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Mike Brake (Point of View, Jan. 17) is entitled to his own opinions about medical marijuana. He is not entitled to his own facts.

Fact: Cannabis possesses an extensive history of human use dating back thousands of years, thus providing us with ample empirical evidence as to the plant's relative safety and efficacy. Moreover, the marijuana plant is one of the most studied biologically active substances of modern times. This extensive science has established its relative safety and therapeutic efficacy for various patient populations.

As acknowledged by the esteemed National Academy of Sciences, “There is conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis and cannabinoids are effective for the treatment of chronic pain, in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and for improving patient reported multiple sclerosis spasticity.” A search on PubMed using the term "marijuana" yields more than 26,000 scientific papers referencing the plant or its constituents. This totality of peer-reviewed research is far greater than that which exists for most conventional pharmaceuticals, such ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Fact: Majorities of doctors and patients support legal access to medical cannabis. According to a Jan. 11, 2018 nationwide Quinnipiac Poll, 91 percent of voters say marijuana ought to be legal for medical purposes. An estimated 70 percent of practicing physicians agree with this position, according to a 2014 WebMD survey.