|
Mainers
for Medical Rights
44 Exchange Street
Suite 201
Portland, ME 04101
800.846.1039
207.780.0704
info@mainers.org
|
|
| |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Craig Brown
OCTOBER 21, 1999 (207) 780-0704
craig@mainers.org
|
|
SHERIFF ENDORSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Mark Dion Joins Patients In Urging Yes Vote |
| |
PORTLAND - Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion endorsed the Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative at a morning press conference in Portland today.
"I am here to voice my support for Question 2. I will vote yes in favor of medical marijuana. First, let me state that I have not turned my back on the war on drugs. I am simply asking the people of Maine to declare a ceasefire so that we can treat the wounded in our society," Dion said. "The reduction of chronic pain and suffering is a serious public health question. One which we in criminal justice should act to help, and answer, not hinder."
Before being elected Sheriff of Cumberland County in 1998, Dion was Deputy Chief of the Portland Police Department where he served for over 20 years. Among other things, he is credited with implementing community policing in Portland and taking the lead in combating hate crimes. In 1992, he was honored as one of the top 10 police officers in the country.
"I have taken an oath to uphold the law, yet I am bound to an equally important duty to seek justice. Medical marijuana will provide doctors with an opportunity to alleviate suffering, easing the pain facing patients in specific illnesses," added Dion.
Dion was joined by three medical marijuana patients who credit marijuana with providing them with relief when all other medications had failed.
Former Portland City Councilor Barb Wood told of her recent battle with ovarian cancer, "The nausea from the chemotherapy was overwhelming. Nothing the doctors gave me worked. I was desperate. So, I tried marijuana. And it worked".
AIDS patient Sandy Katz of Bowdoinham told of his battle to survive and how hard it is to also have to worry about being arrested for using marijuana to treat the nausea and the wasting syndrome of HIV.
Dr. Mike Lindey, a retired veterinarian and cancer survivor from Freeport, told Sheriff Dion, "I wish I didn't have to use marijuana because it's illegal. But I wanted to survive."
|
| |
|
###
|
|
|
