PERMISSION TO USE OF LITTLE PRACTICAL VALUE

Having the "End of green harvest in sight" (Letters, May 17) would be
indeed good news for the 4,000 registered patients in Hawaii who are
allowed to grow a few plants for their own medicine.

I credit marijuana used with a vaporizer for my hubby still being
alive as he has barely any appetite and cancer is wasting away his
body at age 63. Prescription pain relievers for his back have worn
away his liver and the pain-relieving properties of cannabis have
taken the place of these destructive pills.

But, having checked, other card-holding patients tell of the
additional challenge of having to cope with the green harvest
helicopters swooping down to take away their meds with officers
laughing! This indicates to me that this activity is not just to
enforce a law, but it is the pleasure of the hunt and a purely
egotistical power trip.

Those who cannot or dare not grow the plants themselves because of
physical handicaps or lack of private space to hide plants from
thieves and the nosy eyes of neighbors have to resort to getting the
pot from dealers and growers. One would think that along with the
permission to take marijuana as medication recommended by pain
specialists with doctorates that these patients would have a legal
dispensary to buy it from. But, we haven't evolved to that wisdom yet.

Ilima Davis

Kaunakakai