The citizens of Kalamazoo voted 3 to 1 for the legalization of medical marijuana last November. Most disabled veterans supported this vote because medical marijuana has a very personal effect on our lives, our well being and our health.Thousands of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are now diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and medical doctors report the medical use of marijuana is very therapeutic for veterans suffering the painful symptoms of PTSD. (Google Phillip Leveque, combat veteran, physician, pharmacologist, and forensic toxicologist, authority on PTSD and cannabis treatment.) The suicide rate of returning veterans has skyrocketed into shocking numbers from the adverse effects military service has had on their lives.

Veterans deserve nothing less than being allowed the liberty and freedom to do what helps them survive their newfound physical and psychological conditions. They also deserve the support of everyone, including effective advocacy by their local politicians.

As veterans we do not need more fear in our lives, we do not need our suffering compounded by the ignorance, irrational fears, lack of support and inaction of many politicians. Their "silence" speaks for itself. They all know who they are, and where they choose to stand, which is far behind the caring citizens in this so-called war on drugs, which, by the way, now includes a war on disabled veteran patients all over our country.

About four years ago we began meeting with, and writing to, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, asking him for his support on this issue. At the same time we began meeting with Kalamazoo's mayor and city commissioners asking for their support. At first, they all said "no." Not one of them had the courage to speak out on the medical and economic waste of the failed war on drugs, or the total ignorance of prohibition and its negative effects. (Google Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.)

However, this past January, we finally received a letter from Upton saying he would support our view. He had the courage to change his mind. He agreed to vote "yes" this year on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment in Congress, which would prohibit the Drug Enforcement Administration from using federal funds to raid medical marijuana providers in states where it is legal.

We veterans are still waiting to hear from our local mayor and city commissioners, waiting for their support to follow the courage of Rep. Upton.

We say enough of the "shock and awe" tactics used by police and sheriffs on disabled veterans and other patients. Get your priorities right, focus on protecting us from the real criminals in our city. When will our city stop wasting our scarce tax dollars in this economy to swat veterans?

When will these folks, elected to represent the Kalamazoo citizens, awaken to the scientific realities like the fact the Kalamazoo Apjohn Group is working on a marijuana/cannabis inhaler delivery system, and the value of this natural medicine? When will they stand up and be counted along with courageous Rep. Upton?

I get phone calls and e-mails every day from veterans all over the United States and they all thank us for speaking out for them. They all say, in essence, "We fought for your liberties and your freedoms in this country, while our elected representatives turn against us veterans over our medicine and our health care."

What is it our elected folks do not understand about the science? Face your ignorance (as in the American Heritage Dictionary definition of a lack of knowledge) and irrational fears. Get over it now.

Mind the cost of freedom we veterans have paid. We only want peace -- peace of mind and body. When do we get justice, when do we get our human rights?

Martin H. Chilcutt is the executive director for Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access, Thomas M. Walsh, was a psychiatric nurse in the Vietnam War, and Jeffery Chilcutt is a U.S. Army veteran.