YOU CAN'T GET LEGAL MARIJUANA

Hawaii has a good law dealing with medical marijuana (half a good law
would be more accurate) that restricts its use to patients who suffer
from itemized afflictions, including cancer, chronic pain, Crohn's
disease, seizures, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. There is a
detailed process that patients must follow to receive a one-year
certificate allowing them to possess a strictly limited amount. This
process begins with a letter from their physician stating that he or
she suffers from one of the itemized illnesses and would potentially
benefit from the use of medical marijuana.

As far as this law goes, it represents a humane and realistic approach
to providing relief to these patients. The trouble is, there are no
medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii, and therefore no way to
obtain marijuana legally. I urge lawmakers to remedy this sorry state
of affairs.

William D. Gurowitz

Kailua