Pubdate:August 20, 1997 

Source: Los Angeles Times Letters
Author: Ellen komp

Contact: Growing Marijuana 

I applaud Maja Hanson's courage in speaking out about her

 medical use of marijuana (Commentary, Aug. 6). I would like to
correct, however, her mistaken impression that she is not free to
grow marijuana for medicine. Since the passage of the Compassionate
Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), Californians with "any illness for
which marijuana provides relief" may, with a doctor's approval, grow
marijuana for medical use, or designate a caregiver to do so for
them. Unless the federal government should decide to take the
unprecedented and heavyhanded approach of raiding the backyard
gardens of sick Californians, Hanson should feel free to grow her own
medicine. Unfortunately, not all Californians are able to grow their
own, and a number of relief efforts (socalled buyers clubs) have
sprung up across the state to supply those with urgent needs. While
the most flamboyant clubs that are pushing the envelope get more
press coverage, the majority are quietly providing marijuana to
mostly seriously ill people on a notforprofit basis. In no case
should the existence of cannabis buyers clubs prevent anyone from
growing marijuana for medicine. 

     ELLEN KOMP 
     California NORML 
     Grover Beach