I guess the first suggestion would be to listen to the patients, and
not just the ones that make the local news. I mean patients from all
over and family members of these patients.

They will tell you that, in some cases, the people they love cannot
eat due to radiation therapy and the loss of weight is dangerous.

Marijuana increases appetite for these individuals, and relieves pain
in the process.

It strikes me as disgusting that we will allow fetuses to be dissected
for experimental purposes to help with diseases, but something that is
grown naturally and has been around forever cannot seem to get funding
for testing and Federal Drug Administration approval. We already know
it does help some; why not investigate further why it does help?

Some of our best drugs are derivatives from other forms of herbs, so
why not this one?

Of course the American Medical Association and others wouldn't go for
this testing. Why? Because of the almighty dollar.

Pressure from drug companies would be enormous - think of the money
they will lose on all the different drugs they sell if marijuana was
proven to have great healing qualities.

You talk of our children and how they will think this is OK. Well,
what of alcohol abuse in this country?

Our children manage to find it, even though it's only legal for those
21 and over.

This is all about money - who will lose it and who will gain. God
forbid that any of us have a family member who is dying and is in pain
and we have to find out for ourselves what helps them and does not.

DEBRA BUSSE,
Aurora