GALEF SURVEY INDICATES RESIDENTS FAVOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Results of a survey Assemblywoman Sandy Galef sent to each of her
constituents in the 90th Assembly District overwhelmingly indicated that
Albany lawmakers should approve legislation allowing physicians to
prescribe marijuana to chronically ill patients.

Galef told the Putnam County Courier last weekend that 77 percent of the
more than 11,000 responses to the survey favored medical marijuana. "I was
surprised by the overwhelming response. This is significant and is a change
in attitude," she said.

A Carmel woman who recently underwent an extensive regiment of chemotherapy
and radiation following major cancer surgery admitted smoking pot to ward
off the nausea resulting from the treatments. "I'm not a pot head by any
stretch of the imagination but a couple of hits in the confines of my
kitchen immediately alleviated the nausea associated with the treatments,"
she said.

Another response that totally surprised Galef concerned itself with
legislation requiring insurance to cover mental illness as physical illness
is currently accounted for.

Just under 85 percent of all responders favored the introduction of such a
bill. "For a long time, people felt that mental illness didn't fit into
this category. I'm happy to see a change in values among my constituents,"
she said.

One question dealing with increasing gambling to fund public education was
defeated by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin.

A question relating to the allowance of state dollars to be used for making
capital improvements at private colleges and universities was also
overwhelmingly rejected with 87 percent of the recipients objecting.

Eighty percent of Galef's constituents approve stem cell research in New
York State for medical purposes while 69 percent of the assemblywoman's
district are opposed to partial public financing of campaigns for judicial
candidates.

Galef said she would be using the input from her survey when considering
legislation in Albany next year.

The 90th Assembly District encompasses the towns of Kent, Putnam Valley and
Philipstown along with Cortlandt, Ossining and the city of Peekskill in
northern Westchester.