Realize medical benefits of marijuana

The state of Iowa recognizes marijuana for the use of medical treatment as illegal. This is a huge misjudgement on the part of Iowa lawmakers. Though marijuana for recreational use can be harmful and destructive, these perceptions should not carry over to medical use of the drug. The use of marijuana as medical treatment could be controlled, measured and beneficial to a number of patients.

Certain forms of marijuana have been proven to ease immense pain suffered by victims of HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis C and Alzheimer's. It also has been shown to relieve vomiting, chronic pain and nausea.

One of the largest arguments against medical marijuana is the belief that the legalization of such a drug would lead to the legalization of many other illegal drugs. This fear is not justified. There would be no reason to legalize any other drugs unless they possessed treatment abilities, like marijuana.

If a drug with significant medical benefits is available to us, there is no reason we should not take full advantage of it.

Alex Kolker

Mount Vernon