MARIJUANA ACT SHOWS COMPASSION

Your Feb. 26 editorial "Provide relief from pain" in support of the
medical marijuana legislation that passed the Senate Feb. 23
highlighted the need for the Assembly Health Committee to post the
Compassionate Use Act for a hearing as soon as possible. Seriously
ill people in New Jersey can't wait any longer for the Assembly to
move this important bill to the governor's desk.

The symptoms and suffering caused by illness can be devastating,
especially when for some patients available medicines do not offer
relief. For them, medical marijuana may offer hope for relief from
terrible symptoms such as pain, nausea and loss of appetite.

Allowing patients access to medical marijuana has been endorsed by
numerous medical and professional organizations nationally and in the
state. A 2006 poll also found that 86 percent of New Jerseyans
support allowing access to medical marijuana.

Compassion and common sense dictate that doctors be allowed to
recommend, and patients be allowed to access, the medicine best able
to relieve suffering and improve quality of life.

Meagan Johnson

Policy Coordinator Drug Policy Alliance Of New Jersey