TEACH GOVERNMENT NOT TO FEAR MARIJUANA

Re: the letter Medical marijuana big expense to needy (Aug. 24) from a
fellow federal medical marijuana exemptee Donald Appleby.

You tell 'em Donny! It is sad that most of us, as sick and ailing
individuals, are placed in such an unnecessary, unsafe and precarious
position of having to grow our own medicine. As another exemptee, Catherine
Devries, asked another time in the Toronto Star: Would the government make
diabetics go to the street for their insulin? We think not.

We have to teach the government of Canada not to be afraid of this
innocuous, harmless plant by educating it on the good, bad and ugly. If you
do your homework, you would know that "those who support medical use
emphasize not only efficacy in reducing pain, but that those who take it
obtain no pleasure from it!" (Marijuana Rescheduling Petition 1988:47)

As someone who has been very sick most of my life, I took on the arduous
task of teaching my doctors and other relevant health-care professionals
all about the plant that I chose as medicine seven years ago. Mr. Appleby
has elaborated on the grower's end and the need for government assistance
in this thoroughly despicable issue - that the government - has created.

Unless you are ailing, or literally on your deathbed and have ever turned
to cannabis, you will never understand the emotions involved. It's almost
like a religion.

I just want Mr. Appleby and all to know I am here to help all of you
educate and inform others on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis (for
example: Smoking is the fastest route of administration and the easiest to
tolerate. This is my route by choice to relieve an excruciating pain in my
face associated with multiple sclerosis that I live with around the clock).
Our Web site is http://www.themarijuanamission.com.

Please check out our exemptee pages on our site to see what we have gone
through to get exempt from Sec. 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Alison Myrden

Section 56 Exemptee in Canada

The Medical Marijuana Mission

Burlington, Ont.