I am responding to your e-mail on medical marijuana. I have served over the last 10 years on a national not-for-profit board with a lady who is a Director at the only legal and government-sponsored medical marijuana growing facility. She has over the years explained to me the need for the use of this product. While I don’t disagree with what the doctor ordered between pain pills and medical marijuana, it is my understanding that this type of marijuana is different from what most people purchase to smoke when they buy on the street. Unfortunately, I don’t think that this type of legislation will pass here in the “Bible Belt”. I am currently trying to pass legislation that allows wine in the grocery stores and again the liquor lobbyist has threatened me to “unleash the preachers” across the state. However, I will watch this bill.Please keep me informed if you have further information.Best regards,
Senator Bill Ketron
Contact your elected representatives and urge them to 'Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers'. 
In my first paragraph, I failed to conclude a thought before venturing into another one so allow me to clarify:
“Cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of ailments, there is even compelling research to indicate one could get most of the beneficial effects of Cannabis in a strain that contains higher percentages of CBD *without* [the 'high' of THC rich Cannabis, and] without the adverse side-effects of narcotics and many other pharmaceuticals.”
@Pat Woodford Cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of ailments, there is even compelling research to indicate one could get most of the beneficial effects of Cannabis in a strain that contains higher percentages of CBD *without* the adverse side-effects of narcotics and many other pharmaceuticals.
Your second point, about the driving while impaired, is a valid concern; but I’m just as worried about people out there on legal substances, or just over-worked and falling asleep at the wheel, or texting, or getting into an argument with their passenger, or trying to turn up the volume if their stereo doesn’t have wheel-based controls, or any number of other things that can take a drivers attention off the road – and thus endangering everyone else that’s around them. Oh, and there are already people out there, right now, on some road that have consumed THC rich Cannabis – legal or not.
You would deny someone even in hospice care (terminal, end-of-life care for those that don’t recognize the word hospice) a natural, well tolerated, treatment for their pain and instead force upon them chemical mixtures that have, a plethora of side-effects that could actually make their condition worse? Take, for instance, cancer. Chemotherapy is somewhat effective at killing some cancers, but it causes nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, and a slue of others too numerous to get into here. Cannabis, on the other hand, has been shown to effectively treat nausea/vomiting (as opposed to the pharmaceutical based antiemetic drugs, which contain their own list of side-effects, that are out there) as well as stimulate the appetite (in some cultures, that effect is known as the “Munchies”). Also, there has been promising research around for a number of years that show Cannabis contains at least two (2) cancer fighting compounds; THC & CBD. (Google cancer and cannabis and you’ll have plenty more to read on this subject.)
And your point about the toxins people could be ingesting or inhaling when they consume Cannabis? I hope you’re just as strong an advocate about what pesticides go on the foods we eat, on the clothes we wear, and in the air we breathe. Most Cannabis is grown without the use of pesticides as the plant its self is very resilient, and with proper attention it can be grown with soil and water. Do you know how you “process” Cannabis? You take a seed and plant it. Then you let it grow up big and strong before you cut it down and dry it. After it’s been dried, it’s ready for consumption; at least via inhalation, for edibles, tinctures, salves, etc it could take more “processing” to get the oils.
Finally, you state that we have “enough drug problems now” and I couldn’t agree with you more. We do have enough drug problems; caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and the countless pharmaceuticals (both Rx and OTC) – just to name the legal ones. I only use one of those legal drugs regularly, but I see people every day that are jittery from caffeine (sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s caffeine withdrawal, or caffeine intake that’s made them this way), or stumbling around drunk, or hopped up on their prescription drugs and jumping behind the wheel. Oh, and if you’re wondering, the legal drug I use regularly that I listed above is nicotine. I have adverse reactions to caffeine, and I quit consuming alcohol over a year ago. Pharmaceuticals I don’t generally like to use, so I only use them under a doctor’s recommendation – but even then filling those prescriptions or buying those over-the-counters is rare for me.
So then, if we’re going to keep Cannabis an illegal, schedule 1 narcotic, that demands utter annihilation, what of these legal substances is next? And if we keep going, what other “harmful” things might the government throw you in jail for the remainder of your natural life for simply possessing, or speaking about, or, eventually, thinking about.
Yes it is in the bible!!! you can go to any motel in the United States, and open the drawers in any room to find the bible.. Its more than likely the King James version and in Genisis 1:29 it states : “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
[...] In a letter to a constituent, Ketron lamented that the influence of religious fanatics who consider wine to be haram (unclean) made it impossible for his measure to his measure to find traction: “I am currently trying to pass legislation that allows wine to be in the grocery stores again, and the liquor lobbyist has threatened … to `unleash the preachers’ across the state.” In fact, at least one of Tennessee’s subdivisions, Moore County, seems to be in danger of succumbing to sharia, insofar as alcohol prohibition is concerned. [...]
[...] In a letter to a constituent, Ketron lamented that the influence of religious fanatics who consider wine to be haram (unclean) made it impossible for his measure to his measure to find traction: “I am currently trying to pass legislation that allows wine to be in the grocery stores again, and the liquor lobbyist has threatened … to `unleash the preachers’ across the state.” In fact, at least one of Tennessee’s subdivisions, Moore County, seems to be in danger of succumbing to sharia, insofar as alcohol prohibition is concerned. [...]
I know exactly what my plants were treated with…I have bi-polar disorder and the meds they prescribe make life unbarable and most def will shorten ones life! I have experienced tons of side effects from big pharma! Time to let go of the reefer madness lady and let me choose how to treat my disease! You may continue to not use marijuana and thats ok w/me!Do not tell me what cannabis does for me because you obviously have no idea!
My wife has rheumatoid arthritis, spondylosis and fibromyalgia. She is in constant pain and barely even sleeps due to the pain. A friend offered marijuana to her for her pain and told her to try it. I told her if it helped then go for it. She smoked it and became energized and went to cleaning around the house. She, for a while, was what I was used to seeing around the house years ago. A full of energy and painless woman going about her home duties. She told me she hadn’t felt this good in many years. She takes Lyrica, Perkoset, Methadone and a couple more pills for pain and they just don’t work.
If a plant helps someone as much for pain, as I saw was evident, I think it is a crime NOT to make it available. HELP! It hurts!
I AM A 59 YEAR OLD NURSE WHO CAN NO LONGER TAKE ARTHRITIS MEDS,THEY CAUSE GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING. I HAVE REFUSED NARCOTICS FOR YEARS SO THAT I
COULD WORK AND DRIVE. I DO NOT SEE HOW GETTING STONED OR DRUNK FOR THAT
MATTER IS GOING TO HELP ME OR ANYONE ELSE. IF YOU ARE DYING HOSPICE PROVIDERS
WILL HELP YOU WITH PAIN MANAGEMENT.CLOSE CONTROL IS AT LEAST KEPT OVER
PRESCRIBED MEDS. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PEOPLE TREAT THESE PLANTS WITH
TO POTENTIATE THE EFFECTS. WE HAVE ENOUGH DRUG PROBLEMS NOW.
Let the preachers loose, the bible refers to JESUS DRINKING WINE. Its also has ONLY one thing to say about drinking ” do not drink unto drunkenness”. As for the marijuana the bible mentions it…………………..NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! It only says follow the ten commandments and MANS LAW! THAT MEANS IF MAN LEGALIZES IT THEY(IF THEY FOLLOW GOD’S WORD AS THEY CLAIM) WILL HAVE TO SHUT THEIR CRYING MOUTHS
. Oh, one last thing, Marijuana is the ONLY UNALTERED “DRUG” when used. 
Chief thank you for your service one sailor to another, that’s right the man that has written this is a navy vet as well. 
as many people i have had a codition that is very painful and been on prescribed meds but the effects from them made me feel worse. a good friend gave me a bag and said try this. i hadnt smoked in years so wasnt realy interested but the pills were getting bad i was to the point of being addicted. and i tryed some and didnt have the just bad and sick feelings. but in the great state of tennessee theres no medical use avalable yet im hopeing they will pass it so those of us that could use something other than addictive pills and will not be in pain.
I had a stroke 6 years ago, lived with migrain headaches for years before my stroke. I find it funny that I take 2 medicines just for the migrians and they both attack organs in the body (kidneys, liver) with proplonged use. I quit taking them last year, just using my choice of medicines, I have had no migraines, and I am doing alot better using my choice thatn the doctors. How do you prove this to a doctor, I researched my meds and took that information to him. I honestly believe that by the look on his face, HE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING OF THE STUFF I WAS SHOWING HIM.
to whom it may concern:
i have had a medical condition for about seven years. i haven’t used the prescribed drug for around five years, but have taken the herbal/holistic method with great results. no symptoms or conditions have happened till just this thanksgiving,and the whole thing is pretty painful. was it just coincidental that i happened to be ‘off’ my choice of medicine? i seriously believe not. how is it possible to prove this to a typical a.m.a. doctor and be able to recieve medical marijuana status?
I agree with the vet… Legalize it!!
I am a 59 year old retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer (with 30 years of service), who has raised 4 children and currently has 6
grandchildren. I take very seriously my responsibilities as a citizen of our great nation. It makes absolutely no sense what so ever that we allow our doctors the ability to prescribe a host of drugs that are far more lethal than marijuana (Opiate derivatives), and prescribe drugs that are manufactured forms of marijuana (marinol), yet, we will not allow them the ability to prescribe the natural grown herb. Where has this nations common since gone? Sounds to me like someone needs to grow a pair and do what is logical, insead of worrying about the lobbiest and preachers.