Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jul 2002
Source: Halifax Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Elizabeth van Dreunen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

MUMM STILL WAITING

Dear Editor:

I attended this year's Cannabis Day celebration in order to find out more 
about what was going on with the efforts to decriminalize/legalize 
marijuana. Did you know that the people who have prescriptions for 
medicinal use of marijuana are still waiting for their supplier (the 
government) to provide them with their marijuana? They have formed a group 
called Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana (MUMM).

These are people who are living in pain because the government is not 
keeping its promise to supply them with medical marijuana, even though it 
has been over one year since they have received their prescriptions.

Since we recognize marijuana's capacity to provide relief from terrible 
pains and diseases, why are we wasting any more money on maintaining it as 
an illegal substance? And why are we withholding it from those who have 
earned a right to use it?

On an impulse, I decided to draw up a quick petition to see how many people 
wanted marijuana legalized. In just 30 minutes of passing the petition 
around, I collected 137 signatures, with more still coming in.

I urge each and every citizen to either write a letter, or start a petition 
and once you have a full page, photocopy it and send it to your member of 
Parliament, requesting the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana and, 
most important, the immediate accessibility of marijuana for medicinal use.

Elizabeth van Dreunen, Lawrencetown
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