REEFER MADNESS

Users of Medical Marijuana Shouldn't Be Persecuted

The Drug Enforcement Agency will lose its absurd war on marijuana,
because its efforts are based on lies ("Let Colorado decide - DEA
should butt out of state ballot debate," The Gazette, Aug. 30).

Marijuana is a unique medicine because it is the only plant that taps
into a very special system naturally found in our body - the
endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system regulates all other
body systems (immune, cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, etc.), and
does it in a way that helps protect us from age-related illnesses.

Peer reviewed scientific publications show that cannabinoids, as found
in our body, in the marijuana plant, and now synthetically developed
by pharmaceutical companies, can protect us from cardiovascular
illness such as arteriosclerosis, heart damage, neurological damage
such as Alzheimer's, autoimmune illnesses such as arthritis, multiple
sclerosis, Crohn's disease and diabetes. It regulates our pain levels,
body temperature appetite and more.

I could go on and on, but the point is that marijuana relieves
suffering and is safe and effective. More and more, Americans are
believing their friends and relatives and the science. Only our
government is out of touch with reality.

I am proud that Coloradans will have the opportunity to legalize small
amounts of marijuana this November and help place an end to the
current lunacy that makes criminals out of sick people.

Robert Melamede

Colorado Springs