DON'T TAKE MARIJUANA FROM THOSE IN PAIN

As to Charlie and Joel Murdy, I don't know where they got their card
in five minutes, but it took months for my husband to get one. My
husband had neck surgery several years ago for severe pain. The
doctors said the pain he had should go away after the surgery, but it
didn't. In fact, it got worse. He has tried everything. He has gone to
the doctors so many times that they just put their hands up. They just
said that it may take a year. That was three years ago.

He has tried every pain medication. Some reduce the pain for an hour
or two, but he has terrible side effects from them. They are not cheap
either. He has tried acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic,
massage, but nothing has worked. I had heard that marijuana might
help. So he got a medical card to try it. It was like a miracle. Two
small inhales and the pain was completely gone and lasted for four to
five hours. He doesn't want to get high, he just wants to be without
pain. He mostly uses this at night so he can sleep.

I know the drug companies and lobbyists do not want this to be legal.
They lose money. Tell me what drug out there can do what marijuana
does without side effects. Yes, if you smoke it, it has carcinogens.
But if you use a vaporizer like my husband does, you get no
carcinogens. Yes, we need to make sure this law is not taken advantage
of, but it should be there for people who need it.

By the way, my husband is not a kid; he is over 70. And yes, call,
write or e-mail our legislators and the governor to keep this law.

Karen Bryan

Bozeman