Pubdate: Sat, 30 Jul 2005
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2005 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: David W. Sczuroski
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1155/a01.html?99792

RHODE ISLAND MAKES CRIMINALS OUT OF SUFFERERS OF DISEASE

Rhonda O'Donnell's July 21 letter "I'm waiting (in pain) for pot to be 
legalized" strikes a chord with many of us with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It 
took me a while (about two years) to finally throw caution to the wind and 
try marijuana regardless of what the law dictates.

The excruciating pains in my legs, as well as other common MS symptoms, are 
far less severe and even tolerable when I use marijuana. If my being able 
to enjoy the quality of life I had before MS means I am a criminal, then so 
be it. There are too many people, like Rhonda, that are courageously 
enduring pain everyday while waiting for marijuana to be legalized for 
medicinal use in Rhode Island.

There are legal drugs available, I know. But having to succumb to the side 
effects and potential addictions to these chemicals of limited 
effectiveness is absurd when there is a much more effective and safer 
alternative.

If it were not for marijuana's historically bad reputation, there would be 
little fuss over it. So in the meantime Rhode Islanders with various 
diseases can legally indulge on prescribed chemicals, and alcohol and 
nicotine, while lawmakers decide if they may one day "allow" us to legally 
suffer less than we already have been.

DAVID W. SCZUROSKI

North Providence
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom