PAIN, SUFFERING AND MARIJUANA

The July 18 Commentary piece by Joyce Nalepka ("Don't swallow drug
legalizers' lies") completely ignored the real issue with Rhode
Island's proposed medical-marijuana law: Should seriously ill people
be put in jail for using marijuana under the advice of a physician?

I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, and I have
tried other treatments. For the past 3 1/2 years, I have treated
Crohn's with maximum allowable doses of Percocet. But long-term usage
of Percocet leads to liver disease, and could eventually kill me.
Sadly, my doctors tell me that I have already exhausted every legal
medication for Crohn's.

Meanwhile, the major drugs used to treat arthritis -- such as Bextra
and Vioxx -- have been recalled, because they are unsafe. Doctors are
now prescribing addictive narcotics, such as Percocet and Vicodin,
for arthritis.

Nalepka apparently feels that patients like me should have to risk
liver failure or narcotic addiction, rather than use a relatively
safe and natural treatment.

Luckily, the Rhode Island medical community and the vast majority of
Rhode Islanders have more compassion and common sense than Nalepka. I
hope that the House will again have the courage to listen to
patients, doctors, and their constituents -- rather than irrational
scare tactics.

DEBRA NIEVERA

Coventry