Pubdate: Sun, 12 Feb 2006
Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL)
Copyright: 2006 The Journal Standard
Contact: http://www.journalstandard.com/forms/letters/
Website: http://www.journalstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182
Author: Bill Smeathers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

SENATE BILL 2568 SHOULD BE PASSED

Senate Bill 2568 is set for public hearing in the Illinois Senate, 
for Feb. 15. This bill is designed to protect patients who use 
medical marijuana (with their doctors approval or recommendation).

As the laws now stand in our state, if you use marijuana to treat a 
medical condition, then you are subject to a mindless array of 
humiliations including arrest; imprisonment; fines; possible job 
loss; and destruction of family stability, values and structure; as 
well as the pain and suffering an individual is subjected to as a 
result of being denied access to a particular medication.

In our judicial community and in our law enforcement community, these 
authorities are of a mind-set: "Hey. It's OK to kick down the doors 
of citizens homes. Arrest them. Drag them off to jail. Disrupt and 
ruin their lives." Why? Because of the type of medication one uses to 
treat a medical condition. They are doing it to us, to you, to me, to 
everyone. All in the name of "law enforcement" hogwash. This isn't 
about law enforcement. This sort of despicable conduct is nothing 
less than absolute cowardice, and subjective humiliation.

There are those in both our House and Senate as well as at the 
federal congressional level who somehow feel it is cute to allow this 
barbarism to continue.

Contact our representatives and tell them, "This sort of citizen 
treatment is unacceptable." Tell them, "Illinois needs this medical 
marijuana bill (Senate Bill 2568) passed, and it needs to be passed now."

Bill Smeathers

Freeport
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman