ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, MARYLAND SHOULD PRIORITIZE COMPASSION

Dear Bay Weekly:

Drug Czar John Walters ("Maryland Grapples with a Weedy Issue": Dock of the
Bay, Vol. XI, No. 14, April 3) seems to feel that the truth is
"irresponsible" and "immoral".

The Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act, which I testified in support of,
will still allow the state of Maryland to send armed men into the homes of
sick and dying patients, terrorize good, tax-paying citizens and even rob
them of their medicine and assess fines on these suffering citizens. Mr.
Walters will still be able to send his own armed forces to do the same, as
well as send these patients to federal prison for a very long time, just as
he continues to do in California and elsewhere.

The only real change in business as usual in Maryland will be that, for the
first time, people who are put through the living hell of having their
family turned upside down -- for the crime of taking their medicine -- will
be allowed to tell the whole truth once they find themselves in court. For
the first time, a judge will be able to use God-given good sense and decide
merely to further punish these "criminals" by fining them $100, instead of
being forced to assess more obscene penalties and jail time.

It is John Walters who is both immoral and irresponsible for demanding
Maryland act with complete disregard for its most fragile and vulnerable
citizens. We can do much better! I implore our governor to sign this bill
into law. We must prioritize compassion over politics, or Maryland is less
than the best it can be!

Erin Hildebrandt, Smithsburg