[420 Girl]

The Jan. 19 column by Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, R-Monmouth, "Medical marijuana is a dangerous step," was misleading.

A recent compilation of peer-reviewed medical studies regarding medical-marijuana use showed about 48 percent in favor of its use, 34 percent neither pro or con and only 18 percent opposed. That's not the impression one would get from Angelini.

She also gave us a list of the possible negative effects of marijuana use. This list may sound vaguely familiar since similar effects are on the warning labels of many prescription drugs found at your local pharmacy.

She also is concerned that this legislation will send a troubling message to our youth. What is the difference in the message between physician-prescribed marijuana and any other potentially harmful physician-prescribed drug?

She doesn't like the fact that marijuana is "ingested" by smoking. A lot of kids with asthma should be glad she doesn't get to vote on existing drugs that are inhaled.

Angelini doesn't think the Legislature should be answering questions about the use and effectiveness of medicine. I agree. This bill should pass, and let the doctors make medical decisions regarding the medical use of marijuana.

Let those who are sick decide what works

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini's Jan. 19 column, "Medical marijuana is a dangerous step," uses the worst form of fear mongering combined with the underlying assumption that individual New Jersey residents are not responsible enough to choose their own medical care.

Angelini, R-Monmouth, starts her argument by making the brazen claim that "studies have also demonstrated links between massive marijuana usage and heart attacks, strokes and abnormalities in the brain." Obviously, if you consume "massive" amounts of anything, dire consequences will follow. This holds true for water, alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Angelini also likes to talk about the "unintended consequences" associated with allowing sick people to choose their own treatments. I can see only one consequence of medicinal marijuana: People who are suffering horribly get relief. My mother has been battling ovarian cancer for the last seven years and my best friend was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 20 years old. When my mother is so nauseous she can't hold down food for days or my friend can't feel her legs for two weeks, is smoking marijuana for temporary relief so dangerous?

I've seen many people under the influence of approved drugs such as Oxycontin, Percocet, etc., and their behavior is subhuman, but Angelini implies that because they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they must not be dangerous. How can anyone who isn't suffering from a painful or fatal illness decide for the sick what they should and should not use for relief?


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