Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2010 Source: Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, IL) Copyright: 2010 Daily Chronicle Contact: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/forms/letters/ Website: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3685 Author: Dan Linn MEDICAL MARIJUANA WOULD HELP VETS I agree with the letter, "Vets deserve more support," and after helping a local veteran lobby state Rep. Robert Pritchard to vote yes on Senate Bill 1381, the medical cannabis legislation, I hope Pritchard will support veterans, too. The local veteran has multiple sclerosis and currently takes 33 pills a day, and I assisted him and his wife navigate the political logjam that seems so prevalent in Springfield. We congratulated Rep. Pritchard on getting an award from the Greater MS Society of Chicago but continue to hope that he will help pass SB 1381, which would greatly assist the veteran and his family. Medical cannabis can help those who do not get the needed relief from pharmaceutical drugs, and the legislation being forwarded in Springfield has been written to avoid potential abuses. This legislation would not legalize cannabis for everyone and those caught abusing the law would be subject to increased penalties and removed from the program. All in all, medical cannabis is not for every patient, but if you or a family member were ill, wouldn't you want every option available for you and your doctor? I hope Illinois joins the 14 other compassionate states and allows doctors to recommend cannabis for specific conditions. Dan Linn Sycamore - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D