LEGISLATION TO CLARIFY CANNABIS LAWS NEEDED

Recently there have been sensational articles and letters to the
editor expounding wild exaggerations of the dangers of legal medical
marijuana. I think these prejudicial rantings are cruel and untrue.
Where is compassion and common sense?

My dear husband was a disabled WWII veteran and a legal marijuana
patient. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2007. Medical cannabis helped
ease his suffering and reduced his need for opiates.

My husband wasproud to be a member of the Patients Without Time
cooperative. Now, patients on Maui have nowhere to fill their cannabis
prescriptions. This is a critical medical issue and a matter of
patients' rights. Patients need to ease their suffering.

Hawaii law requires patients with painful and life-threatening
illnesses to grow their own medicine.How can theywait months for
relief? According to the law, if state-licensed marijuana patients buy
their cannabis or pay anyone to grow it for them, they are criminals
and should be arrested and prosecuted. It is a shamefully
heartbreaking situation.

Patients should not fear arrest, prosecution and persecution while
enduring radiation treatment, chemotherapy or any severe illness. We
need emergency legislation to clarify the medical cannabis laws and to
ensure that patients have safe and easy access to all of their
prescribed medicines.

Mary Overbay

Puunene