Michigan: Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper can be a great way to foster discussion about marijuana policy reform. While we have provided this list of talking points, we encourage you to write your own letter, as a personally-crafted message is often the most powerful.
You can visit this page to view a listing of newspapers in Michigan. We also have a few tips for writing an effective letter.
- I am proud that 63% of Michigan's voters made the compassionate decision to protect seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana from arrest and imprisonment.
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- Majorities in each of Michigan's 83 counties voted for the sensible law.
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- Numerous prestigious medical organizations support legal medical marijuana access for the seriously ill, including the American Public Health Association, the American Nurses Association, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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- Studies have shown that marijuana relieves debilitating symptoms including nausea, appetite loss, and severe pain. It has been shown to increase the chances that HIV/AIDs and hepatitis C patients will stay on the life-saving medications.
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- Chemotherapy patients who are too nauseated to eat or swallow a pill should not have to fear arrest if they — and their doctors — find that smoking marijuana is the most effective means of treating their symptoms.
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- Marijuana has never caused a single medically documented overdose death - unlike Tylenol, which causes about 500 overdose deaths a year in the U.S. alone.
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- Many of the legal alternatives proposed by opponents of medical marijuana are too expensive, too addictive, and have too many side effects to be good medicine for all patients.
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- Our state should use tax money to prosecute violent crime, not punish medical marijuana users.
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- This is not a partisan issue; it is a compassion issue.
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Tips for writing an effective letter
1) Keep it short and simple
Papers generally won't print anything longer than 150-200 words. It's best to make one point well, rather than trying to make every point possible. By only making one point at a time, you save your other arguments for future letters.
2) Check your spelling and grammar
Not only are newspapers more likely to print a letter containing no errors, having a spelling or grammar mistake plays into the stereotypes embraced by the opposition. We'd be glad to look over your letter if you'd like.
3) Say only what you know is factually true
Science, math, and reason are on our side; there's no need to make false claims or exaggerations. If you are unsure, check our library or ask us.
4) If possible, respond to a recent story in a timely manner
Papers are generally more likely to publish letters that are in response to recent stories, especially letters than are submitted shortly after the stories were published.
Feel free to contact us if you'd like help with your letter.
