Source: Los Angeles Times Letters
Author: Ellen komp

Contact: letters@latimes.com

Growing Marijuana

I applaud Maja Hanson's courage in speaking out about her medical use of
marijuana (Commentary, Aug. 6). I would like to correct, however, her
mistaken impression that she is not free to grow marijuana for medicine.
Since the passage of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215),
Californians with "any illness for which marijuana provides relief" may,
with a doctor's approval, grow marijuana for medical use, or designate a
caregiver to do so for them. Unless the federal government should decide
to take the unprecedented and heavyhanded approach of raiding the
backyard gardens of sick Californians, Hanson should feel free to grow her
own medicine. Unfortunately, not all Californians are able to grow their
own, and a number of relief efforts (socalled buyers clubs) have
sprung up across the state to supply those with urgent needs. While
the most flamboyant clubs that are pushing the envelope get more
press coverage, the majority are quietly providing marijuana to
mostly seriously ill people on a notforprofit basis. In no case
should the existence of cannabis buyers clubs prevent anyone from
growing marijuana for medicine.

ELLEN KOMP
California NORML
Grover Beach