SUPPORT WARRANTED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Former Gov. Christie Whitman says she believes the GOP should focus
on "pocketbook principles while downplaying differences on divisive
social issues" ("Whitman urges Republican unity," Feb. 3).

Why not start with an issue Republicans have consistently opposed --
the use of marijuana for medical purposes -- even though it has the
support of 86 percent of New Jersey residents and three-quarters of
registered Republicans in this state? Whitman would have to set the
example, which is a lot harder than telling others that it's time for
them to change.

In 1997, Whitman began saying that legalizing medical marijuana would
send children a mixed message in response to a question about my late
wife. Republicans lined up behind her. Even though my wife Cheryl was
in the end stages of multiple sclerosis and in pain, it was all
about the kids. Whitman didn't mind that taxpayers were paying for
more than $20,000 worth of Marinol (synthetic THC) for my wife each
year -- even though marijuana worked better. It didn't matter that
we could have grown marijuana at no cost to taxpayers.

In December, Republican Sen. Bill Baroni, R-Mercer, was the lone
Republican on the state Senate Health Committee to vote "yes" on
S-88, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana bill. That was only
after listening to all the testimony presented to the committee.
Another Republican on that committee, state Sen. Tom Kean Jr.,
R-Union, couldn't bother to be present when seriously ill patients
testified on behalf of the bill or while his "no" vote was recorded.

Perhaps Kean believes that endears him to Republicans; it doesn't.
It's time for the GOP to stop poking holes in their sinking ship. The
full Senate will vote on S-88 in a month or so. It's in their best
interest to follow the example of Baroni and abandon the Republican
ways of Kean.

I wonder what former Gov. Whitman would think about
that?

Jim Miller

Toms River