Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jan 2012
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2012 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: E. J. Montini, columnist

A SAVIOR COULD EASE MAN'S PAIN

Now that Jan Brewer has elevated her professional status from governor
to savior, I'm wondering if she could perform a small miracle for a
constituent named Mike Neil.

According to the e-mail Neil sent me, he has written to Gov./Sav.
Brewer but has not heard back.

Since Brewer declared in her State of the State speech that "Arizona
has been saved" (by her, apparently), we might hope that the
all-powerful governor could spare a few moments for a little guy.

Neil wrote in his e-mail to me, "I am one of the medical-marijuana
card patients that I hear so many people making jokes about. Believe
me, it's not funny."

No, it's not. Not for the many potential patients who cannot get
medical marijuana because Brewer will not allow dispensaries to be
licensed, in spite of what voters want and in spite of assurances from
federal prosecutors that no state employees would be at risk.

Neil wrote, "After enduring a radical head and neck dissection, I was
(thank God) cancer-free. (I had been previously given 2 months to
live.) However, the pain associated with this operation has been
extreme to say the least.

"After my operation, I was put on (painkillers). I had to endure 6
weeks of daily radiation treatments as well. Up until this point, I
had tried marijuana in high school and did not like it so I did not
use it. But when I started getting nauseous and dizzy I did use it
(tea), to get through my radiation treatments. ... I also discovered
(by accident), that the marijuana also helped stop my pain."

Neil said that he then remained on one type of painkiller for nearly
10 years, until it stopped working. He was sent to pain clinics to
seek help. Nothing worked. He tried going without medication but
couldn't deal with the discomfort. He's now on another powerful
medication but finds that it also doesn't help much. He wants to try
marijuana.

"I thought that when the medical marijuana law was passed that I would
finally be OK but I was wrong," he wrote. "My doctor okayed me for the
medical marijuana card but I have no dispensary. As someone who
endured the '60s, I do know people who have used marijuana throughout
the years. Not one of them goes through withdrawal when they don't
have any to use.

"As a 61-year-old grandfather I certainly don't want my children and
grandchildren using drugs, but this is supposed to be for patients
that go through a doctor. So what is the problem?"

It's a good question.

There is no medical problem. Plenty of other states allow for medical
marijuana to be dispensed. Thousands of patients have been helped to
deal with pain and recover their appetites.

And there is no legal problem (in spite of what the governor and her
associates say). No state bureaucrats in any of the states with a
medical-marijuana law in effect have been arrested.

Besides, Brewer believes herself to be the savior of ALL states, not
just Arizona, when it comes to standing up to the federal government.

The citizens in her state voted for medical marijuana. Why now would
she defer to the feds?

Neil told me, "I have e-mailed and written our governor, (Attorney
General Tom) Horne, Vice President Biden, and even President Obama but
not one of them even wrote back. I did receive a nice letter from
Senator McCain telling me that he at least appreciated hearing my
point of view. For a minute it was nice knowing that someone at least
heard me."

I have been in contact with suffering people like Neil. They wait for
the governor to do what they know to be right and allow Arizona's
medical-marijuana law to go fully into effect.

Neil writes, "If the government is of, for, and by the people, then
what is happening here? The people voted this in to help people."

They did. It was one of those times when we gathered together and
decided that this one simple thing would alleviate some of the
suffering being endured by our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

It wasn't about the legalization of drugs. It was about easing
pain.

"Take a big broom and sweep every one of our elected officials out of
office," Neil wrote, adding, "Thank you for reading this. If nothing
else I at least feel better for a little while."

Reading a man's note and giving it a little exposure is the least a
lowly news writer can do. A self-proclaimed savior can do a lot more.

I'm told we have such a person.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D