MEDICAL POT SHOULD BE LEGAL

To The Editor:

I was watching Canada A.M. last Thursday and saw what looked like an
outdoor concert in Vancouver. It was a gathering for a "pot smoking
day."

Do a little research on that. It's not so much the date, April 20
(4/20), rather it was more the time of day. Google 420 and you'll see
it is code for teenagers that means at 4:20 after school, smoke up.
That gathering did little to help their cause of legalizing pot.

First government has to pass the law and, really, think about it: the
government can't control it, can't tax it, and can't get their share
of money from it. Smokes and booze are heavily taxed. Make your own
booze and find out what happens if you're caught.

I agree the pot laws should be eased a little. Simple possession
shouldn't be an offence, just don't have pounds of it and deal the
stuff. This would take away a lot of organized crime.

I've tried all possible medications for relief of my spasticity caused
by MS, but it also has side effects, loss of muscle tone being one.
Marijuana gives me more of an appetite. No, not just the "munchies." I
have a licence, an MMAR ('marihuana medical access regulation'), and
yes it's spelled right; it's how it's officially spelled in Canada
(check it out at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/mma ).

I don't smoke pot. Smoking is bad for you. I know, bad joke, but
really I don't. I use a little hand held vapourizer the size of a flip
open cell phone, just a little thicker. This way I can use it inside
without stinking the place up. You can regulate the amount used and it
takes longer to use up and it's not as intense.

Marijuana does help, I currently take 15 muscle relaxers a day to help
fight my spasticity caused by MS, I've maxed out on the daily dose of
medication allowed. Any more pills and my liver pays for it. To make a
long story short, let's not give marijuana a bad name. Pot does help,
but don't get the wrong impression from some kid with a joint on TV or
all the others puffing away in Vancouver. Out of all the people at
that gathering I bet more than half don't even vote, so they can whine
about it all they want. Take some responsibility, voice your concerns
or needs, not just your own opinion, and vote for the person who can
help change it. Marijuana should be legal if you use it for medicinal,
not recreational, purposes.

Terry Callender,

Sackville