Jailed for Medicine

DEFENDANT IS NO CRIMINAL

Re "Anniston man finds one state's medicine is another's illicit
drug" (News article, Aug. 18):

On Dec. 15, 2009, a crime was committed. That crime was the arrest of
Michael Lapihuska for a gram of marijuana. Michael is a medical
marijuana patient from California who has a legitimate recommendation
from his physician to use marijuana. I have come to know Michael over
the past several months, and I can tell you he is someone who is a
joy to be around. He loves people, nature and riding his bike all
over this great state, at times stopping and volunteering at local
soup kitchens to help feed the less fortunate. He is, under no
circumstances, a criminal.

While I understand possession of marijuana is still a crime in this
state, what I can't understand is why? How can district attorneys in
this state justify continuing to prosecute sick people for a medicine
that has been made legal in almost 30 percent of our great country?
How can they justify using limited law enforcement resources and our
tax dollars to arrest and incarcerate people for a victimless crime?

I pray that when this matter goes before a jury, they will invoke
"jury nullification" and take a stand against this unjust law. No
matter where you stand on the issue of drugs, denying sick people a
medicine that is recommended by their physician is just simply wrong.
Putting sick people in prison is criminal.

Christopher Butts

Cullman