdate: Thu, 11 Feb 1999
Date: 02/11/1999
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Author: John McClain

Sandra Lacar's Jan. 30 View Point, "Medical use of marijuana must not
be allowed," is confusing. If marijuana isn't a medicine, why are
patients being supplied marijuana by the federal government, and why
is the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) used as medicine in pills
(as she herself points out)?

Lacar implies that marijuana is cancerous. There is no evidence of
lung cancer deaths from marijuana. Yet prescription drugs kill 100,000
people a year, compared to zero deaths from marijuana.

She suggests this legislation will increase abuse rates, but gives no
evidence. In fact, usage rates have dropped in California after
passage of medical marijuana laws.

Rhetoric confuses the issue. The facts speak for themselves.

John McClain (Via the Internet)