MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGAL

My letter is in response to what I believe are utter falsehoods Terence
Young has spread via his written word regarding marijuana (Letters to the
Editor, Dec. 18).

First of all, Mr. Young has obviously never suffered from any dreaded
illness enough to have to choose a medication such as marijuana. Mr.
Young's "facts" are truly only a statement from this man himself, who
believes he is representing his fellow Canadians. If this were truly his
goal, Mr. Young would ask medical cannabis users or their loved ones to
explain to him how and/or why it helps them.

My goal is education and full legalization.

Marijuana does not lead to harder drugs. Most cannabis users started with
alcohol and/or tobacco -- not cannabis.

As a medical user (legal) I have actually been able to eliminate my
medically-necessary utility of cocaine and heroin because of cannabis. I
not longer require these life-threatening drugs (unlike cannabis).

Mr. Young is welcome to visit our Web site at www.themarijuanamission.com
and read the marijuana rescheduling petition from 1988 that states
emphatically that "those who choose marijuana for medical purposes receive
no residual effect."

My future advice to Mr. Young, respect the fact that some people receive
tremendous medical benefit from an illegal plant and that the choice is
truly individual. Do your homework, I did. I will not stop fighting this
issue until there is full legalization in Canada.

Mr. Young needs to understand, I worked with young people in corrections
for a lot of years and I don't want drugs on the street either. But where
else does Mr. Young propose we purchase it safely and affordably? Put it in
a store; put an age limit on it; make it safe and give the sick and dying
Canadians who need it a source.

Alison Myrden

Federal Medical Marijuana Exemptee

The Medical Marijuana Mission