Marijuana Policy Project

Area residents voiced conflicting opinions on the legalization of marijuana for medical use.

While virtually everyone expressed sympathy for terminally ill patients who sought relief from pain, some worried about the potential for abuse if pot is partially legalized.

But many were full-throated in their support for the legalization of medical marijuana.

"I think that anything we can do to reduce the pain and suffering of people with medically diagnosed conditions is worth it," said Karen, a 36-year-old Milford resident who asked not to give her last name. "If there's something out there that could make one of those people feel better, we have an obligation to provide it.

"Why would you want that person to suffer?" said Karen, who works in public relations. "We can do this in a controlled way, with a doctor's supervision."

Others were not so sure.

"My concern is that people would misuse it," said Bill Sennello, 78, of Stratford. "I think people would use it just for the excuse of having it for their own pleasure, not medicinal use."

That worry was not confined to the older generation. Louie, a 26-year-old Bridgeport student, expressed skepticism that marijuana could be made available to the terminally ill but kept out of reach for everyone else. "People would probably take advantage of it being out in the open," he said. "It could get into the wrong hands, and there's always the possibility of addiction."

Those who favored the legalization of pot for medicinal use sometimes said their personal experiences with terminal illness had shaped their opinions.

"I have had several people in my life who had cancer, and I wish they had something to make themselves feel better," said Holly Burbank, a transportation consultant who lives in Ridgefield. "We're not talking about 16-year-old kids going to a street corner. Doctors would prescribe it."

Polls show a wide majority of Americans supports legalizing marijuana for medical use.

In a June 2004 University of Connecticut survey, 83 percent of Connecticut residents polled said they favored the use of "marijuana for medical purposes if a doctor prescribes it."