MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL SHOULD HAVE PASSED

Dear Editor:

The Jan. 29 Pioneer story "Medical Marijuana Bill Falls" was a sad
story from the 2005 Legislature. Seriously ill people lost out. Those
who believe in true conservative values of small and reasonable
government (free from federal government dictates) lost out.

Rep. Lange's H.B. 1109 would have given doctors permission to
prescribe medical marijuana to seriously ill folks suffering from
things like cancer, chronic pain, or seizures. Doctors would have had
to certify these cases in writing and advise patients of the health
risks of marijuana. Both doctors and patients would have had to
register with the Health Department.

Sadly, the House Health Committee voted 11 to 1 against this effort to
show compassion to seriously ill people. Assistant State Attorney
General McGuigan said marijuana use would still be a federal crime if
H.B. 1109 passed and that this law would somehow encourage illegal
drug traffic.

California and a number of other states have medical marijuana laws.
Washington bureaucrats are trying to shut them down in a move to force
federal views on the states. It's sad to see our South Dakota
legislators are so afraid of offending federal agencies that they
won't try to help seriously ill people who need help now. Carefully
controlled medical marijuana programs and recreational drug use are
separate matters. It's too bad that H.B. 1109 was voted down.

David Nickel

Spearfish