Pubdate: Mon, 02 Feb 2015 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2015 The Tribune Co. Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/submit/ Website: http://tbo.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Author: Judy Preuss Page: 10A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL Regarding "Brandes debuts medical pot bill" (Metro, Jan. 27): It is an excellent report on why legislative action is better than a constitutional amendment. But it needs to go further in its list of "qualifying illnesses." The bill specifies the eight illnesses often mentioned. Then it lists a ninth as follows: "Any physical medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that chronically produces one or more qualifying symptoms. And 'qualifying symptoms' means: (a) Cachexia or wasting syndrome; (b) Severe and persistent pain; (c) Severe and persistent nausea; (d) Persistent seizures, or (e) Severe and persistent muscle spasms." Your readers, proponents and opponents, need to know this. Judy Preuss Brooksville - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom