The Time Is NOW for Medicinal Marijuana--Let's Stop the Unnecessary Suffering

I am a person with pain and one who has difficulty sleeping at times. For more than a decade, I have been angry and frustrated that marijuana is not easily available, as other drug therapies are, for all who suffer with pain, nausea and sleep deprivation. I have heard from hundreds of people with these symptoms who say marijuana is a god-send for them.

Recently, I was speaking with a colleague who's partner is dying from cancer. He told me about her great courage, a life of helping others through her nonprofit endeavors. And he told me about her fighting doggedly for respect and quality care in her last months. With tears in his eyes, he described his most recent visits with her-- and how the last thing he did before leaving was to roll a couple of joints for her. This medication gave her the opportunity to sleep at night without vomiting throughout. And this from a gentleman who comes from a law enforcement background... His love for this woman transcended any laws that were a barrier to her aid and comfort. This is a wonderful man who I greatly admire.

I also saw a friend last year who suffers with post-polio. We were exchanging yarns about our sleep difficulties-- and she talked about the years when she could never get a quality night's sleep. She told me that each evening now, just before hitting the sack, she takes one hit of pot... and like magic, she now sleeps like a baby every night. She spoke of ALL the countless other therapies she tried to no avail... before she at last tried marijuana. She and her husband both smiled, telling me it's like night and day.

I'm not talking about drug traffic'ers, criminals diverting pot for profit... I'm talking about people like you and me. People who are suffering from chronic pain, MS, cancer, and a whole slew of other ailments that can bring misery. Here we have a therapy that clearly displays safe and effective relief... and it's a moral shame that folk have to worry that the Feds will swoop down on them if they partake in their own healing.

Clearly, medicinal marijuana is not the answer for all of our woes--hardly. But like other medications, it helps so many... and should be available in a controlled way to assure safety and effectiveness. Why is marijuana federally outlawed, where as alcohol consumption is a socially and legally accepted indulgence? 2 + 2 equals 5 in this equation...

I am a witness to the extraordinary benefits of medicinal marijuana-- and I am outraged that people who want relief are frightened to try-- or continue this therapy-- as they're concerned they will go to jail if they do so. The people of California had the vision and compassion to legalize pot in this great state-- and now it's time for the Feds to finally jump on board this common sense approach.

We must break down those last, ignorant prejudices and stand up to those industries that economically benefit from pot's criminalization. If I make it to Sacramento, I promise to be a leading spokesperson in favor of liberalizing access to medicinal marijuana. I will advocate for the great medical school institutions in this state to commence with research studies that will once and for all prove it's great theraputic benefits-- so Congress will finally have the proof in hand to force them to at last legalize marijuana for it's great healing purposes.

When it comes to unnecessary suffering, time IS of the essence... and the time is NOW!!