Pubdate: Sun, 18 Mar 2001
Source: News-Times, The (CT)
Copyright: 2001 The News-Times
Contact:  333 Main Street, Danbury CT 06810
Fax: (203) 792-8730
Feedback: http://www.newstimes.com/edit/letters.htm
Website: http://www.newstimes.com/
Author: Joe Mustich

STATE SHOULD LEGALIZE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

For months, Connecticut's state legislators have been filing bills that 
affect all aspects of life in our state -- from boating safety to work 
hours for

health care professionals. There is one law, however, that desperately 
needs to be passed -- and no one has yet had the courage to introduce it.

Connecticut needs a bill to create medical exceptions to the laws which 
imprison marijuana users. Hundreds of patients across Connecticut already 
use medical marijuana with their doctors' approval, but they do so in fear 
of punishment from the state.

This year, about 20 state legislatures will discuss medical marijuana. Last 
year, Hawaii's legislature passed a law allowing patients to use, grow and 
possess medical marijuana with their doctor's approval.

Since 1996, seven states have enacted such laws through the voter 
initiative process. In Connecticut, however, we are dependent on the 
legislature to

make necessary changes to state laws, because we have no voter initiative 
process.

It is time for Connecticut to join these states in showing compassion to 
the seriously ill. Let's allow a doctor to decide what can best help a 
patient through cancer chemotherapy or AIDS. Most important, let's stop 
treating

seriously ill people like criminals for possessing what even the Institute 
of Medicine has said can be an effective medicine.

For more information, please log on to the Marijuana Policy Project at 
mpp.org/ct.

Joe Mustich
Washington, Conn
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth