To the Editor,

In 1998 when the medical marijuana initiative was on the ballot, law enforcement and the federal government claimed that the "sky would fall".  However in the past six years crime has not increased, there hasn't been dangerous health problems reported and even youngsters understand that marijuana is medicine.

Now with over 10,000 seriously ill patients in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, it is time to make this medicine more available for them.  Measure 33 fixes the flaws in the law that requires patients to grow their own medicine, but only allows them to keep 3 ounces at a time.  Patients find this inadequate, as many use over one ounce per week.

The Federal Government knows how much marijuana a patient needs in a year, as they have been supplying a few select patients with marijuana for over 20 years.  These patients are currently receiving over 6 pounds per year, the same 6 pounds Measure 33 would allow.

One must question why the Federal Government doesn't just recognize marijuana as medicine and allow doctors to prescribe it, eliminating the need for special state programs.

Until then, vote YES on 33, so patients can get the medicine they need.

Sincerely,

    Xxxxxx