Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Rafael Lemaitre / Tom Riley 202-395-6618
Monday, March 24th, 2003

(Washington, DC) - Today, John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), along with several Maryland political and community leaders, responded to the recent efforts by drug legalization advocates to change state law in order to permit the use of smoked marijuana as medicine in Maryland.

Director Walters stated, "We owe people with debilitating medical conditions the best that science has to offer - not the results of interest group lobbying and political compromise. Research has not demonstrated that smoked marijuana is safe and effective medicine. Legalizing smoked marijuana under the guise of medicine is scientifically irresponsible and contradictory to our high standards for approval of medications. The legislation being considered in Maryland for so-called medical marijuana would also mean more availability of a dangerous drug in our neighborhoods. The citizens of Maryland deserve better."

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Maryand), the Ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, said, "I believe we should defer to the scientific community as to whether there are legitimate medical uses for marijuana. We know all too well the dangerous health risks that accompany tobacco smoking, and the Institute of Medicine has found that '[b]ecause of the health risks associated with smoking, smoked marijuana should generally not be recommended for long-term medical use.' At the same time, the FDA has approved the drug Marinol which isolates the properties in marijuana that may be of some medical benefit to certain chronically ill patients. Research to develop safe marijuana-derived medicines should continue, but absent a broadly accepted scientific basis for determining that, for certain patients, the benefits of smoked marijuana outweigh the known harms, I don't see a reasoned justification for rescheduling marijuana as a controlled substance."

Joseph Cassilly, Vice President of the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association stated, "Maryland prosecutors don't think it's appropriate for legislators to preempt the role of the Food and Drug Administration or physicians. State legislators should not be determining what's appropriate medicine."

Dr. Bob Dupont, a Maryland physician and founding Director of the National Institutes on Drug Abuse commented, "For years, decriminalization was the stalking horse for the marijuana lobby. Today 'medical use' has become the symbol behind which the pro-pot activists are marching. I urge state legislators to oppose bills to make marijuana available as a 'medicine'. Doctors don't prescribe burning leaves to treat any illness. People need to see medical marijuana for what it is: a fraud and a hoax. This is not about compassion. This is about legalizing dangerous drugs."

Leaders of Maryland youth and community organizations are voicing their opposition to medical marijuana as well. Joyce Nalepka, a Silver Spring resident and President of Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge stated, "The ridiculous myth that smoked marijuana is medicine is being swept across the country by admitted proponents of legalization of all drugs. The Maryland State Assembly should send a strong, clear message to all children by voting 'no' on this legislation." David Evans, Executive Director of the Drug Free Schools Coalition added, "I am appalled how seriously ill people have been victimized by the cruel hoax of smoked marijuana as medicine. Smoked marijuana, an impure and toxic substance, has no place in our medicine cabinets." Joseph E. McGeeney, State Chairman for the Maryland, Delaware, & District of Columbia Elks Association Drug Awareness Program concluded, "The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is adamantly opposed to the legalization of marijuana."