LETTERS ADDRESS MARIJUANA

AUGUSTA, GA - Last week's cover story on medical marijuana brought
two responses that I normally would not publish. We almost never use
letters from people who ask that they remain anonymous.

In these cases, however, the writers have legitimate reasons for
their reluctance to be identified. One is in the military. Another is
an AIDS patient.

The AIDS patient writes, "I would like to first give my personal
thanks to Joshua McCracken for his valor in speaking out publicly
about his struggle with HIV, and now full-blown AIDS!

This is great that he pushed aside the stigma that is anything but
hidden here in Augusta. "I also really want to thank the paper itself
for putting this on the front page. Great job on bringing light to
issues that affect so many silently.

"I totally agree with his stance on the use of marijuana as a
medication. It truly does have great prospects as a medication. There
are next to no unpleasant side effects such as addiction, as there is
that possibility with most all other medications.

"I know of many who need this medication (myself included) to keep
going and also to just make life a little easier. Losing so much
weight as well as the pain associated with AIDS can only be combated
with marijuana! I hope that this article and those to follow will
change laws because they aren't working currently."

The soldier writes: "I am a chronic pain sufferer. My pain has led
the Army to medically separate me this spring. The best the Army
could do for me was to prescribe me 800 mg of Motrin (ibuprofen) and
hydrocodone (Vicodin) and just deal with the pain.

"Since I started this regimen in November, I have had to get the
dosage of the Vicodin, which is a narcotic, increased to the highest
dosage available on Fort Gordon. I have built a tolerance to the
drug. The problem with building a tolerance is that it eventually
builds into addiction.

"The doctors I was dealing with understand the level of my pain, and
have prescribed me up to 40 at a time, knowing that I can take up to
three a day if I am active. Fortunately, I am not currently working,
and am only having to take one or two of them a day. I am 23 years
old, and my wife is pregnant with twins. I know with the level of
pain, which is increasing daily, I won't be able to run with my kids,
or play with my kids.

"If I was given the opportunity to use medical marijuana, I would
jump on it. I am a firm proponent of marijuana reform.

"I hope that someday, for the sake of Joshua, Elizabeth Wilsey and
the countless others who benefit from marijuana, that the laws will
change. But I know that as long as the pharmaceutical companies have
their hands in the wallets of the legislators, that day will never come."