Medical Marijuana Is Needed

I'm responding to John Cornette's letter, "Medical Marijuana A Pipe
Dream." (Press & Dakotan, Oct. 13) He attacks South Dakota's medical
ballot measure which would allow sick, suffering people another option
to mainstream pharmaceutical medications. As a medical marijuana
patient in Oregon, I can tell you how important this ballot measure
is. Without medical marijuana, I'd be unable to function due to
disabling health conditions.

Mr. Cornette's statements about plant production are wrong. As a
licensed medical marijuana patient who grows my own medicine and
regularly donates marijuana to AIDS and MS patients, I've never
reached my limit of 24 ounces, and I'm allowed to grow six mature
plants at any one time. There's never enough medicine to help everyone.

Mr. Cornette's assertions that there will be excess medical marijuana
hitting the streets and scores of people will be sitting around as
quasi-legal stoners is over the top. Medical marijuana is about easing
the suffering of sick and suffering people.

Vote "yes" on Initiated Measure 4.

Trista Okel

Salem, Ore.