COULD THE SENATOR BE MISINFORMED?

Recently, I received a letter from Sen. Elizabeth Dole in reply to an
e-mail I had sent asking her to support the medical marijuana issue
that was before the Supreme Court.

I was not only surprised but somewhat educated when I read her reply.
She obviously equates medical marijuana to "Reefer Madness" -- which
is great, I suppose, except that it leads me to believe that our
Honorable Mrs. Dole has no faith in, trust of, or respect for our
doctors here in the great state of North Carolina (or anywhere, I suppose).

Mrs. Dole says medical marijuana is bad for us, and that's that. How
the hell does she know? [Because] government study after study shows
all the bad things that will happen to us should we ever be exposed to
marijuana, medical or otherwise.

Give me a break. How about this: Should not a doctor have the ability
to make a decision regarding my health? Isn't that what they do?
Currently, our doctors can write prescriptions for a lot of stuff that
isn't particularly good for everyone, but it's good for the person
[getting] the prescription. That is why they're doctors, isn't it?

What about this: If medical marijuana helps someone -- just one person
on this entire planet -- shouldn't a doctor (not a senator or the U.S.
government in the form of the Supreme Court) make that decision? I
trust my doctor, and should I ever be in the position to need
"anything" that a doctor feels could ease my (or a loved one's) pain
or suffering, then screw the government's ban on medical marijuana.

Now don't get me wrong. I know that Mrs. Dole did not "read" my e-mail
or write the letter that her name was signed on, but it [came from]
her staff. She doesn't feel that our doctors are to be trusted --
simple as that.

For those people who will always feel that marijuana will be a
problem, then make it a medical problem, not a legal problem.

Bob Niewoehner

Marshall