MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAS BENEFITS, DESPITE LEGAL PROBLEMS

Re: "Florida's laws keep this former Tallahasseean away" (Letters, Jan. 20).

My heart goes out to Mr. McDowell and his wish to return to his beloved
Tallahassee.
As a former nurse, I must lend him my support based on experiences with
patients who use medical marijuana.

Contrary to popular belief, most patients who use cannabis are either
elderly or those who are dying. These patients not only live in fear
of being found out by law enforcement, but, more important, they're
afraid of what their family and friends will think if it's found out
that the one drug does work for them is marijuana. After watching
firsthand the quality of life that these patients reclaim by using
marijuana, I chose to support my patients decisions and turn a blind
eye.

The legal drugs have horrible side effects: nausea, vomiting and
constipation. More important, these narcotics sedate users so much
that they are not able to function at all. Patients who used cannabis
never experienced any of these side effects yet achieved the same if
not better relief. Come to think of it, in my 15 years as a nurse, I
never saw a violent patient nor did I ever see a patient present
themselves in the emergency room with a marijuana overdose. It just
does not happen.

Given the legality of alcohol and its effects on people, it is
ludicrous not to allow the use of medical marijuana.

Mr. McDowell, I with you could come back home. But don't hold your
breath.

DR. AYN GREGORY