How many more accidental deaths shall we witness before we outlaw some of the deadly narcotics given to every other patient that feels the blues or a belly ache that our FDA approved? The pharmaceutical companies are making a fortune as our youth slowly die.

Pills such as Oxycontin, Methadone, Morphine, Xanax, Hydrocodone and I could name many others that are toxic when mixed. Our teenagers and young adults do not have an understanding of the tragedy that will unfold while they experiment with these drugs. Pills are getting into the wrong hands.

Pain pills are now considered the second cause of accidental death in this country. If you take one Oxycontin, one xanex and a beer your gone from this earth forever. How could we allow these dangerous drugs to be prescribed every day?

People who take these pills must keep them locked away. Treat them like guns in your house. Drug rings are selling these addictive drugs on the streets. Our children have access to them and are thrilled they will get a buzz off of something that a doctor can prescribe.

Some cancer and aids patients use marijuana to relieve the pain and it does not harm their organs the same as Oxycontin and other pain pills.

Mr. Fowler said, "Approval of a narcotic by legislative processes is highly irregular and we must ask ourselves why, if this is such good 'medicine,’(speaking of marijuana) the FDA has not approved its use as it has with other drugs or why the American Medical Association does not support its use.”

Well Mr. Fowler it could be that the FDA has friends and family who have stock in all of these poisons. You know money can cause men to do terrible things. Do you have stock in some of these pharmaceutical companies? If they allowed marijuana to be legalized would some of those people lose money in their shares of pharmaceutical drugs. Lots of rich folks may be glad it’s kept illegal for the same reasons.

Mr. Fowler, look at our children overdosing on prescription drugs. These drugs are far more dangerous than marijuana. All of these issues were discussed in November 13, 2007.

Things need to change. Here is the rest of the November hearing. The committee met to study and make a proposal regarding HB0486 (the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes) sponsored by Rep. Sherry Jones (D-Nashville).

“We appreciate the willingness of these individuals to come, at their own expense, to educate the committee members about what is really at stake in the debate over ‘medical marijuana,’” said Mr. Fowler, president of the Family Action Council and a former state senator.

“Having seen my own mother suffer and die from cancer, I know how much we all desire to see relief for those we love. But we cannot allow the compassion of the average American to overcome good science and good medicine. Nor can we allow that compassion to be manipulated by those who have, as their ultimate agenda, the legalization of marijuana."

Mr. Fowler said, "Approval of a narcotic by legislative processes is highly irregular and we must ask ourselves why, if this is such good 'medicine,’ the FDA has not approved its use as it has with other drugs or why the American Medical Association does not support its use.”

Let’s ask them why Mr. Fowler. Never assume they know what is best. There are too many accidental overdoses to not question the FDA.

Mr. Fowler also said the bill "would inevitably lead to increased public consumption of marijuana and make a mockery of our criminal drug laws. Mr. Fowler is that better than our young overdosing? A mockery of our criminal drug laws? Kids are using toxic pills and leaving this earth.

What has been observed in other states is that marijuana distribution becomes uncontrollable in society at large even when it is restricted to ‘medicinal uses.’ With an individual able to produce up to 13,000 joints per year under this bill, it is naïve to think that those joints won’t wind up in the wrong hands.”

I say to Mr. Fowler, The pills wind up in the wrong hands and they die forever. If Marijuana winds up in the wrong hands they go eat, sleep and listen to music. They do not overdose on joints.

Mr. Fowler also predicted that enforcement of the criminal law regarding marijuana will become impracticable. “In North Hollywood, there are now more medical pot clubs than there are Starbucks. In fact, the co-founder of the California medical pot referendum has now said that most of the medical pot dispensaries in California are ‘little more than dope dealers with store fronts.’”

I buried my nephew not long ago because of an accidental overdose but let’s not have little pot dope dealers running around.

I would prefer Mr. Fowler’s impractical prediction on legalizing marijuana any day to the risk our society is taking with so many drug overdoses in this city.

Gwyn Green

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We have had another death of a teenager by taking prescribed drugs of another. Instead of attacking the drug companies, when are we going to educate parents to lock up the drugs and put a large effort of education of the children in the schools? Why is this not a major priority with our board of education?

How many deaths from overdose of children taking other peoples drugs does it take?

Apparently the health department and department of education do not have any liaison or communication. Why not?

Thomas P Miller MD
Board Member regional Health Council
Chattanooga