MONTANA GETS MESSAGE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

I loved a recent story by The Associated Press that carried the
headline "Medical marijuana is growing in Montana." It's great to see
everyone working together to make sure patients get their medicine and
law enforcement gets educated to the actual laws. And it's great to
see law enforcement taking part in ways besides arresting people.

The story' first line can't be ignored, however. The first words are
"Downtown Livingston (Mont.) has gone to pot." What a revealing
statement by what is supposed to be a nonbiased news organization. It
is statements such as this that help continue the ignorance about
medical cannabis.

I also understand some of the concerns that townspeople raised in the
story. For example, all areas that are used to grow medical cannabis
should be locked, accessible only to the licensed grower -- thus
keeping the plant away from children.

Speaking of children, it must be said that under the supervision of a
physician, cannabis has been shown helpful with ADD/ADHD and is much
safer that Ritalin or any other drug. Parents and patients deserve a
safer choice.

When it comes to the message we send our kids, I'll say this: I
believe when we tell young people the truth -- that marijuana is a
medicine -- we help curb drug use. Statistics show just that in the
states where it's legal. Not one child I've ever known likes
"medicine," but sooner or later, they'll all be confronted with "drugs."

And drugs are intriguing to youth. When we tell them the truth as we
have with cigarettes, their use drops off.

It's very encouraging to see patients working with police to make sure
that the medical marijuana laws work for everyone. That's the way it
should be.

Hooray for the city of Livingston, the Livingston law enforcement and
the state of Montana for their caring, compassion, understanding and
willingness to work together.

Del Snavely, Crosby, N.D.