On October 21st the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an article titled "Medical marijuana advocates' hope renewed". You can read it and post your own comments on the Plain Dealer's website.

I responded with a letter to the editor. The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran my response letter to the editor. I urge you to start writting your own letters also and be sure to send one to your elected representatives ( all of them! ).

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Title: Why do we jail people for using marijuana to meet medical needs?
Source: Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH)
Website: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/
Feedback: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/letter-to-editor/
Address: 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114
Copyright: 2009 The Plain Dealer
Pubdate: October 24, 2009, 4:06AM

Regarding "Medical marijuana advocates' hope renewed" (Oct. 21):

It should be noted that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug by Ohio and the federal government.

A Schedule I drug is defined as one that fits all the following criteria: a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety standards for its use under medical supervision

The last criterion is interesting. It says even a doctor could not use marijuana safely. Thus, marijuana is considered deadly, addictive and with no medical use. I challenge Ohio Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican who opposes the proposed bill, to prove any one of those criteria.

The real question is what moral or ethical justification we have for putting people in jail simply for possessing or using marijuana for their own medical needs.

Robert Ryan,
President of Ohio Patient Network.