Don't be so quick to condemn the use of medical marijuana

This is in reply to an article on the editorial page written by New Jersey Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini ("Too Many Problems With Medical Marijuana Use," Tri-Town News, Jan. 29, 2008).

From this article I presume Ms. Angelini has no clue what it means to have a progressive, painful disease such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis, in which the patient deals with debilitating pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or she would not be so quick to condemn cannabis-based medicine.

I would like to state that the FDA has done no studies on this, so they have little to offer on the subject. Studies (quite extensive) have been done in the United Kingdom and the results are easily within reach on the computer for all to see. What is the FDA waiting for?

There are no studies that have found any serious side effects to long-term marijuana use. As far as our youth is concerned, why is it OK for us to be prescribed prescription pain medications such as hydrocodone and oxycontin (the two most addictive substances on the planet) but not marijuana, for pain relief?

Isn't this a severe contradiction? What are you really teaching our children with this biased attitude toward pain management? Is it because the drug companies won't be in charge of dispensing it and making millions on it?

Who knows, we might be able to remove some of these highly addictive and expensive drugs off the market with some research. Where would that leave the drug companies?

Sharon Krizan

New Egypt