YES ON 33

Yes, Oregonians are a compassionate people, and not easily hoodwinked. They
are intelligent, concerned citizens too. That is why I believe, your
editorial to the contrary, they will vote yes on Measure 33. They are
intelligent enough to read the measure and discover your editorial got some
things wrong.

First item of misinformation in your editorial seems to be the amount able
to be possessed legally would "grow from seven plants and three ounces to a
maximum of an unlimited number of plants and six pounds of cut and dried pot."

What the measure really says is patients could have 10 plants and any
number of clones or seedlings under one foot high. As any farmer knows, not
all seedlings live to maturity, and marijuana is no exception. In fact,
clones and seedlings of marijuana survive at only a ratio of about one
mature plant for every three to five starts.

The current law allowing only three ounces at any time does not allow those
patients who must grow outdoors to have enough marijuana to last a month or
so, even though the growing cycle is a full year. Where are the patients
supposed to get their medicine the rest of the year?

The other inaccuracy of your editorial I will address here is regarding the
nurse practitioners and naturopaths. The misconception that these
professionals are not competent to recommend marijuana lies in not knowing
the extent of their training or the current limits of their practices.

Currently, both nurse practitioners and naturopaths can prescribe Schedule
II and Schedule III drugs. These drugs include Oxycotin, morphine,
amphetamine and many other dangerous prescription drugs.

These drugs can be lethal, and marijuana has never caused a single death by
overdose.

Maya Manymoons Reames

Williams