DEA INFURIATES SENIOR

I am infuriated and disgusted that the federal government sent in DEA agents
to bust up the medical-marijuana group in Davenport.

And who am I? I am a senior who never even tried an illegal drug and doesn't
support any type of recreational drug use. I'm boring straight-arrow, but I
wouldn't send people to jail for using drugs.

I would stand with those who would decriminalize drug use. All illegal drug
use should come out of the dark ages, be wrested from government control and
medically managed by assorted professionals.

The application of our drug laws is so unequal and so unevenly applied that
it's pathetic.

I lost one of my dearest friends to cancer and year-and-a-half ago. She was
a very conservative Dutch lady. She fought off cancer for several years, but
said if her cancer became terminal, she would want to use marijuana.

Eventually, her cancer spread and became terminal. She refused heroic
intervention methods and died in a four-month period. She was served by
Hospice, but even the doses of morphine could not take the edge off her
distress. She was barely able to breathe, and never able to sleep - day or
night. I'll always remember those wide eyes of helplessness.

She never tried marijuana, afraid of the usual consequences of being
disgraced and possibly considered disreputable. Even in death, a person will
cling to their dignity and protect their families.

To whomever ordered the bust on the medical-marijuana group in Davenport, I
want to publicly say shame, shame on you, you sill small- minded people.

Bernice Lorence

Santa Cruz