Get drugs out of kids' hands, into doctors', see if sky falls
Thank you for the well-balanced, impartial commentary on
marijuana ("'Caveat emptor!' in search for truth about marijuana,"
Opinions, Sept. 21).

It is rare to read information that is seemingly unaffected by the
national hysteria generated by this hot-button issue. I find it
interesting that the piece was written by three people who work in
the field of addiction and by one who works with the University of
Washington's marijuana-treatment project, yet the image that I get
from the article is one of a more benign and significantly
less-dangerous plant than the one that has been presented to
Americans by our own government.

Why there must be public debate to determine whether medical
professionals can explore the use of marijuana in treatment
of illness, when known lethal drugs are dispensed daily, is
a question that is beyond me. Children have more access to marijuana
currently than they have to morphine, valium and alcohol. Let's get
it out of the kids' hands and into the doctors' and see if the sky
falls.

Vivian McPeak
Seattle, WA