Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT) Copyright: 2010 Linda Merchant Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515 Author: Linda Merchant MONTANA SHOULD KEEP MEDICAL MARIJUANA I usually don't write to papers, but it's time to get a word in. In January we go to Helena to fight for our state laws on medical marijuana. This is a very serious subject to a lot of people, including me. I have multiple sclerosis, a very debilitating disease, plus I have lost a daughter to alcohol. I have always said I wish she had smoked the "weed," she'd be alive today. I have friends on the reservation who are being kept from their "medicine" because they chose to smoke weed instead of hard stuff. Is this right? No. I personally can say that morphine almost killed me, 10-plus years, Valium 20-plus years, on and on. No more. If our state repeals the law, all it will do is make us outlaws, and people don't want this. I would hate to be one and have the cops on me, when in all sense they have supported me from day one, especially being in a close community where everyone knows what you are up to before you do. I hope to see a lot of people in Helena to support our laws in January because the time is up to get things straight. We're keeping it legal. Linda Merchant Broadus - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D