Pubdate: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL) Copyright: 2007 The Advertiser Co. Contact: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/customerservice/letter.htm Website: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088 Note: Letters from the newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Dawn Palmer LEAVE PRESCRIBING TO PHYSICIANS A bill called the Compassionate Care Act will be presented to the House during this legislative session. It is a bill that would make it possible for medical marijuana to be recommended by a physician to his patients without prosecution of either party. Doesn't it seem insane that we have to get politicians to tell us what medicine a doctor thinks we should take? For just a moment, let's put aside all the propaganda about marijuana and look at it for what it is. It is a plant that can be used for medicine. Yes, it does have side effects just as any other medicine does. Yes, it can cause dizziness and dry mouth. Are these not the same side effects we read about on all medications? Some medicines have a whole page dedicated just to side effects. Twelve states have seen through all the propaganda and have instead taken a compassionate approach by letting their doctors and their patients decide what medicine is best for them. I hope Alabama will have that same compassion for his fellow man. Let your legislators know that a sick person shouldn't go to jail just because of his medicine. DAWN PALMER Tarrant - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake