MERITS OF MARIJUANA

I applaud Mykola Kovalenko's excellent column "Recognizing marijuana's many
medicinal benefits," published April 4. Here in California, we passed a law
legalizing marijuana for medicinal use over five years ago. Many of our
citizens suffering from debilitating, often terminal diseases such as
cancer and AIDS have benefited greatly from this unique medicine.

Even our local city officials and police departments, many of whom
originally opposed the measure, are now fully supportive. And how could
they not be? Take just a few minutes to talk to one of the patients who use
cannabis.

Their eyes filling with tears, they will describe how greatly it has
improved their life, by allowing them to function normally despite
debilitating pain, and stimulating their appetite when other medicines
could not. In many cases, these people only have a few years of life
remaining. Anyone who interacts with one of these patients will instantly
agree that legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes is an act of
compassion beyond measure.

Adam Wiggins

Director, Neoteric