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 heavy-handed 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 (so-called 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 not-for-profit basis. In no case should the existence of cannabis buyers clubs prevent anyone from growing marijuana for medicine.

ELLEN KOMP

California NORML

Grover Beach