I believe that everyone in Minnesota should grow a patch of marijuana for our neighbors who are suffering with chemo-nausea and epilepsy, for free, and also make it illegal to sell it or drive under the influence of it.

Marijuana is native to our state as hemp. Henry Ford designed his first horseless carriage to run on hemp oil, a renewable energy. The oil companies were not amused and began a century-long campaign against the horrors of drugs. Anyone in our state who is growing a traditional flower and herb garden has a pharmacy at hand, including some beautiful, legal, deadly poisonous varieties.

There are too many people weighing in and waving dollar signs around in this debate. I believe that to ‘pot’ or not is a very simple ethical decision. Come on Minnesota NICE, if we can help those who are suffering— let’s do it.

Some have said that it should be legal for people who are suffering to grow marijuana. I think that would make them target for thieves and vandals. To protect them, we should all grow some.

The anti-nausea pill given to my friend after each chemo treatment “may or may not kick in within one to three days.” Try to set a plate of someone’s favorite food in from of them and watch them turn from chemo red to nausea green. The after-chemo pill cost $700!

Then I remembered that Dennis Anderson of WDIO in Duluth had a program explaining how smoking marijuana helped the patients settle their stomachs after treatment. The program aired 15 to 20 years ago.

My friend got the legal amount of pot, smoked it, and in three minutes got the ”munchies.” What a relief!

If you want to micro manage everyone and everything in people’s lives how about this- bring gasoline and heating fuel back under regulation.

A century ago Henry Ford had his mind in the right place with renewable fuel, from natural plants. We don’t need a $700 pill- just common sense.

I asked someone “How does it feel to smoke pot?” and the person said something like, “Well, you feel mellow, your mind goes back and forth and you can’t dwell on things.”

So much for me and pot. I don’t need it because I’m dyslexic. My mind wanders all over the place all the time anyway. But, I should mention that my grandson-in-law, the sweetest fellow you would ever care to meet, has begun having epileptic seizures. I want this medicine for him and I want it to be grown naturally!

Janet Y. Schultz

Sturgeon Twp., Minn.