USE OF TERM 'DOPE' DEROGATORY

Re: Medical User Won't Get His Dope Back., The Daily News, July 14.

Two things: One, the use of the term "dope." It is a derogatory term
for marijuana, implying that the user is "dopey" as in the
mentally-challenged Disney character. Please refrain from using it,
as we Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana Users find it offensive.
We are not stupid for using marijuana, nor does the use of marijuana
make people stupid.

Further, it is no longer necessary to use quotes around the words
medicine, medicinal, or medical when discussing medical marijuana. It
IS medicine, and you need not undermine the value of the word by
putting quotes around it, as this fosters tacit discrimination
against the substance and its users. It suggests that users are
merely pretending to use it as medicine.

Please refrain from using these "journalistic" tools to undermine the
rights and public image of licensed marijuana users.

RUSSELL BARTH
Nepean, Ont.
(Federally Licensed Medical Marijuana User)