Pubdate: Wed, 01 Oct 2014
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Contact: http://www.heraldtribune.com/sendletter
Website: http://www.heraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398
Author: Patricia Megiel

MARIJUANA TO HELP MANY

The debate over legalizing medical marijuana goes on and on. I ask 
those who would say "no" to stop and think. Think of the 8-year-old 
child who suffers nine-plus seizures a day from epilepsy, or the ALS 
patient who wakes in the night screaming from cramps and pain, or the 
cancer patient seeking pain relief.

These are the people medical marijuana will help. The abusers will 
abuse, regardless of the legal status. Legalizing medical marijuana 
will not increase the number of abusers; it will help the sick. 
Opiates are legal, yet they are so abused that they kill.

I don't smoke -- never have. I don't do drugs -- never have. But I am 
a cancer survivor (three times). If my cancer ever comes back again, 
I would like to think I could take a natural drug that won't "zombie" 
me out to relieve my pain.

It is easy to say "no" if you are not threatened. See your child 
experience a grand mal seizure, hear your loved one call out in pain 
- -- then stand in front of them and say "no."

Do the right thing, people, so once again the many won't have to 
suffer for the sins of the few!

Patricia Megiel

North Port
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom