Pubdate: Wed, 5 Aug 2009
Source: Maui News, The (HI)
Copyright: 2009 The Maui News
Contact:  http://www.mauinews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n766/a01.html
Author: Ilima Davis

LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA WOULD HELP PATIENTS

In response to the July 31 letter "Marijuana legalization is not
harmless":

Most of those who wish for the decriminalization of marijuana have
mostly the patients in mind because they are still stigmatized and
they have to stay in hiding. Although they can buy the permit from the
state, through a pain specialist physician, at the rate of $250 with
an annual renewal fee of $150, the law does not protect these rights.

While pot is illegal, these ailing people are subject to thievery and
violence due to the inflated street value of these medications. Not
all patients can grow pot themselves due to several factors: security,
space, physical ability, etc. There is no legal dispensary available
to buy it so they need to sneak around to buy from dealers.

Just last month on Molokai there was a court case involving Home
Pumehana, which is evicting a frail 62-year-old lady with a pacemaker
and a very bad back. Since pain pills make her very sick, she uses
marijuana instead through a vaporizer in the privacy of her own unit.
She will be homeless. No lawyer represented the woman in court. She
can't afford one. Home Pumehana says that the state permission is
worthless as they go by federal legislation.

While society is trying to be politically correct with the words we
speak, injustices like these go rampant and the suffering of
individuals doesn't seem to be newsworthy.

Ilima Davis

Kaunakakai
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake