Pubdate: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 Source: Foster's Daily Democrat (NH) Copyright: 2004 Geo. J. Foster Co. Contact: http://www.fosters.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/160 Author: Stan White Referred: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1746/a01.html?211348 CLERGY COULD HELP WITH CANNABIS ISSUE To the editor: As a Colorado citizen who voted for Amendment 20, allowing sick citizens cannabis, I support limiting government's ability to cage sick citizens for using cannabis. ("Marijuana: Medical hope or illegal drug?" Dec. 5, 2004). Since Colorado enacted its initiative, rates of cannabis use have not increased, and the sky hasn't fallen. Every state in recent memory that's seen an initiative allowing medical use of cannabis passed it, batting a thousand. For perspective, imagine a family member with cancer being allowed to self induce morphine every six minutes for pain, but be prohibited from using cannabis to even see if it helps. That's the way I looked at it when my son was dying with leukemia. The government would like citizens to think cannabis is a weapon of mass destruction. In reality, it's one of those seed-bearing plants God created and said is good on literally the very first page of the Bible. There are a lot of people that would also like to see clergy speak up for Christ God our Father on this issue since Jesus Christ risked going to jail to heal the sick. Stan White, Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek