The ‘Pot Docs’ Controversy

Eric Bailey’s article, “Taking a Leaf From ‘Pot Docs’ ” (Nov. 6), once again underscores the absurdity of the government’s perverse action against trained physicians who prescribe marijuana for the seriously ill.

Time would be better spent directing energies where real harm is done instead of harassing healthcare providers who distribute a substance that really makes a positive difference for people who face severe medical issues.

I should know because I am the dad of Nick Feldman, Dr. Frank Lacido’s patient described in this article. Nick may get through the day with a “little help from a friend,” but if it were not for the support of a licensed physician, his options would be limited to the street. There is no wonder why government officials, sipping their third pre-dinner martini, get the terms hypocritical and Hippocratic mixed up.

Richard Feldman

Los Angeles

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The excellent article about “pot docs” reveals Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft’s mean-spirited attitude trickling down to our medical care. The war on drugs is a total failure; we should surrender and make better use of our time and resources. The war on drugs drains our economy of billions a year and has done little to reduce drug use. Treatment of drug abusers is more effective and much less costly than maintenance as a prison inmate. Cutting back on our current methods of fighting drug use would free up money and personnel for counter-terrorism efforts.

The current harassment of doctors who advocate medical use of marijuana shows lack of compassion by the conservatives now in power.

We need them to change their course and use methods that are both sensible and effective.

Carl Swallow

Manhattan Beach

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The source of abuse by “pot docs” is the law’s calculated, expansive wording. It refers to use by “seriously ill Californians,” but marijuana can be “recommended by a physician” if a “health benefit” is found for treatment of “cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain ... or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.” The words, “any other illness,” could, for example, encompass marijuana for an upset stomach, rather than Pepto-Bismol. The words “provides relief” and “a health benefit” are standardless.

Many assumed that a physician’s “recommendation” was synonymous with a written prescription. Not so. A “recommendation” could be oral and also without any record whatsoever. Also, many would assume a physician would be a sufficient check on abuse. Not so.

Finally, the law [approved as Proposition 215] authorizes marijuana cultivation by “the patient” and a “primary caregiver.”

This initiative and those in 10 other states have been devious methods to move to full legalization of marijuana. Billionaire George Soros of New York has been a prime bankroller of these measures, spending over $550,000 on the California initiative alone.

Robert E. Hayes

Political science professor

Long Beach State

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You don’t have to look any further than the extreme irony of Dr. Tod Mikuriya’s case to see that the Medical Board of California really is on a witch hunt. It took action against him for violating accepted medical standards in recommending marijuana. The irony is that the board has never published such standards. The greater irony is that Mikuriya has been actively campaigning to get the board to adopt standards and has submitted suggested standards himself, even before the case was brought against him. In the end, it is persecuting him because of its own failure to act.

This is an open and obvious vendetta against the law already approved by the voters of California.

Clifford Schaffer

Director, DRCNet Online

Library of Drug Policy

Agua Dulce