Support for medical marijuana legislation growing

The New York Legislature is as close as it has ever been to enacting medical marijuana legislation. The medical community, the public, three major cities, and the Senate majority leader are all calling for New York to protect the seriously ill from arrest. But, sadly, the sick and dying will probably face another year in fear of prosecution unless people like you mobilize to support New York's medical marijuana legislation.

Please, compose a letter-to-the editor supporting medical marijuana. We've made it easy for you to send letters through our automated system. Just type up your plea for compassion—which can include one or more of our talking points—and with a click of a few buttons, up to five local papers will receive your letter.

Gov. George Pataki (R) has consistently weakly opposed medical marijuana. His stance is out of step with the vast majority of New Yorkers, the state medical and nurses associations, and the deans of the state's medical schools. New York has a slew of newspapers, and if each of you writes a letter, we could have dozens of papers from across the state running letters that urge Gov. Pataki to stand up for the seriously ill. So, please, write a letter now.

Newspapers generally print letters that tie in to stories they've recently run, and there is no shortage of articles that you can mention. Simply click here to read some of the nine articles covering a Tuesday press conference for medical marijuana. TV talk show host and multiple sclerosis patient Montel Williams joined Sen. Vincent Leibell (R-Putnam County) as he announced the introduction of a Senate bill. Several legislators of both parties were also present, as were representatives of the state medical society, nurses association, and senior action council. And later in the day, Senate Majority Leader Bruno (R-Saratoga Springs) announced his personal support for the bill, and his hope that it would pass this year.

Please pass this message along to friends, family, neighbors, and e-mail lists so that others can stand up for New York's most vulnerable residents. And don't forget to e-mail karen@mpp.org if you can volunteer to build the grassroots wave we need.