NEW CANNABIS REGULATIONS HURT PATIENTS IN NEED

Mr. Pemberton's Dec. 5 article, "Marijuana gives him freedom, takes it
away," revealed the criminal sanctions that seriously ill citizens must
endure due to federal conduct.

But he failed to mention the recent betrayal by our federal servants when
they implemented guidelines which require cannabis researchers to undergo
additional reviews after they achieve FDA approval.

On Dec. 1, the Clinton administration released the new guidelines for
cannabis researchers. On Dec. 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services prevented a privately funded, FDA-approved medical marijuana study
from taking place by refusing to provide a legal source of marijuana to the
researcher.

Medical marijuana activist will continue re-educate our fellow citizens and
pass state initiatives until this issue is dealt with humanely. It is
deplorable how many people must needlessly suffer due to the resistance of
our federal government.

Jo-D Harrison Dunbar, Arroyo Grande