Pass medical marijuana law

Last week, the New York Legislature nearly made New York the 13th state to have a medical marijuana law but adjourned before the Senate voted. The Assembly had passed Richard Gottfried’s bill, 92-52. Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno reaffirmed his support, and Governor Spitzer, who was once opposed to medical marijuana, said he would sign an effective bill.

The Senate offered its version of a bill, but it would put doctors and the Department of Health in conflict with federal law and before any compromise could be reached, the Senate adjourned.

The debate over whether marijuana is safe and effective is over. What remains is how best to allow patients access to it. Please write or call your senator and encourage him or her to pass an effective medical marijuana bill that protects patients from arrest and punishment.

Marijuana was safe, effective and legal medicine in this country from 1854 to 1937. And now its time has come again.

Bruce Dunn

Morris

Stories present only one side

Our family would like the chance to respond to some of the completely one-sided stories this paper has printed. A lot of people toss around the "innocent until proven guilty" statement, but anyone who has been the scapegoat for these articles can attest, the opposite is true.

Michael Schmitt has been accused of horrible crimes against our grandmother, but anyone who knows us, or knew Agnes, knows that these charges are ridiculous.

Why was there no mention in your paper of the nurse’s aides we hired to care for Gram, or of the local deacon who came to visit Gram every Sunday? As anyone who has ever cared for an elderly family member can attest, it can be very difficult, but when the only family member to step up and care for his grandmother is accused of the deplorable acts Michael has been accused of, it makes it that much more difficult.

When this paper prints its daily lies, I would like readers to remember, you only get one person’s side of the story and that parts of that story could very well be lies.

Let’s remember that there are families, and very often children, left behind to pick up the pieces. There is no such thing as innocent until proven guilty.

Christina Schmitt

Franklin