Pubdate: Fri, 05 Dec 2008
Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL)
Copyright: 2008 The Advertiser Co.
Contact: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/customerservice/letter.htm
Website: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088
Author: Sarah Wires
Referenced:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08.n1060.a06.html
Note: Letters from the newspaper's circulation area receive publishing
priority

MEDICAL PURPOSE WELL JUSTIFIED

In response to "State should join marijuana list" by Loretta Nail, executive
director of Alabama for Compassionate Care: Thank you for printing the
letter and keeping this subject before the public.

For patients who are chronically and/or terminally ill, marijuana can
mean the difference in a normal life for the time they have left and
being asleep on the couch or in bed from other legal medicine that
might relieve the symptoms but leaves one unable to truly function,
live, be normal.

Alcohol is legal, cigarettes are legal, etc., for people to enjoy
recreationally, at their own risk, and we know the health reports
regarding both of those substances. However, patients, our fellow
citizens that are ill, some of whom are dying, are having to beg for
the right to use marijuana that was placed here naturally for their
use.

Why is that? Why will people listen to and believe reports about
everything else, but the same scientific studies regarding marijuana
are not believed? Why are the ill being placed in our courts for
trying to treat themselves? When did we lose the right to treat ourselves?

It is important that the citizens of Alabama not only help those in
our state who need this medicine of choice by legalizing it medically,
but at the same time help to strengthen the fight against the
existing, unjust federal laws by joining the brave ranks of the other
states.

Sarah Wires

Dora
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin