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(May 18, 2007) Springfield -- Illinois lawmakers missed an opportunity that
just might have prolonged, and perhaps saved, the lives of some seriously ill
citizens. Instead, the state Senate's failure to legalize the use of medical
marijuana did just the opposite, dashing the hopes of some terminally and seriously
ill, their families and friends. We had hoped lawmakers would at last abandon
the hollow law-and-order, anti-drug political arguments of opponents, especially
after the Senate Public Health Committee approved SB650.
The bill would have protected from arrest seriously ill patients who use
medical marijuana on their doctor's recommendation. Under the bill,
patients or their primary caregivers could legally possess up to 12
marijuana plants and 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana
If approved, Illinois would have joined 13 enlightened states who put
preserving public health before scoring political points. Courts, then,
can continue to sentence to jail the very ill who use medical marijuana
to improve their quality of life or to prolong it.
What a pity we can't sentence the 22 senators who voted against medical
marijuana to spend even a day in the wheelchair of AIDS patient,
vomiting life-saving medications because of nausea. Or maybe they could
walk a few milels in the shoes of Gretchen Steele, the Coulterville
nurse who has multiple sclerosis. She told lawmakers last month, "I can
tell you from firsthand experience that marijuana works better to
control the spasticity, neuropathic pain, and tremors than do any of the
myriad prescription medications that I currently take.
The fact that it is perfectly legal for my doctors to prescribe
morphine, OxyCodone, diazepam, hydrocodone, and other drugs that are not
only highly addictive but have many unpleasant side effects, yet it
remains illegal to recommend marijuana, is beyond reasoning."
Funny isn't it, that so many senators are so absolutely sure she and
other sufferers, and their doctors, don't know what they're talking about.
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Published: May 18, 2007
Copyright: 2007 Quad-City Times
Contact: opinions@qctimes.com
Website: http://www.qctimes.com |
