DON'T BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE

Responding to Joe Canzoneri's letter, "No such thing as 'medical
marijuana,'" here's the Webster's definition of "medicine": a: "a
substance or preparation used in treating disease" b: "something that
affects well-being."

Has Canzoneri ever been through a traumatic experience: war, parental
alcoholism, death of a child, anything? Has he ever tried marijuana?

I was raised to respect others regardless of their color, race, or
religion. I was also raised in a very conservative home. Gay people
were "wrong," people who used drugs were "bad." I grew up believing
there is no such thing as "medical marijuana."

My son went to fight in Iraq. I met my best friend, who helps my son
cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. I'm confident Canzoneri has
heard of this mental "disease?" Yes, it is a disease, one that cannot
be cured. It can be relieved, the symptoms made milder, but not cured.

My best friend has a license to smoke medical marijuana. Let me assure
you, it is a medicine for him. It calms his anxiety, increases his
appetite when he becomes depressed, and generally improves his well
being. He doesn't sell it, he doesn't even smoke often, but when he
needs his raw nerves to calm down, he uses pot.

Please, do not judge others so harshly. I did, and it took my son
spending time in a war to make me realize what a fool I had been.
Someday Canzoneri too may need medicine that some people won't believe
is "legal."

Dave Olson

Chico