HEED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Re: Response to medical marijuana, July 10.

James R McDonough, director of the Florida
Office Of Drug Control, claims that recent ballot
initiatives to legal medical marijuana are madness.
This comes from a man who advocated aerial
spraying of a toxic and mutating fungus upon the
fragile Florida environment. After all, if he were to
admit the truth regarding the medicinal use of
cannabis by truly sick people, he could be out of a job.

Although he makes a noble effort in admitting that cannabis holds
promise as a medicine, something any government official just a few
years before the initiatives would have never embraced, he; is way off
base in referring to medical marijuana as causing sick people to get
sicker.

In fact, by denying author Peter McWilliams the use of cannabis, the
federal government caused his death. McWilliams died last month when
he choked on his own vomit. The nausea was a side effect of the
numerous AIDS medications he had been prescribed, which until his
federal prosecution for marijuana cultivation conspiracy, had been
held at bay by cannabis.

In any case, McDonough needs to get used to the initiative process.
Perhaps we shall even see a marijuana initiative in Florida in the
future. Voter polls have indicated that well over 68 percent of
Florida voters approve of medical marijuana.

The real question for McDonough should be: "Would he enforce the will
of the people regardless of his personal opinions?" Perhaps be should
direct his answer to Peter McWilliams.