Pubdate: Tue, 28 Oct 1997
Source: Wenatchee World (WA)
Author: Kathy Kohout

Though marijuana and heroin are illegal, they should be made legal for those
who have terminal illness. Doctors and hospitals should be monitored on the
amount of drugs they are given and the patients should be monitored every
time they take this treatment. Initiative 685 should be passed.

Doctors should be monitored as well as the patients. The doctors have to be
held accountable for the distribution of these drugs. They must report when,
to whom, and for what reason they have administered them. The patient should
be examined by another doctor for a second opinion. The patient should not
be given the drugs to take home. The patient must be monitored every time
they take this treatment.

When the patient takes this treatment there should be a nurse or doctor
present. This would prevent anyone who does not need this treatment from
getting the drugs. It would also prevent an overdose.

Imagine if someone you knew had cancer. Would you really want to sit back
and watch this person die a long slow painful miserable death, or would you
want to see this person spend his last days in a jail cell dying? All of
this would be caused because someone else thought that legalizing a drug
that was illegal but helpful was wrong. Know that to me this would be worse
than if the person just took the drugs that helped.

Kathy Kohout
Cashmere, WA