IF POT HELPS, THEN IT IS GOOD

The column by Michael Fitzgerald on a legal marijuana dispensary or
drug cartels (Dec. 20) raised important issues.

The importance of Stockton having a legal medical marijuana dispensary
and having proper control over it. Most people have known someone with
terminal cancer, or a similar illness.

Even with powerful prescription drugs, such as morphine, to help
control the discomfort of the illness they can bring with them
negative side effects. Medical marijuana is another valuable tool that
physicians need to have available to prescribe to patients with
special circumstances.

If an individual can be relieved of the discomfort of an illness, or
injury, with medical marijuana then let them have access to it. Of
course, there needs to be special oversight of a business that is a
dispensary for medical marijuana.

But Fitzgerald's article went well past the positive to dwell on the
negative possibility of things going terribly wrong with such a
business. Yes, we know that we cannot allow drug cartels to run such a
business. But, he could have provided more information on who is
operating the new business.

We have enough problems with drugs in our area. But we do not need to
deny help to a patient that has a prescription a local legal source
for the drug.

Richard Riley

Stockton