SUPPORT S.B.17 DELAWARE SENATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

Marijuana's recorded use as a medicine goes back nearly 5,000 years. Modern medical research has confirmed the beneficial uses for marijuana in treating or alleviating the pain, nasea, and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS, as found by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine in March 1999. (taken from the current Delaware Senate Bill 17)

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia already have laws protecting seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana, and more than a dozen additional states considered medical marijuana legislation in 2010, including neighboring Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. And New Jersey passed its medical marijuana bill into law last January! On January 25, 2010, the News Journal said "there is no reason Delaware should not become the 15th state to do so." Tell your legislators you agree and that it's time for this cruel policy to end.

Marijuana was shown to help more than three-quarters of nauseated chemotherapy patients who did not respond to other medicines in one study. It has also been associated with tripling the chances that AIDS and hepatitis C patients will be able to stay on their life-saving medicines. Delaware has the fifth-highest AIDS rate in the country, and these patients are still being denied their medicine. That is why it is so important that you co-sponsor and vote for S.B. 17 (amended from SB 94), medical marijuana legislation sponsored by Sen. Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington), to protect patients from arrest.

Unlike OxyContin, Tylenol, and even water, marijuana has never caused an overdose death. And, the American Public Health Association and American Nurses Association have noted its extremely wide margin of safety. Yet, using it with a doctor’s recommendation remains punishable by jail time in our state.

The Wilmington News-Journal said it best in its January 25 editorial, “Let chronically ill use pot for mercy's sake.” “Of the 14 states with such laws, five approved them through their legislatures. Neighboring New Jersey became the most recent state to see both the wisdom and compassion of the law. There is no reason why Delaware should not become the 15th state to do so.”

Patients have suffered for too long. Will you stand up for patients and co-sponsor compassionate medical marijuana legislation? Thank you for your time.