Re: HB 2610 (date) Dear Representative (name), I am very glad to see that medical marijuana legislation has been drafted in the Kansas House. There is too much evidence that marijuana is safe and effective therapy for us to continue to ignore it. Patients and those who love them have had their hands tied for far too long. Where is the compassion? Surely people do not really believe that effective relief for seriously ill patients should be withheld from them by law. You are probably aware that fourteen states now have legal medical cannabis. At least that many more have pending legislation. The tide is turning. Please don't let Kansas patients miss out on a chance at a better quality of life because a remarkable, God-given plant is forbidden to them. Thank you for serving the great state of Kansas and her people. Your concerned constituent, (name)

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Short LTE Dear Editor, New Jersey has become the fourteenth state to permit the medical use of marijuana, or cannabis. At least fifteen other states have such legislation pending, and Washington, D.C. has passed a referendum and is awaiting funding to enact it. Cannabis has been used by man as medicine for more than 5,000 years and was legal medicine for far longer than it has been deemed an illegal substance. Every human being is born equipped with cannabis receptors in his or her brain and body. Many of us know, or know of, seriously ill individuals who have benefited significantly from the use of cannabis when other, more traditional medicines--or even synthetic cannabis-based medicines--have failed to provide relief. Isn't it time for Kansas lawmakers to consider a medical marijuana plan for Kansas patients? Sick people do not deserve to be classified as criminals just because they want to feel a little better or live with less pain. If you agree, please tell your representatives in Topeka that you support medical cannabis. (name--required) (phone--required) (email)

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Support medical marijuana (Just cut and paste, insert your info, and send.) (date) To the people of (city), or Dear Editor, I/we support medical marijuana--or, more accurately--cannabis because we have learned the truth: This versatile plant, given to us by God, has been used as medicine for thousands of years, and has never been known to have killed or hurt anyone while they were being treated with it. It is well known that the same cannot be said of pharmaceuticals. The list of medical conditions known to be therapeutically responsive to cannabis continues to grow. No clinical trials have yet been allowed in the US, but forty years' research in Israel and elsewhere have proved beyond any doubt---to a rational person---that medical marijuana works, and works well for many people with many different conditions. As with any medicine, however, it isn't right for everyone. Medical cannabis has actually been legal for far longer than it has been illegal; isn't it time for us to think about re-legalizing it so that more people might benefit from it? Seriously ill people do not deserve to be considered criminals just for wanting to feel better. As for possible euphoric side effects, what is so bad about that for someone with a serious illness? Do people really believe that feeling better and/or living with less pain should be against the law? If you feel that it is time for more compassionate medical cannabis law in Kansas, you can help patients and caregivers by communicating your support to your representatives in Topeka. Please do this at least twice a year. Thank you, (name--required) (phone--required) (email) (city--required)

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Eight-point message (date) Dear Representative or Senator (name), I am writing to plead with you to give some serious thought to introducing, sponsoring, or co-sponsoring legislation to create a medical cannabis (marijuana) plan for Kansas patients in need of this versatile, but controversial, medicinal plant. There are several new reasons to consider a medical cannabis option for our state: Reduction in teen use: In every state having a medical cannabis program teen use has declined. This surprising news is more than likely related to marijuana regulation in those states and would be one more compelling reason to create a regulated cannabis market in Kansas. Shift in federal law: News was made in October when AG Eric Holder's office released a memo to US Attorneys calling for cessation of the use of federal law enforcement resources to arrest patients and disrupt clinics and dispensaries operating within state law. This is a significant change in federal policy. Policy change by AMA: In November, the American Medical Association announced a major change in policy, reversing long-standing guidelines by calling for the rescheduling of marijuana so that clinical trials might be conducted in the US to prove once and for all whether cannabis actually is good medicine. State policies continue to change: Thirteen states presently have some form of medical marijuana program and/or medical marijuana defense, the District of Columbia will soon join them, and at least fifteen more are considering legislation. As you know, our westerly neighbor, Colorado, is one of the states having a medical cannabis plan, and it seems possible that one day Kansas might be surrounded by medical marijuana states. Patients are already leaving the state. A few patients have either moved to Colorado for legal access to their medicine, or are seriously considering doing so. Do we really want taxpayers migrating out of Kansas for medical reasons? Ongoing research indicates marijuana has even more medicinal properties than previously thought. In Israel, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam's four decades of research on cannabis---particularly on endocannabinoids---continue to confirm the undeniable therapeutic potential of this God-given plant, and uncover new uses for it. Tax revenue: A no-brainer. California estimates annual medical marijuana tax revenue at $100 million. Kansas' revenue would be much less of course, because we are much less populous, but in these times every addition to state revenue is helpful, is it not? Possible help for children with autism, ADD, ADHD and similar disorders: Of course the idea of giving marijuana to children is shocking, but if a natural substance should prove not only to help these poor kids, but not to harm them as do currently-prescribed toxic pharmaceuticals, who in their right mind would forbid relief to these struggling children and their stressed-out families and education workers? Wouldn't it be wonderful if teachers could actually teach again, without having to devote valuable classroom time to disciplinary matters? Emerging research results are very promising and deserve close attention. (report) Please, Representative or Senator___________, it is my sincere hope that you will take my thoughts to heart and consider not what medical marijuana could do TO Kansas, but what it might do FOR Kansas. In any case, thank you for your service to Kansas and to your constituents. Respectfully,

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Good question (date) Dear (Your legislator's name), A reader asked a thought-provoking question in The Wichita Eagle's online "Opinion Line Extra": "In 2008, California made more than $220 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana. Why isn't the rest of the country doing the same?" I ask that you seriously consider this question and its ramifications for every Kansas resident dependent in one way or another upon critical state-funded programs or services. (That would be almost all of us.) It seems that every day we hear of new and deeper cuts being made to funding for everything from public safety to public schools to public works. Growing numbers of Kansas residents--including children--are suffering increasing hardships because their "lifeline" programs have been canceled or drastically cut. With the recent announcement from Attorney General Eric Holder's office that prosecution of patients, caregivers and others operating within state medical marijuana law would cease, the timing for establishment of a reasonable medical marijuana plan in Kansas could not be better. Launching a medical cannabis program for Kansas patients could be a "win, win" for the state, likely even creating much-needed jobs. We beg you, for the sake of your constituents whose quality of life is slowly deteriorating, please give this controversial but sensible idea some very serious thought and discussion with your colleagues in Topeka. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Kansas. Respectfully, (your name and/or list of signatories here)

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Patients are not criminals 4 Feb 2010 Dear Representative/Senator, Do you believe that a seriously or terminally ill person should be deemed a criminal for wanting to feel better or live in less pain? This is what is happening today to many patients in Kansas who are struggling with serious medical conditions for which marijuana, or, more accurately, cannabis, has demonstrated therapeutic value. In more than 5,000 years of medical use, cannabis has never killed or seriously harmed anyone being treated with it. Can we say the same for most of today's commonly-prescribed medications? One of the most common side effects of cannabis is a mild euphoria, or a sense of well-being. How can that possibly be a negative effect in a seriously or terminally ill person? Yes, there ARE a few possible negative effects from using cannabis. Anxiety (paranoia) has been reported most often, but the consensus among patients seems to be that the benefits far exceed the risks. I hope you will keep these thoughts in mind when you consider whether to support or vote for medical cannabis. Please do the right thing for all seriously ill Kansans who might be able to enjoy a better quality of life if allowed therapy with this versatile plant given to us by our Creator. Thank you for your service to Kansas and her people. Respectfully,

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cont. from pg 1 (About signs: we march no matter what the weather is doing--within reason--and wind is pretty much a given in early May around Kansas. We've marched in rain, too. Posterboard and similar material can be made "wearable" by adding a loop for your neck and maybe side ties. Be creative. Wearable messages have been written or painted on those lightweight neon green or orange safety vests work crews wear. A rain poncho from the dollar store can become a sign, or a clear one would keep you and your sign dry.) What medcankan really needs is for volunteers just like us to organize your own march in your own town. ADVOCATING IS NOT ILLEGAL. If it were, I surely would have been locked up and the key thrown away long ago. We urge you to join us and exercise your rights before they all slip away!

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