IT'S TIME FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Editor:

In today's society, it has become the standard to turn to
prescription pills for the treatment of any and all medical
conditions, from the most basic headache to the most severe and
life-threatening diseases.

The side-effects of the majority of these prescription medications
are just as unpleasant, if not more so than the ailment being
treated, not to mention that some even offer additional medications
to deal with such side-effects.

It is no wonder that this is the case when considering that the
chemical composition of many of the latest and most revered medical
drugs are harmful substances like coal, tar, and petroleum, as in the
well-known Codeine drug.

Ironically enough, there is an herb whose therapeutic use has been
documented as early as 5,000 BC that can serve as a natural and less
invasive alternative to the solutions of traditional medicine that
have come to be dominated by major medical drug companies.

This remedy is known as marijuana, an organic substance produced by
the cannabis plant that has been scientifically proven in modern
medical research to effectively alleviate the pain and symptoms of a
wide range of debilitating medical conditions, including such as
widespread and difficult to manage as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and AIDS.

The physician-recommended use of medical marijuana is now legal in
several prominent world nations and 14 U.S. states, all of which
demonstrating affirmative outcomes.

As a health education specialist, I urge state lawmakers to sincerely
consider the measures proposed by the N.C. House Health Committee by
personally investigating the benefits and reflecting on the thousands
of first-hand testimonies by patients.

The N.C. House Bill 1383 "Medical Marijuana Act/Referendum" will
allow for legal, legitimate and safe access to individuals who are
prescribed medical marijuana by a licensed physician to ease the
suffering of debilitating medical conditions.

Lawmakers should observe the medical evidence that document the
improvement of patients' wellbeing and overall quality of life, while
disregarding the social and political attachment of this particular substance.

The legalization of medical marijuana allows patients to take control
of their own health and not rely on the treatment of the prescription
medications chemically synthesized from harmful substances that cause
adverse side-effects.

My support of this bill is determinant on the provisions and
regulations, which I view to set forth an effective and reasonable
operation for distribution of marijuana in a medically professional framework.

As a concerned citizen and health education professional, I feel it
is the right of patients to have access to this organic therapy as an
alternative to other medical regimes.

This belief is clearly a prominent one considering the sweeping reform
that has already taken place in over a dozen U.S. states; an
overwhelming amount of citizens are raising their voice to this
injustice and the 2005 Gallup poll proves this, stating that 78
percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for
medicinal purposes. I entreat to you to communicate this message to
the public to support the requests of these suffering individuals. My
inquiry is this: Is it not of the fabric of democracy that majority
rule, that the laws reflect public opinion, that government allows
citizens to choose in matters of their health and not withhold
constructive means? I urge you to consider writing your state
representatives on this issue.

If we band together we can make it happen!

Alexis Skelley

Carolina Shores, N.C.