MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESPONSE

Dear Editors,

Recently, I read your article on Medical Marijuana. I found it interesting
that California passed a proposition for the growing of marijuana for
patients that need it for medical purposes. I think this is wonderful
because of all of the sick people that can really use something to make
them feel better.

However, this adds to my concern as to whether or not these sick patients
may be adding to the growing population of young Americans using marijuana
today. I can't help but wonder whether or not the reason why children are
using marijuana today is because they have such easy access to it. This
access is either through a loved one or someone they know that is growing
it or using it on a daily basis. I am not saying that since terminally ill
patients are able to grow this product, then they are going to give it out
to everyone that they know. However, I cannot help but wonder why it is so
easy for young Americans to get this product.

Growing marijuana for medical reasons is okay, but when there are others
around that can easily get a hold of it and use it for their own purposes,
that's when things need to change. I care very much about those that are
going through great amounts of pain and suffering, however I don't think
that they should be able to grow this plant in their own house. I think
that doctors should set up labs where patients can go and smoke as much
marijuana as they think they need in the doctor's presence. This in turn
would probably cut down on the amount of kids and teenagers getting a hold
of marijuana make it easier on adults to help these children get away from
this problem.

Even though patients are allowed to grow small amounts of marijuana in
their homes, it seems logical that they would want to keep this product out
of reach for someone they either know or love very deeply. The number of
kids that are addicted to this drug is outrageous and by allowing patients
to grow their own marijuana, we are pretty much allowing these children to
become addicted.

In conclusion, I would just like to say that these patients deserve the
best treatment that they can get. It only seems logical that if marijuana
is the answer, then that is what they would want. Giving them the right to
grow marijuana in their own homes is putting a lot of trust not only to the
patients, but to others as well. I think that these patients should be
allowed to smoke this plant of their own free will, however I believe that
it should be done in the presence of doctors.

Jennifer Fry

Freshman, Biology