Pubdate: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 Source: Frederick News Post (MD) Copyright: 2001 Great Southern Printing and Manufacturing Company Address: 200 East Patrick Street, PO Box 578, Frederick, MD 21705-0578 Fax: 301-662-8299 Feedback: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/contact/contactfinalnew.cfm?contact=letters Website: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/ Author: S. Raney Miss HYSTERICAL RANTING Christopher Petrella's in-your-face morality rant concerning medical marijuana legislation ("No marijuana for sick people," Feb. 24) reeks with hysteria, and, as is the case of most far-right leaners, he fails to see that his viewpoint goes entirely against what the right supposedly stands for: less government. What could be more intrusive then the government denying sick and dying people medicine that is proven to work? Countless cases of marijuana use to combat a variety of illnesses have been scientifically documented and yet ne'er-do-wells like our politically aspiring Mr. Petrella would prefer arresting those seeking cure or comfort from debilitating illness and pain. What could be more paternalistic then the government telling us how to treat, within reason, something as personal as illness, especially a fatal one? I am confused about his statement: "What is the benefit in this, other than having the sick escape from reality?" Could this reality possibly be intense, life-zapping pain? Did Mr. Petrella ever take an aspirin? Escapism? Just to prepare him for a possible campaign question in case he decides to run and unseat Delegate Louise Snodgrass, would he deny a family member this medicine, legal or illegal, if a medical doctor told him it would alleviate pain and suffering? If he says yes, I say he is completely immoral and I hope the same decision would be made for him in his hour of need. What makes him think that he wouldn't at least be curious as to how marijuana might benefit him if he were facing such dire circumstances, and how dare he try to tell anyone else how to deal with it. The lame reference that this legislation would lead directly to little Johnny becoming a crackhead reads, in its infantile logic, like little Johnny wrote it himself. If this is his main argument on this matter, and, no doubt, for the entire drug war itself, then again it's a case of more government paternalism. ... Just what Fredneck County needs: another self-righteous, narrow minded, anti-progressive politician. Sadly enough, he'll probably go far. S. RANEY MISS Middletown - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe