The Oregonian

What is he smoking?

Kevin Mannix has been smoking something strong if he thinks repealing the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act is part of fighting crime (Letters, July 26).

There are 17,000 patients registered in this program by more than 2,500 Oregon physicians. Participation in the program is growing because natural marijuana is superior for some patients to the alternative prescription drug choices.

Mannix's Initiative 104 falsely claims to "replace" marijuana with Marinol, a synthetic form of THC. But the 2,500 doctors who qualify patients for the marijuana program already could prescribe Marinol. They don't, because it doesn't work very well and is extremely expensive, sometimes more than $1,000 a month.

Mannix would force 17,000 patients to take a medicine they don't want and force taxpayers to pay for it. If there is any money left over for law enforcement after this boondoggle, police will have to spend it arresting and prosecuting the thousands of patients who won't quit taking a medicine that works. Voters should reject this misguided initiative.

JOHN SAJO Director, Voter Power Southeast Portland