Fairbanks Daily Newsminer, Letter to the Editor, March-26-1995

Party line

To the editor

March 22 1995

Government against Grannies, and anyone else who dares to challenge the established party line. That line is-marijuana for no one. Even if it will save your eye sight, or help you cope with a terminal illness, or save you life. Does marijuana work? If not, what of the studies and the many who claim relief?

Others claim synthetic THC is just as effective. Several studies such as Sallen/Zinberg study, and the Chang Study dispute this claim.

What about the dangers of possible abuse?

Should we start banning everything, pain killers to antibiotics, because often we misuse these drugs with devastating results. Though not totally harmless marijuana is vastly less harmful than many drugs now used to treat illnesses. On Sept. 6 1988, DEA administrative law Judge Francis J Young said "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."

What about the message we are sending to our children?

Yes indeed, what is the message we are sending our children? The message may be that we will allow the sick to be arrested, while we dispense immensely more toxic drugs to treat illnesses.

It's now time to stop the madness

Charles Rollins Jr

North Pole