Pubdate: Wed, 20 May 2015 Source: Patriot-News, The (PA) Copyright: 2015 The Patriot-News Contact: http://www.pennlive.com/mailforms/patriotletters/ Website: http://www.pennlive.com/patriotnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1630 Author: Michael Groff PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES DON'T WANT MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SO PROFITS WIN AGAIN I will admit that I am a cynic, but that was thrust upon me by the circumstances of life and our government. Someone once wrote or said, "Don't argue with a cynic because all of the evidence is on their side." I watched a news broadcast recently where a House representative said they have never legalized a drug not backed by the Food and Drug Administration. Let us take that a few steps further. The FDA will not legalize a drug that the American Medical Association does not want, and the AMA will not OK a drug that the large pharmaceutical companies do not want. They would lose a huge source of revenue. One more time in America we are governed by money. The FDA has approved drugs significantly worse than medical marijuana. Our representatives hide behind statements such as, "It needs more study" (that should hold it off for another 10 years or so). They won't pass a law that doesn't have the blessing of the large pharmas through the FDA. That would interrupt the money flow. The doctors want the ability to prescribe this, and the people the Legislature represents overwhelmingly think it should be passed. So, if the Legislature is not representing their constituency, who are they representing? MICHAEL GROFF, North Cornwall Twp., Lancaster County - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom