NO MORE EXCUSES

Re "Medical marijuana" and "Bill needs Star's support" (Speak Out,
March 13 and 17):

Bravo to letter writers Don Seibold and Gil Joiner for speaking out
as supporters of HB434 in Alabama. We can only hope our elected
officials will demonstrate the same courage and vote "yes" when this
bill comes before them.

In years past, one of the arguments against this bill has been that
if we protect Alabama patients and physicians by passing this law,
the feds will swoop down on Alabama. However, in a Feb. 25 press
conference, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said that the Justice
Department will no longer conduct medical marijuana raids in states
that have passed medical marijuana laws. So, that is one less excuse
the judiciary committee will have this year.

Here's a few more tired, senseless excuses that we need to retire:

Excuse -- they can use Marinol, which is synthetic THC, the active
ingredient in marijuana; truth -- most people can't use Marinol
because it's expensive and not covered by insurance.

Excuse -- marijuana is a gateway drug; truth -- there have been no
reports from states that have passed medical marijuana laws of
terminally ill patients moving on to heroin and home invasions
because they used medical marijuana. Please, let's be reasonable.
These are very ill patients we are talking about here.

HB434 protects patients who need marijuana for medical reasons. We
cannot justify imprisoning people with chronic pain and terminal
illness for trying to get relief from a natural plant. Please contact
the members of the House judiciary committee and your elected
officials in Montgomery and ask them to vote "yes" on HB434.

Loretta Nall
Alexander City