PEOPLE, NOT POLITICIANS, SHOULD GUIDE MARIJUANA LAW

Thank you to Gov. Brian Schweitzer for having the courage to recognize
the will of the people and veto House Bill 161. I do not hold a card
allowing me to use medical cannabis, but as a cancer survivor,
allergic to opiates, I face an uncertain future, and it is reassuring
to know that should the need arise I will be able to obtain the best
alternative medication available to help me in my struggle with this
disease.

I, along with many other citizens, believe that the medical cannabis
industry needs to be more strictly regulated, but taking the profit
motive from the providers is absurd. Would Pfizer continue to
manufacture Viagra if they had to dispense it for free? I think not.
The growers and providers of this product are for the most part
honest, hardworking and law-abiding people, much like the average
farmer who has employees, pays wages and taxes, and strives to deliver
the highest-quality product possible.

The medical cannabis law was passed by the people, and it should be
regulated by the people. I propose a committee, appointed by
Schweitzer, and made up of persons from all sides of the political
spectrum, young and old, healthy and ill, religious and not. Given the
opportunity, these ordinary citizens should be able to work out a
common sense set of regulations that will benefit everyone and harm
none.

Please, don't let the politicians get their hands on this, as they
will play their partisan games and screw it up just like they do
everything else.

Again, I salute Schweitzer's courage.

Eugene C. Wier

Colstrip