MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Seriously and chronically ill individuals who use marijuana as
medicine should be protected from any and all criminal penalties.
However, medical marijuana legislation was not introduced in Georgia
this session. I would hope a bill would be introduced in the next
session that would protect these individuals. They, too, are citizens
of the state of Georgia and deserve to be treated with respect as such.

Currently, Georgia residents who use marijuana for medical purposes
can be arrested and jailed. This is patently wrong and morally
unconscionable. Georgia did not take advantage of the opportunity to
protect these people this session, but we should not let that chance
escape next time.

Subjecting cancer patients, AIDS patients, and persons with severely
painful and debilitating conditions to criminal sanctions does nothing
to prevent recreational drug use-it is simply cruel. There is
absolutely no medical basis for this prejudicial and uneducated
treatment for innocent citizens of this state.

Although more time will pass during which seriously ill Georgia
residents will be subject to arrest for using their only truly
efficacious medicine, this extremely popular issue needs to be brought
in front of the legislature. I hope you will consider introducing
medical marijuana legislation next session, and, ultimately, seeing to
it that it is passed in favor of the people in medical need in Georgia.

JulieAnn S. Hamilton

Warner Robins