MEDICAL MARIJUANA BEING TREATED AS ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE

While everyone else in the United States is worried about health
costs, lawmakers in Maine seek profit at every turn.

Through taxes and fees to distribute medicines they increase the cost
to Maine residents. Recently, I read in this paper that they plan to
set up distribution centers for medical marijuana and, before they
will ever open a door, each will have to pay the state $15,000,
which will be passed on to consumers.

Drug stores are already distributing other medicines, but the
lawmakers seem to treat this medicine as more of a crime.

Their delaying actions are only to try and find ways to make more
money from the sick; I can see no other purpose.

Otherwise, the medicine would already be helping those in pain and
discomfort of terrible diseases.

It's not the drug company adding these extra costs, though I am sure
that they are in favor of the lawmakers' actions.

The longer delayed, the more money they make.

The Maine voters have spoken; we want medicines at reasonable prices
without delay, and we want them now.

I ask those elected and paid by the voters to carry out our wishes
and not go off on their own agenda, not to raise the cost of
medicines but lower them; not to serve a political party, but to
honorably serve our great state and her people by following our
directives and not forcing us to serve theirs.

Charles R. Philpot

Skowhegan