RESEARCH NEEDED

During the past six years I have been employed in human services related to
physical and developmental disabilities.

I worked with a disabled veteran who had been shot, and was quadriplegic.
He required assistance with virtually all of his needs, and I was his home
attendant.

He suffered from back spasms, the direct result of physical therapy for
atrophied muscles and retracted tendons. I witnessed his body convulse as
he cried out in agony.

He had participated in a wide spectrum of traditional and alternative
treatments to remedy his pain, including painkillers, muscle relaxers and
acupressure. These were futile and costly.

One day his physician, after expressing regret that it was illegal,
suggested smoking marijuana as an analgesic.

The results were impressive, as he completed his physical therapy without
spasms.

I do not advocate misuse of any substance, but I support further research
of marijuana.

I also support the decriminalization of use by citizens diagnosed with
terminal, chronic, or disabling diseases like cancer or AIDS. It does not
serve justice to deny suffering patients access to quality care.

CHRISTOPHER LARGEN, Denton