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SUPPORT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS TO PUT ISSUE TO REST

In my Aug.  6 letter, "Hawaii medical marijuana law confuses, contradicts," I asked if anyone could answer the decade-old question: Is there any legal procedure to acquire medical marijuana in Hawaii?

Six months later, I still have not discovered the answer.

I sent polite letters asking this question to Keith Kamita of the Narcotics Enforcement Division, Derek J.  Nakamura of the Department of Public Safety and Gov.  Neil Abercrombie, but I did not receive any replies.

The police should have the answer, but "Police pan pot proposals" ( The Maui News, Feb.  15, 2011 ) reported that Maui police were lobbying at Walmart against marijuana.  They were distributing political fliers stating that marijuana is not medicine and rallying public opposition to pending legislation.

Despite the good intentions of our brave Maui officers, the allocation of armed police to protest Hawaii's laws seems wildly inappropriate and sets a very ominous precedent.

We can help end the confusion by working together to co-create logical solutions.  Hawaii's 2012 Legislature has numerous pending medical marijuana bills.  It's easy to submit your testimony online at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

My husband, Leon, was an honorable WWII disabled veteran and a registered cannabis patient.  I continue his support of compassionate medical cannabis programs.

Mary Overbay

Puunene