Pubdate: Mon, 06 Jun 2011 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2011 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Author: Jane Liljedahl Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n351/a06.html DON'T DISMISS MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE I cannot ignore the letter by Joe Canzoneri regarding his opposition to what he calls "medical marijuana." The legalization of medicinal marijuana is long overdue. My big brother was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 16 and died two months after his high school graduation. This was long before the time of marijuana dispensaries, so my conservative and law-abiding parents gave my brother money to buy marijuana from the local dealer without any qualms. Why? Marijuana helped lessen the nausea my brother had after radiation treatments. He also suffered from insomnia, which was not so bad on weekends when I could stay up with him and watch late night television. We loved those "Planet of the Apes" movies. Weekday nights were more difficult for him and marijuana helped him to get at least a few hours of sleep before dawn. Near the end, he was in constant pain and again, marijuana eased his discomfort. I am not arguing that doctor's prescriptions for marijuana may be too readily available, but I cannot and will not ever condemn medicinal marijuana, pot, grass, weed, or whatever you want to call it. It helped alleviate the suffering of someone whom I loved and adored. It is high time that medicinal marijuana is formally legalized. Jane Liljedahl Chico - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.