THE FDA AND 'MEDICINAL MARIJUANA'

In 1996 voters in California and Arizona approved referendums that
allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for patients who have certain
illnesses, such as glaucoma. Now there is a movement in Florida to do
the same.

Thousands of registered Florida voters have signed their names to a
petition, hoping to add an amendment to the Florida Constitution that
would permit the use of medicinal marijuana.

Before any law is considered, the federal government should decide not
only the legal ramifications of using "prescription pot" but, more
importantly, whether the drug is really effective in the treatment of
certain ailments.

Almost immediately after passage of the referendums in California and
Arizona, Attorney General Janet Reno said doctors who do prescribe
marijuana could lose their prescription-writing privileges, be
excluded from Medicare and Medicaid and even be prosecuted. Then, last
year, a federal judge temporarily barred government action against
California doctors who recommend marijuana use, saying the federal
policy was confusing. Also, the Arizona legislature passed a bill
forbidding doctors from prescribing any drug that lacks approval of
the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Antidrug activists, along with drug czar Barry McCaffrey, argue that
these referendums are but a stealthy way to slip in legalization
through the back door. Still, the FDA probably should give medicinal
marijuana a serious look.

Supporters of medical marijuana claim the weed is useful in treating
glaucoma, mitigating the side effects of cancer chemotherapy and
preventing the "wasting" associated with AIDS. If so, it needs
rigorous testing and should go through the FDA's approval process. Its
medicinal value, if any, should be validated, as well as all possible
side effects revealed.

Alternatives to marijuana should also be pursued. For instance, even
though marijuana may lower eye pressure in glaucoma treatment, there
are six other sets of medicines that do the same job, not to mention
laser procedures and surgery.

There is no doubt that some supporters of prescription pot see it as
an opportunity to smoke the illegal substance without fear of criminal
prosecution. But once the FDA can either verify or discount
marijuana's use as a medicinal drug, then the legality of its
therapeutic uses can be based on facts. Until that happens, any state
law is subject to being overturned - no matter how many people sign
petitions.