COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY?

The more I read and study about the potential benefits of medical marijuana
(including President Clinton's 1999 Institute of Medicine study) as a
method for relieving pain and wasting diseases the more disgusted I become
with drug policy in Texas. No Texas legislator is willing to carry the
torch for medical marijuana in Texas since it is too hot a topic and the
Texas Legislature has prevented any public initiatives to place a question
on the ballot on this issue. When people are in pain and/or are terminally
ill, who are we to prevent them access to something that might at least
improve the quality of their lives or alleviate to some degree the pain in
which they are living while waiting to die? Who are we to disregard what is
going on in other states and countries with respect to the use of medical
marijuana? Anecdotal evidence of the benefits of medical marijuana goes
back thousands of years but this is ignored too.

The federal response (at least the Clinton administration's) to medical
marijuana is clear. No. And if Mr. Clinton and the DEA have anything to say
on the matter it is no to states' rights and to voters' rights to decide
what is best for those in every state in the union. Unfortunately, the U.S.
senators from Texas and my representative from Texas are just as
unenlightened and as cruel as the Clinton administration when it comes to
medical marijuana. They all say we will be sending the wrong message to our
children. I think passing any legislation that helps alleviate pain and
suffering sends the right message to children ­ that we have a caring and
compassionate society.

STEVE HELMS, Southlake, Texas