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1 e demonize GHB. Frenzied media reports about River Phoenix, dead teenagers, and near- death experiences of GHB-using club-goers are sweeping the nation. We have found, however, in the process of investigating every alleged GHB-related death, that none can be legitimately attributed to any purported toxic effect of GHB. Furthermore, in almost every case in which GHB was declared as a cause of death, I [WD] found that the medical examiner had been influenced in his decision by a "helpful" agent from the FDA or DEA, who had "kindly" explained the dangerous toxicity of GHB. In many cases, allegations of GHB use were simply not true (e.g., River Phoenix's death). In j all others, in which GHB use was confirmed, the cause of death was due to other factors or other diseases. The Chief Medical Examiner of San Francisco County,- who developed the most widely used technique for identifying and quantifying GHB levels in body fluids and tissues, and whose laboratory is frequently used by the FDA and DEA to test samples-told me [WD~ that he had never seen a death due to GHB toxicity. He explained what he believed to be the true cause of death in every case. The strategy begind the anti-GHB media campaign is tough new laws to criminalize GHB sales and posessioo. Attempts are now underway in several state capitols to ram new anti- GHB bills through state legislatures before "any more kids will die from the evil GHB." Georgia, Rhode Island, Florida, California and Hawaii are states that have introduced or are considering such bills. Who knows which other states will follow suit shortly. In California, Assembly Bill 6 (AB6) specifies that GHB will become classified as a Schedule [drug (that "would only be lawfully available far research and would have no approved medical use"). No medical uses? That's right, no medical uses! Although GHB is currently recommended and/or prescribed by doctors for a host of applications (lowering muscle tension, enhancing relaxation, relieving anxiety, inducing natural sleep, aleviating depression, assisting marital sex problems, etc.), no medical uses will be allowed. Apparently, none of these state Legislators have been informed that there are IS INDs filed with the FDA for 1) improving sleep patterns and maintaining daytime alertness in narcolepsy, 2) reducing schizophrenic symptoms, 3) stabilizing Parkinson's disease, 4) reducing nocturnal myoclonus (painful leg cramps at night), 5) improving memory problems, 6) stimulating natural growth hormone release, 7) decreasing pain and improving sleep in fibromyalgia, 8) relieving symptoms io Huntington's chorea, 9) regulating muscle tone in dystonia musculorum deformans, 10) controling tardive dyskinesia symptoms, 11) decreasing drug withdrawal symptoms (alcohol and opiates), 12) decreasing hyperactivity and learning disabilities io children, 13) inducing sedation and tranquilization,l4) relieving anxiety [in fact, it has been recommended as the anti-anxiety agent of choice for potentially suicidal patients], and IS) lowering cholesterol. No medical applications, indeed. The incredible dichotom~° between GHB as a safe miracle nutrient (with extensive applications to a host of human maladies) and GHB as a lethal designer drug (used for date rape and other nefarious purposes) can hardly be more striking. What or who is behind this "reefer madness" of the 90s?