MARIJUANA IS MEDICINE, LIKE IT OR NOT

Congratulations and good luck to MUN student Kristen Joy and her
boyfriend, medical marijuana patient Mike Dawe, for bringing their
dispute with the government to the public's attention ("Government
policy keeps couple apart" The Muse, Vol. 58, Issue 18).

People seem to think it is OK to discriminate against a medical
cannabis patient, as we must be the dregs of society for choosing
cannabis at all according to a lot of people in our country.

This mindset has to change.

Those of us who have done our homework and have chosen this medicine
find we require far fewer pharmaceutical medications when we consume
natural plants. Articulate, knowledgeable, and informed people all
around the world make this choice daily.

Finally, what I would like to point out is that cannabis patients like
Mr. Dawe and myself are here to stay, and deserve the same rights that
you have whether you like it or not. We are given a mere pittance in
the way of money, as the goal is to keep people away from the social
services system. Trust me, we would much rather be a working member of
our community than a person at home in pain on such a pathetic, yet
much required, stipend.

We are already a part of the largest group of marginalized people in
the country due to our income, our choice of medicine, and our health
issues - why knock us down and ostracize us even more?

Please, for the sake of our children, get educated.

Alison Myrden