In response to Ron Hutchison’s column (Globe, March 29) regarding legalizing pot, I think he’s correct, we all have the option of personal liberty, or should at least be able to exercise the liberty.
I don’t think personally, legal or illegal, I would smoke marijuana, as I have never smoked anything in my life.
However, I would support the person who needed to make this choice for a medical reason. If it meant less suffering or better quality of life for someone, I would say let’s get started. Life should be about quality, not quantity, in my view.
I lost both of my parents in the past two years, to various forms of cancer. Each parent wasted away quickly before my very eyes due to the lack of nutrition, the changes seemed apparent almost minute by minute.
They had no appetite, nothing tasted or sounded good. A person cannot fight or sustain any kind of illness when the body is starving and crying out in pain. I heavily considered the idea of marijuana in my father’s case, but was fearful of being arrested or obtaining tainted marijuana and causing him further harm. If I had had more time or forethought, I would have grown my own for him, and lived in fear of the law. Believe me when I say a person will do whatever is required to care for the one, they truly love.
I am a devoted Christian, but despite my faith in God almighty, I did everything in my power to keep them comfortable. I could not leave it for God to handle in his time. Prayer to end the suffering was the only hope in site. After one prays for a loved one to pass, something shifts inside you and wonders what else you could have done.
Nevertheless, perhaps one day enough lobbyists and “lawmakers” will have lost a person die of the wretched disease cancer, will change their view and the law will change.
Gina Miller
Joplin
