Marijuana Policy Project

AUGUSTA, GA - Last week's cover story on medical marijuana brought two responses that I normally would not publish. We almost never use letters from people who ask that they remain anonymous.

In these cases, however, the writers have legitimate reasons for their reluctance to be identified. One is in the military. Another is an AIDS patient.

The AIDS patient writes, "I would like to first give my personal thanks to Joshua McCracken for his valor in speaking out publicly about his struggle with HIV, and now full-blown AIDS!

This is great that he pushed aside the stigma that is anything but hidden here in Augusta. "I also really want to thank the paper itself for putting this on the front page.  Great job on bringing light to issues that affect so many silently.

"I totally agree with his stance on the use of marijuana as a medication. It truly does have great prospects as a medication. There are next to no unpleasant side effects such as addiction, as there is that possibility with most all other medications.

"I know of many who need this medication (myself included) to keep going and also to just make life a little easier. Losing so much weight as well as the pain associated with AIDS can only be combated with marijuana! I hope that this article and those to follow will change laws because they aren't working currently."

The soldier writes: "I am a chronic pain sufferer. My pain has led the Army to medically separate me this spring. The best the Army could do for me was to prescribe me 800 mg of Motrin (ibuprofen) and hydrocodone (Vicodin) and just deal with the pain.

"Since I started this regimen in November, I have had to get the dosage of the Vicodin, which is a narcotic, increased to the highest dosage available on Fort Gordon. I have built a tolerance to the drug. The problem with building a tolerance is that it eventually builds into addiction.

"The doctors I was dealing with understand the level of my pain, and have prescribed me up to 40 at a time, knowing that I can take up to three a day if I am active. Fortunately, I am not currently working, and am only having to take one or two of them a day. I am 23 years old, and my wife is pregnant with twins. I know with the level of pain, which is increasing daily, I won't be able to run with my kids, or play with my kids.

"If I was given the opportunity to use medical marijuana, I would jump on it. I am a firm proponent of marijuana reform.

"I hope that someday, for the sake of Joshua, Elizabeth Wilsey and the countless others who benefit from marijuana, that the laws will change. But I know that as long as the pharmaceutical companies have their hands in the wallets of the legislators, that day will never come."