MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

I'm glad to read that I'm in such good company with so many optimists.

I have my ups and downs just like everyone else. If I can't solve a
problem myself I reach out to others and work together to find the
best solutions.

I would support Senate Bill 1381. If a terminally ill person can
benefit from marijuana, I don't see why not. It must be regulated and
under the strict guidelines from a physician. I have personally
experienced the death of family members from cancer and frankly, there
comes a point where there isn't anything you wouldn't do to make a
loved one as comfortable as possible.

There are also situations where marijuana helps a person receiving
treatments cope with the side effects better. I would trust marijuana
before the countless synthetic drugs that come and go off the market.
They advertise drugs on T.V. and the side effects are worse than the
ailment you have. We've all heard them, "may cause death."

Marijuana has been around forever and demonized. I have never seen or
heard of anyone turn into the crazed maniac portrayed in the 1936
movie Reefer Madness. That was pure Hollywood, before my time, and I
have seen the movie.

If anything is a "gateway" drug it starts with cigarettes and alcohol.
Yet there are many people who smoke and drink and are not criminals
and addicts. And just like cigarettes, alcohol, prescription drugs,
weapons and even a driver's license, comes personal
responsibility.

Once again I must stress here that it must be regulated and a person
must have a prescription just like any other narcotic. I am not
endorsing or condoning general use and a free for all.

I see regulating it to be the biggest obstacle because here comes the
patent wars. The drug companies will worry because this is something
that can be grown by anyone. And the problem always is, money and greed.

There is also industrial hemp used for rope, clothing, oils and many
other uses that has less than 1 percent THC levels in it. During WWII
our country grew hemp to help the war effort. Farmers in North Dakota
are fighting to change legislation so they can grow it. Imagine the
entrepreneurism, economic growth, and revenue that could be generated
by a new textile industry. I know there is space available at Mill
Race.