INSUFFICIENT OVERSIGHT

The language of the proposal puts the burden on patients to grow their
own medicine -- up to 12 plants for home use. This is irresponsible
and forces patients to act as their own unlicensed pharmacist. All
other potent pain medications are regulated by the government,
appropriately tested by the pharmaceutical industry, and cannot be
made at home. Why this exception?

The language of this proposal is wrongheaded and would not pass in the
Legislature for good reason, as the changes it proposes would lack the
proper oversight of government agencies. As we have seen recently, the
lack of oversight in key areas that should have been under the purview
of the government has had grim consequences in our economy and other
sectors.

I agree that we should show compassion to patients in pain, but this
is not an honest proposal. A more prudent proposal would, if passed,
direct the state to allow the distribution of marijuana to qualified
patients from a qualified pharmacological group rather than make the
patients grow what is now a controlled substance.

Dale Parus

New Baltimore