POT'S JUST A PLANT

Bravo to Philip Dawdy, giving a voice to the Seattle Weekly with an
excellent article regarding the medical use of marijuana ["Club Pot
Med," Aug. 16].

"The Pacific Yew Act" was signed in 1992 by George Bush Sr. to ensure
that federal lands would be available for harvest and long-term
conservation of the Pacific yew tree. The bark is a reliable source of
Taxol, which has saved countless lives. It is used primarily in cancer
patients, commonly for breast cancer. The Pacific yew tree is native
to the Pacific Northwest.

This planet has within itself all of the required elements to sustain
life. Legalizing Cannabis sativa for medical purposes is no different
than saving the Pacific yew trees for harvest under federal law.

It is imperative that the general public understands this is not about
legalizing weed for recreational use; it is for sustaining the life of
a human being who most likely is dying or has a chronic illness that
leaves life a daily struggle, in pain that none of us would want to
understand. Living daily without disabling pain is the goal--or worse,
dying without pain, or with less of it.

Cannabis sativa is a plant. It has medicinal qualities. The people who
need it the most need empathy along with a natural pain treatment plan.

Stephany Newman

Sammamish