Pubdate: Fri, 22 Feb 2002
Source: Florida Today (FL)
Copyright: 2002 Florida Today
Contact: http://www.floridatoday.com/forms/services/letters.htm
Website: http://www.flatoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n274/a02.html?1212
Author: Adam Wiggins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA HELPS THE ILL

I applaud the actions of the Florida Cannabis Action Network as featured in 
the Feb. 15 article "Patients protest for pot." In California, we made 
medical marijuana legal more than five years ago. Many of our citizens 
suffering from debilitating, often terminal diseases such as cancer and 
AIDS have benefited greatly from this unique medicine.

Even our local city officials and police departments, many of whom 
originally opposed the measure, now are fully supportive. And how could 
they not be? Take just a few minutes to talk to one of the patients who use 
cannabis.

Their eyes filling with tears, they will describe how greatly it has 
improved their lives by allowing them to function normally despite 
debilitating pain, and stimulating their appetite when other medicines 
could not. In many cases, these people have only a few years of life remaining.

Anyone who interacts with one of these patients will instantly agree that 
legalizing cannabis for medical purposes is an act of compassion beyond 
measure.

ADAM WIGGINS, Pasadena, CA
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