Pubdate: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR) Copyright: 2004 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.mvonline.com/support/contact/DHedletters.php Website: http://www.democratherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7 Author: Dan Kenny Cited: Measure 33 ( www.yeson33.org/ ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Measure+33 MARIJUANA MEASURE MAKES SENSE Having worked with the disabled population for 18 years, I have had a number of clients who have chosen medical marijuana over potentially addictive narcotics for pain control. One example was a young woman who had recurrent cancer. After two invasive surgeries; a round of the maximum chemotherapy, and one of radiation, the cancer was back and spreading. Fortunately, her boyfriend risked his own safety to grow it for her, easing her final months of suffering. I have seen successful results in terms of increasing the appetite for bulimics/anorexics, and easing the suffering of individuals with glaucoma, sometimes even slowing the progressive rate of damage. It has also been used successfully by individuals who are allergic to narcotics or who suffer unpleasant side effects from conventional pain killers. We, as Oregonians, voted to allow the use of medical marijuana, but unless one is capable of growing their own or can find a safe and reliable person to grow it using their license, one is in danger of breaking another law. And, unless one is growing indoors, there are only one or two harvest periods in a year, so the measure makes sense in allowing a larger amount of herbal remedy to be kept in reserve. Perhaps you, like myself, get your prescriptions at a lower price by ordering three months' supply. If it makes sense for us, it is only logical for cardholders to want the same benefit. I hope you will consider voting yes on 33. Dan Kenny, Albany