MEDICAL MARIJUANA REPEAL A BIG-GOVERNMENT MOVE

Now help me get this straight because I am a little slow on the
uptake.

I know the citizens of Montana need assistance in deciding what is
best for us, and thank God Speaker Mike Milburn believes the same thing.

In 2004, over half of all registered voters of Montana voted
overwhelmingly (62 percent) to legalize marijuana for medical
purposes. Milburn is sponsoring HB-161 in the current Legislature to
completely repeal the same.

So Milburn is a Democrat? I mean, the Dems are the ones who believe in
big government, call for tight state regulations, and believe in
ramming issues down the throats of Americans (Montanans), right?

Republicans believe in less government intervention and regulations
("They took our guns!"), and states' rights to self-govern, correct?

So clearly Milburn is a Democrat, helping guide us little sheep out of
danger to "rebuild the city." Wow! I didn't even realize the city had
crumbled.

It is appalling to me as a Montanan, a taxpayer, and as a
non-marijuana user or patient, that Milburn thinks he knows better
than the citizens of the state in deciding what is right for us.

It is a waste of time and money to abandon ship. What am I
missing?

Why not work within the existing law to find clearer definitions and
expectations; one that strengthens the needs of law enforcement and
the medical community; one that generates more revenue for this
financially struggling state; one that abides by the wishes of the
majority and not the scare tactics of the minority?

Milburn is truthful about one thing. This is about marijuana for
marijuana's sake. It is about a hypersensitive view, based on little
fact, that marijuana is taking control of our cities, our citizens and
our children. It is about old-time thinking and the lack of looking
forward. It is about decriminalizing a natural growing plant which has
been made criminal.

His calls to repeal the voters' wishes and waste our time and money
because he believes we need to "shut this industry down" instead of
taking the existing law and working it into a better law is - oh yeah,
a Republican mantra. And just when I was going to get out my black
crayon and draw a tiny little mustache on his picture. Right under his
nose.

Michael J. Kello,

Butte