Dear Members of the Arkansas Legislature,
I'm writing to add my name to the
list of people supporting the medical use of marijuana, and to strongly urge you
to vote for HB 1321. I'm certain you understand the reluctance of physicians in
active practice to take a stand on this issue, but I am retired from active
practice and have felt strongly for years that this drug can be very helpful in
the treatment of a number of medical conditions including cancer, chronic severe
pain situations, certain ophthalmologic diseases and others. If the manner in
which the legislation is worded can prevent abuses of the intent of the law
(which was not the case in California in my view) then I will gladly endorse
passage of such legislation.
In my own experience of treating a family member with diabetic neuropathy, I
found this drug to be very helpful in allowing him to avoid use of highly
addictive, dangerous narcotics which had been required to control his
intermittently severe, incapacitating pain.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
Donald A. Sones M.D.,
M.S. (Med)