Pubdate: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 Source: Anniston Star (AL) Copyright: 2009 Consolidated Publishing Contact: http://www.annistonstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/923 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n304/a07.html Author: Don Seibold BILL NEEDS STAR'S SUPPORT I respectfully request that The Star support HB434 in the Alabama House of Representatives and any companion bill that is introduced in the Alabama Senate. This bill would allow certain residents described in the bill to use marijuana under the conditions prescribed to deal with their medical situations. In 1970, after 16-plus years in the military, I was medically discharged because of a condition that rendered me physically unfit for further service to our country. Before then, I underwent two surgeries to try to correct a condition in my lower spine, neither of which brought relief for the pain. So, for half or more of my life I've lived with chronic pain which has gotten worse over time. As a law-abiding citizen, I have never used marijuana, even though I've read and heard that using it might give me some relief. If HB434 changes the law to make medical marijuana legal, at least I will have the opportunity to legally use it and see if it will ease my pain as it reportedly has for many other people. Don Seibold Wetumpka - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart