Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jun 2014
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2014 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Joel M. Levenson

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Medical Marijuana in New York

To the Editor:

Re "A Vote on Medical Marijuana" (editorial, June 2):

Thank you for supporting the Compassionate Care Act, a bill in the 
New York Legislature.

Six years ago, my father died from esophageal cancer. The last years 
of his life were spent in pain and with nausea and little appetite. 
What would his quality of life have been like with some marijuana?

As a rabbi, I look at this issue through the lens of my tradition. I 
stand firm on the belief that what our faith requires from us is to 
do justice and to love kindness. My beliefs and views are informed by 
a Jewish tradition that mandates an obligation to heal that is not 
limited to saving lives, but extends to the alleviation of pain and 
suffering and acting with compassion.

The Compassionate Care Act has bipartisan sponsors, and overwhelming 
public support. It's time for the New York Senate to show seriously 
ill New Yorkers the compassion they deserve.

JOEL M. LEVENSON

Syosset, N.Y., June 2, 2014
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom