From Edwin Engelmann
Franklin

I live in rural Minnesota. I am a Veteran of the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, an ongoing patient at Veterans Hospital for service-connected disabilities, a father and grandfather.

I am also on the board of directors for the Aurora Borealis chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws of Minnesota.

I am writing in support of the medical marijuana bill HF 655 and its companion SF 345. This medicine can benefit a lot of sick, suffering and dying patients. There are currently many sick people in our state who use marijuana to treat their conditions and their doctors agree that marijuana is helpful.

Gov. Pawlenty should be ashamed of himself for threatening to veto the compassionate medical marijuana legislation. He claims he is doing this because of law enforcement concerns. Why does the governor side with law enforcement in wanting to keep the right to lock up cancer and AIDS patients?

Despite all the lives we have destroyed and all the money so ill-spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and far easier to get than they were 35 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs.

With this in mind, current and former members of law enforcement have created a drug-policy reform movement — LEAP. They believe that to save lives and lower the rates of disease, crime and addiction as well as to conserve tax dollars, we must end drug prohibition. LEAP believes that a system of regulation and control of production and distribution will be far more effective and ethical than one of prohibition.

They do this in hopes that those in law enforcement can regain the public’s respect and trust, which have been greatly diminished by their involvement in imposing drug prohibition. Their Web site is www.leap.cc.
Many otherwise illegal substances, such as cocaine and morphine, can legally be prescribed by doctors. I know this from experience.There is no reason a patient should face jail for using marijuana on his or her doctor’s recommendation.

Currently, patients for whom the standard, legal drugs are not effective are left with two terrible choices: 1) continue to suffer, or 2) obtain marijuana illegally and risk suffering the consequences. Not only do patients risk being arrested and going to jail (not exactly the best environment for someone who’s seriously ill), but they also risk buying impure or contaminated marijuana from the criminal market. HF 655 would eliminate both of these risks. Patients would no longer worry about getting arrested for trying to ease their pain and suffering.

I encourage everyone reading this letter to take a moment to contact Gov. Pawlenty’s office and urge him not to veto the medical marijuana bill. You can reach him by e-mailing tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us, or by calling (651) 296-3391 or (800) 657-3717.