EASE SUFFERING, SUPPORT HB434

I respectfully request that your newspaper support HB 434 in the
Alabama House of Representatives and any companion bill that is
introduced in the Alabama Senate. This bill would change Alabama law
to allow certain citizens described in the bill to use marijuana
under the conditions prescribed in the bill to deal with their
medical situations.

In 1970, after 16-plus years in the military, I was medically
discharged because of a physical condition that rendered me
physically unfit for further service to our country. Before then, I
underwent two invasive surgeries to try to correct a condition in my
lower spine, neither of which brought relief for the pain I
suffered. So for half or more of my life I've lived with chronic
pain, which has gotten worse over time.

As a law-abiding citizen I have never used marijuana, even though
I've read and heard that using it might give me some relief. If HB
434 changes the law to make medical marijuana legal, at least I will
have the opportunity to legally use it to see if it will ease my
pain as it reportedly has for so many other people around our nation.

Don Seibold

Wetumpka, Ala.