Letter to the editor

Marijuana is medicine for many people

To Guy W. Farmer and his "loyal readers," I am a medical marijuana patient in the great state of Nevada. I have been in the Medical Marijuana Program since it was offered by the Nevada Department of Agriculture in 2001.

Mr. Farmer claims marijuana is a dangerous"drug," and wants the option for the least amount of "usage." He claims that "regular marijuana use can cause health problems ranging from memory loss to cancer." He also mentions a report by the Des Moines (Iowa) Register warned that "today's marijuana is at least 10 times more potent than it was in the 1970s," and quoted the Iowa Crime Lab as saying that 21st century pot produces "a stronger, longer-lasting high whose effects reach far beyond the so-called munchies and drowsiness caused by earlier, milder forms of the drug."

Well, Mr. 28-year-U.S.-foreign-drug-war warrior, you'll be surprised to know that there are over 700 medical marijuana patients in Nevada. Every one of us is allowed to grow seven plants and possess 1 ounce of marijuana at all times. This means seven plants times 700 patients is 4,900 marijuana plants somewhere in Nevada and 700 ounces or 43.75 pounds at any given time, 24/7. There is more marijuana consumption in Nevada than there are in 39 other states (medical marijuana is legal in 11 states).

My caregiver has been growing the best medical marijuana in the world. Personally, I think it's a million times more potent than any marijuana Mr. Farmer may have destroyed throughout his career. It is also one billion times "better" and or safer than tobacco, according to a Fox News report saying tobacco will kill one billion people this century unless its use is reduced.

Finally, allow me to answer your childish question. "If marijuana smoking can lead to the chronic use and abuse of meth and other more addictive drugs, and if meth is the No. 1 law enforcement priority in our city (which it is), what sense does it make to legalize possession of 'small' amounts of marijuana?"

First, when asking a question, don't attempt to answer your own question, i.e. leave out everything but the question. The question you are asking is, what sense does it make to legalize possession of "small" amounts of marijuana? Well, first this frees up law enforcement time to target meth, not pot, which according to you is the No. 1 law enforcement priority, not murder, rape or assault.

Second, it makes sense and money to stop jailing nonviolent-responsible adults who prefer marijuana to alcohol or tobacco. Imagine all the money saved in law enforcement time, court costs, probation and all the punishment on our Nevada citizens. Nevada citizens should be able to use alcohol or tobacco or marijuana in a responsible manner without fear of arrest.

To answer the answer part of your question, "If marijuana smoking can lead to the chronic use and abuse of meth and other more addictive drugs": If thinking can lead to the chronic use and abuse of anything, and everything more addictive, should we outlaw thinking?

In short, the reasoning of Mr. Farmer's is of a retarded child screaming "reefer madness." Marijuana is a medicine. Like all medicines, everything in moderation.

Pierre Werner

Las Vegas