by James C. Backstrom

Minnesota's law-enforcement leaders strongly oppose the adoption of a law legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

Marijuana is not an accepted medicine. The use of smoked marijuana has been rejected by the American Medical Association and by the organizations representing the patients said to need it the most, such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Cancer Society.

There are many medical substitutes that have gone through the necessary and rigorous testing procedures of the Food and Drug Administration to insure safety for patients. In fact, there already exists a legalized form of "medical marijuana" in America: It's called Marinol.

Allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes will clearly lead to the perception that marijuana is harmless and will result in more illegal marijuana use and the crimes associated with it, endangering Minnesota's citizens.

Testimony last year by the bill's authors and supporters referred to it as a "tightly crafted" proposal that would affect only 150 to 200 sick and dying people in Minnesota.

On the contrary, this proposal would allow "registered organizations" to grow 12 marijuana plants for an unlimited number of "patients." These organizations (which will have no obligation to destroy unneeded marijuana) will be producing large quantities of "medical" marijuana, which will make them easy and likely targets for theft.

As to the number of "patients" likely to use marijuana under this proposal, one need only check the statistics of the state of Oregon, which has enacted a virtually identical law. As of April 1, 16,635 persons have been issued medical marijuana cards in Oregon.

James C. Backstrom, Dakota County attorney and president, Minnesota County Attorneys Association