You don’t have to smoke medicinal marijuana
The News & Record is to be commended for Lex Alexander’s remarkably thorough story, “Should smoking marijuana be a medical option?” (Jan. 18). A couple of clarifications are in order:
First, marijuana need not be smoked to be used as a medicine. Vaporization, which delivers the fast action and easy dose adjustment of smoking without the tars and other harmful components of smoke, is available today and has been proven by published, peer-reviewed research. And even when smoked, the majority of research indicates that marijuana is, in fact, not a risk for lung cancer.
Second, a number of studies have been conducted and published since the 1999 Institute of Medicine report. Several have demonstrated that marijuana safely and effectively treats a type of nerve pain common in multiple sclerosis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, for which conventional treatments often fail.
Bruce Mirken
San Francisco
The writer is director of communications, the Marijuana Policy Project.
Comments (5)
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If someone is in severe pain and (prescribed) marijuana will alleviate it, why would anyone begrudge a person using it? I am not speaking of the free-market, self-prescribed use of marijuana but rather the doctor prescribed use of it. Any and all drugs have the potential for abuse and, in far too many instances, are being abused. However, this should not be a criteria for eliminating useful drugs that help people have less suffering. So what is the objection to medically prescribed marijuana?
Posted on January 24, 2009 8:49 AM
It's all propaganda from the 50's and 60's that prevent it's useful properties from being made into a legal bonified medicine. Reefer madness, was a hoax by a group of narrow minded cynics and it is still played out today. Luckily continued use has disproven their theory and fears.
Posted on January 24, 2009 9:28 AM
in my opinion marijuana is no different than any other medicinal herb. Valarian root, scull cap, chamomile, cat nip, all are simular to marijuana in one way or another, maybe not in properties altho some of the same properties are in many, and produce like results, and yet they are all legal and reddily available at your local health food store.
Eleven states have already approved it for medicinal use. Lets get with the program this is not the terrible street drug that it has been painted to be. There are more benefits than harm with consumption of this plant, that was put on this earth for our use.
Posted on January 24, 2009 9:44 AM
"Don't Bogart that vapor my friend"...
Posted on January 24, 2009 3:57 PM
I know a guy who has cancer and smokes pot regularly, says it helps with pain and nausea. He told me screw the medical marijuana, prescriptions, etc., it's easier to get it off the street.
Posted on January 24, 2009 5:33 PM