Pubdate: Sat, 27 Mar 2010
Source: Portsmouth Herald (NH)
Copyright: 2010 Seacoast Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1157
Author: Johanna Galt

MAINE MEDICAL POT LAW FAILS TO PROTECT PATIENTS

To the Editor:

When you cast your vote to increase access to medical  marijuana, you
were part of 59 percent of us who did  so. Maybe you did so because
you know someone who uses  marijuana to alleviate symptoms of
debilitating  conditions or maybe because you have compassion and
people should have the autonomy to choose their own  treatments.

Maybe you voted for this because you realize marijuana  is
proportionately benign; especially in comparison to  Oxycontin or
other opiates that are actually physically  addictive and have proven
to be a blight on our  society. Maybe you realized prohibition
increases the  black market and does very little to decrease use. Or
maybe you really don't care what others choose to do in  the privacy
of their own lives. Regardless of your  reasons, your vote was part of
the 59 percent.

Did you vote for eight state-controlled dispensaries  and $15,000 a
year licensing fee for the dispensaries?  Did you vote for suspension
of Fourth Amendment rights  for patients and caregivers? Both patients
and  caregivers will be subject to warrantless search. Did  you vote
for patients to have to register with the  state to have access to
medical marijuana? Did you  think when you cast your vote you would be
increasing  government intrusion and control? Patients will have to
register with the state and by doing so subject  themselves to
harassment. Did you vote to increase the  restrictions to access?

Where is confidentiality? Is this what you voted for?

A common trait is this disregard for the people's will  and it needs
to have consequences. Fifty-nine percent  voted for this citizens
initiative. This link will take  you to the members of the committee:
www.maine.gov/legis/house/jt_com/hum.htm

Any of them your rep? Vote them out.

Johanna Galt

Eliot, Maine 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D