Marijuana offers alternative

After reading of Joe Coco's concerns regarding medicinal marijuana use in the March 20 Pilot, I can summarily say, "Don't believe everything you think."

The analgesic properties of marijuana are well documented, while the related traffic deaths he referred to are suspect. As for the 'social costs," allow me to illuminate the big picture.

Let's speak directly to the primary issue Coco raised, that of medicinal marijuana use placing a heretofore unseen burden on our socialized health care programs. The beauty of marijuana is that it offers a natural pain relief solution, with an incredibly low incidence of side effects, especially if taken orally rather than being smoked. In contrast, the drugs being pushed on our society by the pharmaceutical industry are poisoning our people and wreaking long-term havoc.

From side effects that snowball into more and more prescribed poison, to the unconscionable expense of manufactured drugs, the social costs of Big Pharma should not be underestimated. According to Andrew Weil, a Harvard-trained MD and well respected proponent of natural and integrative medicine, "Adverse drug reactions account for a great deal of unnecessary illness and death. Congress has thus far been unable or unwilling to stand up to the extraordinarily vigorous pharmaceutical lobby and institute any sort of price controls on prescription drugs — even for the federal Medicare program."

Weil goes on to point out that in 2005, the top-five U.S. drug companies had total sales of $222 billion. Of that, $32 billion was spent on research and development, while $71 billion went to marketing. "Despite this, the U.S. government gives rich tax breaks and subsidies to pharmaceutical companiesÉ. more than any other government does," he said.

Natural solutions to support health and pain management are, almost without fail, less dangerous to the body and more affordable. In Weil's words, "My long experience with botanical medicine has made me a strong proponent of natural products to treat disease. I find them to be much safer and often more effective than pharmaceutical drugs."

Weil points out that America's astronomical number of adverse drug reactions is a leading cause of death in hospitalized patients. What do you think this might be costing taxpayers?

The medical marijuana movement is a long overdue attempt to take our power back. Intelligent, educated individuals all over this country (Montana included) are sick and tired of corporate fat cats controlling our food and medicines in the name of profit. People from all socio-economic levels and political affiliations utilize marijuana for its various benefits.

I think it na've to assume that decriminalizing this substance is going to open a floodgate of health care or social change. Frankly, most of these people already used marijuana. Only now, they don't have to live in fear of police action for doing something fairly harmless.

It's important to distinguish that a high level of responsibility is expected of any member of society who indulges in a perception-altering substance. This includes alcohol, prescription pain medications and marijuana. No one is advocating driving or attending school under the influence.

On one point we do agree: I would love to opt out of our current system of government. If you figure out how, aside from moving to a foreign country, please let me know. Meanwhile, there are bigger fish to fry than medical marijuana. Let's take all that energy and apply it toward something productiveÉ. like the fair tax.

Erin Blair Seefeldt lives in Whitefish.