Pubdate: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 Source: Orillia Today (CN ON) Copyright: 2001, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing Contact: http://www.simcoe.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1508 Author: Kesh Chandra Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) TAKE THE POT OUT OF THIS PARTY I am surprised by the letter written by Joe Hueglin of the Family Coalition Party regarding the medical use of marijuana. What has this issue to do with Family Coalition Party? The best guess I have is that they are coming at the question from a moral point of view and with little appreciation of the medical issues surrounding management of a person's illness and are therefore confused. I don't think that anyone who is as healthy as I am should judge those who are afflicted with serious illnesses with my personal moral values to prescribe medicine. We all know too well that there are all kinds of drugs that are prescribed and used which have side effects and are addictive and even harmful over the long run. These drugs cannot be sold over the counter without a prescription and would be rightly illegal to possess otherwise. I believe that those who are terminally ill should be given the benefit of any treatment that alleviates their sickness, even if it is not fully tested. The same should apply to those with serious chronic illnesses where the quality of life is deleteriously affected and where relief from such a condition is sought. It appears to be a case of ignorance running amuck. By the way, I am opposed to the use of any drug or substance that artificially alters my sense of well being for a healthy person. Be it alcohol, cigarettes or any other substance. Kesh Chandra, Beeton - --- MAP posted-by: GD