MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND THE LEGAL MESS

It sickens me to think that the voters of this state passed Proposition
215,only to have law enforcement and our courts thwart the will of the
people and do everything possible to keep medical marijuana from those in
need["Chavez faces prison,"Opinion,Nov. 20].

Instead of prosecuting those in need, it's time the law makers of this
state find a means of providing marijuana to the sick and dying instead of
turning them and the doctors into criminals.

We have enough criminals without having to create a new class of criminals.
Look at how it's set up and then try to find a legal way of getting
marijuana to those in need. You can't sell or give it away; you can't buy
it legally; you can grow it with a doctor's prescription, but if a doctor
prescribes it, he/she could lose his or her license. And if you grow too
much you could face charges of cultivation with intent to sell.

In other words, those in need aren't able to get marijuana through any
legal channels and are forced to get it through the black market. This is
what the voters wanted to put and end to. So, in reality, our courts want
to keep drug dealers in business and put those in need in jail. This isn't
what I voted for when I voted in favor of Prop. 215. And, yes, I did know
what I voted for. Why vote at all, if what you vote for won't be
implemented. This just makes people more angry at an already poor legal
system.

William Jameson
Laguna Niguel

Checked-by: derek rea