MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL DISTINCT FROM LEGALIZATION

In the recent Pantagraph story about a medical cannabis bill advancing
to the Illinois Senate (March 6, Page A8), Limey Nargelenas of the
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police complained about the
appearance of patients at the hearing. "I think it's a shame what
they're doing here. They're using sick people here to try to legalize
marijuana. I think if the Legislature wants to legalize marijuana,
let's talk about it, debate it and see if that's what the people want."

It's outrageous and a sign of the sickness of special interests for
Mr. Nargelenas to imply that the Senate shouldn't be listening to
patients when considering a medical bill, but instead should listen to
lobbyists like him.

Let's be clear that two very distinct and separate issues are involved
here.

The first one is providing a legal means for sick people to get useful
medication. Medical cannabis is a matter for patients and their
doctors, plus experts such as the American College of Physicians.

If anyone should be ashamed of using sick people, it is those who
would deny patients useful medicine for no other reason than to
protect the funding for the war against marijuana users.

The second, separate issue is the legalization of marijuana for other
purposes.

If Mr. Nargelenas is serious about wanting to debate that to talk
about eliminating black market profits, finally regulating use to keep
it away from kids, and finding more effective uses for the billions of
taxpayer dollars spent annually than making pot profitable for
criminals and gangs well then, bring it on. I'll be happy to debate
him anytime.

Pete Guither

Bloomington