Pubdate: Sun, 28 Feb 2016
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 2016 The State Journal-Register
Contact: http://service.sj-r.com/forms/letters.asp
Website: http://www.sj-r.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425
Author: Edna Esswein

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY A POSITIVE FOR SPRINGFIELD

I am writing in response to the Feb. 19 article by Dean Olsen, titled 
"Medical marijuana dispensary opens its doors for first time in Springfield."

Opening up a medical marijuana dispensary in Springfield is yet 
another step in the right direction to make it more socially 
acceptable and moving marijuana from the bad drug category into the 
useful medical category. While the steps are very involved to get 
accepted into the pilot program with fees and a lot of paperwork, 
they are very much worth all the effort put forth once accepted. This 
law will help many people in the state of Illinois who are interested 
in trying out an alternative method to the constant pills and their 
side effects.

I think it is a great idea to finally move forward and have a 
dispensary in the capital of Illinois, and when over time the 
statistics prove that this is in fact a good step forward, many other 
towns will follow in its footsteps.

I am a bit worried, though, if the program does not continue. I am 
concerned about the effects of it ending in 2018 and Gov. Bruce 
Rauner not stepping up and renewing it.

Hopefully, in the future, we can put the state of Illinois on the map 
for allowing recreational useage, as well as for medical purposes. 
This is coming from someone who has never touched marijuana in her 
life, but has a disabled veteran husband who deals with a severe form 
of combat PTSD. This would be a godsend for him.

Edna Esswein

Taylorville
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