Doctors and Marijuana

* Scott Gottlieb (Opinion, Sept. 27) suggests that making marijuana available medically will result in U.S. physicians regularly abusing marijuana, causing the “stoned age” of medicine. That certainly has never happened with physicians prescribing morphine and the other opiates, cocaine and even methamphetamine. Gottlieb cites the British experience, where medical use of marijuana is encouraged, and he alleges that “46% of medical students in England have tried marijuana at least once, while 10% claimed to smoke one joint or more per week.” He connects this with Britain’s early efforts to legalize recreational marijuana use.

Interestingly, we have data on American medical students’ use of marijuana in 1971, before anyone thought about its medical uses. Fully 72% of medical students surveyed in a Southern California medical school had tried marijuana at least once, 18% smoked at least once weekly and over 40% used at least once monthly, far more than our British colleagues (Ungerleider, et al., Journal of the American Medical Assn., 1971). Before 1975 in California, being “under the influence of” marijuana was a felony; conviction resulted in a minimum mandatory sentence of 90 days in jail. Thus the high use was despite draconian laws.

J. THOMAS

UNGERLEIDER MD

Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry

UCLA Medical Center

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Perhaps the American Medical Assn. is recommending a review of the demonized weed because there are stacks of scientific research that show it has numerous benefits and few side effects, not to mention anecdotal evidence. Has Gottlieb ever spoken to a cancer or AIDS patient who uses it? They usually prefer inhaled pot over Marinol because they can’t adjust the dosage in pill form. The great irony is that the “legal pot pill” gets you more stoned than its inhaled parent. As for this sending the wrong message: Does prescribing opiates for those in chronic pain send a message that heroin is a desirable party drug?

MICHAEL SIMMONS

Los Angeles

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Gottlieb should develop the first requirement of being a useful physician: the ability to objectively evaluate facts. Marijuana is a relatively safe drug with few minor side effects. The worst “side effect” is the possibility of criminalization by the justice system.

Marijuana has a 5,000-year recorded history of being used for its therapeutic benefits: relaxation, euphoria and pain relief. One might think that doctors and medical students might appreciate those benefits. If someday I need marijuana to treat nausea, vomiting or pain from any cause, I certainly would give it a try, rather than those toxic, synthetic substances that can be had in any pharmacy or grocery store.

GREGORY WENTZEL

La Mesa