MARIJUANA HELPS THE ILL

I applaud the actions of the Florida Cannabis Action Network as featured in
the Feb. 15 article "Patients protest for pot." In California, we made
medical marijuana legal more than 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, now are 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 lives by allowing them to function normally despite
debilitating pain, and stimulating their appetite when other medicines
could not. In many cases, these people have only a few years of life remaining.

Anyone who interacts with one of these patients will instantly agree that
legalizing cannabis for medical purposes is an act of compassion beyond
measure.

ADAM WIGGINS, Pasadena, CA