Assignment #1

Dr. Hanson was recently interviewed by “Discover” magazine concerning the testing of Ecstasy (MDMA) and marijuana for the treatment of medical and psychiatric problems. When asked if he approved of being able to prescribe Ecstasy or marijuana for medical use, Dr. Hanson was quoted as saying: “Before we make them available by prescription, there needs to be compelling evidence that they are unique and that a large population would derive substantial benefit.”

Not long after Dr. Hanson was quoted in this magazine, he received the following email communication:

“The pompous jackassery of US drug policy is well expressed “by Dr. Hanson.” All of the drugs covered in the article (principally marijuana and Ecstasy) are readily available…

How many cancer suffers have to say that marijuana is the ONLY relief they can get before he accepts “compelling”?

Unique? Perhaps antibiotics should be limited to penicillin, and the others banned?

Rather than a large population, help for one person should be enough.

Many, many people already derive substantial benefits from illegal drugs. We do not include the peasants, murdered by drug gangs sloshing around Colombia or Burma: nor the street kids shot by someone who wants their ‘corner’: nor the huge prison population convicted of possession of a joint: nor the governments suborned, their agents turned by threat or bribe: nor the countless victims of petty crime committed by addicts to feed their expensive habits: no, the real winners here are the drug lords and their sycophants, presented with wealth by the anserine policies of the US government.

Furiously,

(name withheld)

How would you respond to this person’s communication? Do you agree or disagree with his comments? Justify your opinion and the assignment should not exceed 2 pages.

The assignment will be awarded a maximum of 5 points based on quality and thoughtfulness of the responses, not the number of words.