In 37 states, patients have the option of using medical cannabis to relieve their debilitating symptoms when their doctors recommend it. States on all sides of the political spectrum have recognized the cruelty of criminalizing this important treatment option — including Utah, Mississippi, Arkansas, and North Dakota. But patients who could benefit from medical cannabis in our state continue to face the impossible choice of needlessly suffering or becoming criminals. I am writing to ask you to please support seriously ill patients who want regulated access to medical cannabis products. Patients should not have to resort to the potentially dangerous underground market to access their medicine. Regulating the cultivation and sale of medical cannabis would ensure patients have legal, safe, and reliable access to medical cannabis. We have the opportunity to create a carefully regulated and compassionate program. As your constituent, can I count on you to support patients?

I am writing to encourage you to support allowing medical cannabis for seriously ill individuals in our state. Medical cannabis offers relief to people suffering from cancer treatments, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, seizures, chronic pain, and a host of other debilitating ailments. And, medical cannabis is far less harmful and poses fewer negative side effects than most prescription drugs — especially opiate-based painkillers. Patients often find it to be a more effective treatment. People who could benefit from medical cannabis should not have to wait — and in some cases cannot wait — for the right to use it legally. It is long past time for compassionate cannabis policy reform in our state. Please support a carefully crafted, well-regulated medical cannabis program that patients deserve.

We have a nationwide opioid epidemic. More than 14,000 Americans die each year from prescription opiate overdoses. Many more needlessly suffer with untreated or undertreated pain. Meanwhile, a safer treatment option is legal in 37 states but denied to our state's suffering patients: medical cannabis (also known as marijuana). Cannabis has never been shown to cause a fatal overdose. It has, however, been shown to relieve pain and to allow patients to reduce or eliminate their use of opioids. Voters of all backgrounds support allowing medical cannabis. Nationwide, polls consistently show 80-95% support. Every recent medical cannabis ballot initiative has easily passed, including in some of the most conservative states in the nation. Since 2016, voters have approved medical cannabis in Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Utah. Isn't it time the legislature pass a carefully crafted, well-regulated medical cannabis law?