'A COMPASSIONATE APPROACH'

Re "Meet the Citizen Collective" (Newslines, by Meredith J. Cooper,
Oct. 29):

When California voters approved Proposition 215 more than a decade
ago, they envisioned safe, clean medical offices where people who have
a doctor's prescription could gain access to their medicine.

Medical-marijuana citizens' collectives have a holistic approach to
healing people. They offer yoga, tai chi, chi gong, massage and
nutrition and health classes.

Marijuana is a natural drug and safe; it is impossible to overdose. It
can be vaporized, which isolates the medicinal properties of the
cannabinols and produces no smoke. Inhaling marijuana vapor is similar
to inhaling water vapor; there are no side effects.

Medical marijuana helps relieve binocular pressure in the eyes of
people with severe glaucoma. Marijuana helps to increase the appetite
and control nausea and pain in people suffering from cancer and AIDS.
Marijuana also helps with insomnia.

Medical-marijuana dispensaries can stimulate the sagging economy of
California. Cities like Oakland and Santa Rosa are leading the way by
strictly regulating medical-marijuana dispensaries and collecting
millions of dollars in taxes annually.

I urge the Chico City Council to approve zoning changes that will
enable the opening of a citizens' collective. By doing this, Chico
will play a role in adopting a reasoned and compassionate approach to
patients who are in need of medicine.

Michael Lee

Roseville