Dear Governor O’Malley,                                      

            I am a student of Stevenson University writing on behalf of your newly support of the benefits of Medical Marijuana.  I appreciate and would like to thank you for your change of position regarding Medical Cannabis.  You have made it acceptable to be used in academic hospitals, but I think you should take it one step further and make is accessible for the community hospitals as well.  As we know the use of marijuana for medical use has been researched extensively and we both know the benefits of the drug for the patients, so why not make it acceptable for the use in community hospitals?  Taking this one step further shows you the benefits of using medical marijuana in community hospitals, what other states have done, and how the government could be making their decisions off the states.

            Using medical marijuana only in academic hospitals as opposed to the use in community hospitals doesn’t give those patients their right to use the medicine that could possibly be the answer to their prayers.  Using the drug only in academic hospitals limits the use of the drug and the willingness to move towards a program with patients.  Using marijuana medically has already been tested on thoroughly and well enough to know the benefits of the drug for certain illnesses. The drug being used in a community hospital would be just as safe as using it in the academic hospital because of all the research already done on the drug.  Using the drug only in academic hospitals doesn’t give all the cancer patients, multiple sclerosis patients, and other disease patients their right to ease the symptoms or possibly even cure the disease they have.  Only allowing the use in academic hospitals will not bring any benefits to the citizens of Maryland as well as the patients in need.  As the governor of Maryland, you’re first and most important job is to take care of the people and with this advancement you would be taking care of the ill and be a blessing to the families and friends of the patients.  You would be putting the patients out of suffering, but the step towards moving it to community hospitals needs to be done in order for that to happen.

            Other states have moved with the flow of making marijuana legal for drug use.  They see the research done and the benefits of making it medical.  The other states have not just made the drug a free for all for everybody to use, they have made it useable in certain illnesses.  They have made the drug useable in community hospitals and give the patients their right to the use of the drug.  Following in suite with the other states will bring other states to hop on the “bandwagon”.  Marijuana has been shown how safe it could be as well as the benefits so as the governor you should take in the health of your people into consideration.

            Everybody knows that the drug is still a Schedule I drug and you’re probably concerned about the scrutiny of the federal government, but maybe the government hasn’t made any moves on their decision yet because they are basing it off of the state’s actions.  Other states have made the drug legal medically and the government has showed no intent on moving in and shutting it down.  As somebody who is constantly in the eye of public it is understandable that you are worried about your reputation, but making the drug legal for medical use avoids putting the sick in jail because they are searching for the cure.  Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, the state secretary of health and mental hygiene stated in an interview, "If it's clear it's not something that's going to bring prosecution on state employees, we can go forward” (Wheeler).  Moving forward would not only benefit you, but the people of the state.

            Moving forward and making marijuana legal for medical use is certainly the right choice.  This would give you a good reputation and taking on the role of the caregiver.  The people of your state are in need and you need to be the one to provide.  Pushing towards advancements of the drug will allow people to receive the help they need and maybe even push the federal government to change their mind.  Everybody is looking to you for help and with the advancement of making it accessible in community hospitals will show the people you care.  This is not only about you and your staff, but the sick people of the state of Maryland seeking for your guidance and help. 

Sincerely,

Dominique Melillo