RELL'S MARIJUANA VETO WAS UNFORTUNATE

Gov. M. Jodi Rell's veto Tuesday that would have allowed residents
with certain specified illnesses to alleviate intense pain and
debilitating symptoms through the use of marijuana is truly
unfortunate.

Certainly, Rell raised valid points in her veto message about legal
accessibility to obtaining marijuana seeds or plants and monitoring
use of the drug by approved patients.

However, there is the larger question that is paramount of helping
relieve pain for a relatively small percentage of the populace with
seriously debilitating illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.

The vetoed bill would have allowed residents over 18 with specific
debilitating medical conditions to grow and use four marijuana plants
after winning a doctor's approval and registering with the state.

This is an issue that the individual states must take the lead on.
Twelve already have and we hoped that progressive Connecticut would
have been a leader after debating this issue for the past five years
at the state Capitol.

No doubt, the real solution to this problem resides with Congress, but
in recent years Congress has become so divided and politicized that
it's a chore to even get annual spending bills approved into law, much
less a lesser issue such as this.