MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM HELPS MANY, COSTS LITTLE

To the editor:

I want to thank Pamela Sterling for standing up for herself and
educating the public about Kevin Mannix's initiative to criminalize
thousands of sick and disabled patients while giving pharmaceutical
companies a handout at the expense of Oregon's taxpayers.

Mannix should not be making medical decisions for Oregonians and our
state should not replace a program that actually brings in revenue
with a system that would cost Oregonians millions.

Our medical marijuana program has a budget surplus even though the
Oregon Legislature gobbled up most of that surplus during the 2005
legislative session.

Our state should be working toward ensuring that our patients have
safe access to medical marijuana and building up this great program
that can bring in millions to the state budget.

Please say no to Mannix's initiative as patients should not be treated
as criminals and Oregonians should not be a money trough for
pharmaceutical companies.

Anthony Johnson, political director, Voter Power